Mother, son to graduate today from Benedictine

Joyce Cecchi is about to experience two of her life's proudest moments.

And they'll come within seconds of each other.

Cecchi, 59, and her 24-year-old son, Vince, will be the first known mother-and-son team to graduate together from Lisle's Benedictine University when they collect their diplomas during ceremonies that start at 9 a.m. today at the Village of Lisle-Benedictine University Sports Complex at 5800 College Road.

"It certainly is a rather unusual accomplishment, but this may not be the last time this happens," university spokesman Phil Brozynski said. "Every semester more and more adults go back to school to improve their marketability in the working world."

Joyce, of Lisle, is graduating cum laude with a degree in organizational leadership; Vince is getting his degree in psychology.

A pre-clinical specialist at the university, Joyce receives free tuition for herself and family members as a perk. So she started taking classes a few years ago.

Then Vince began taking classes at the university as well.

"So many times I just got tired and wondered why I was doing it and if I should keep going," she said. "But once Vince started, I felt like I would be letting him down if I quit, so I kept chugging along."

Joyce, excited to see her son also accomplish his goal, said she nearly decided not to participate in the ceremony so as not to "steal Vince's thunder." But friends convinced her to do it, telling her she deserved a little "thunder" of her own.

Vince said he's happy to share the spotlight with his mom, knowing how hard she's worked each semester.

"She studied and put in her work," he said. "She really earned this, and I'm just as proud of her as she is of me."

The pair will walk one behind the other among the graduates, who will line up alphabetically. Joyce couldn't be happier. In fact, she's already prepared a special message for Vince after she receives her diploma.

"I'm going to turn around and tell him, just like I've told him his whole life, 'Kid, I'm always one step ahead of ya.'" she said.

And she intends to keep it that way, having already been accepted into the university's organizational behavior master's degree program. She's also earned her disaster management certification.

At this rate, she may be getting her master's degree at the same time that her youngest son, 21-year-old Anthony, receives his Benedictine degree in sports marketing.

"As long as Anthony is here, I might as well keep going," she said. "If it's out there, it would be foolish of me not to take advantage of it."

Vince hopes to land a job counseling teens that would help him pay for his advanced degrees. Joyce is helping him update his resume and prepare for the job search.

"This kid's free ride is over," she said with a smile.