Marowellis Share in the Commencement Experience at SHU

By Dan Cherry—Daily Telegram Staff Writer

Editor’s Note: This is an edited version of a feature that ran in the Adrian Daily Telegram on Sunday, May 4, 2014. It is reprinted with permission.

Three members of the same family received degrees from Siena Heights University May 3.

Koby Marowelli; his wife, Donna; and daughter Tayleen participated in the University’s commencement ceremonies. Koby earned a bachelor’s degree in occupational studies with a minor in professional communication, Donna received a master’s degree in community counseling, and Tayleen a bachelor’s degree in fine arts with a minor in psychology.

Koby and Donna’s other daughter, Tenille—Tayleen’s twin sister—is scheduled to graduate from Spring Arbor University in December with a degree in elementary education.

Donna said when they each started pursuing their degrees, they did not realize they would be participating in commencement ceremonies at the same time.

“I started my undergrad when the girls were in the fourth grade,” said Donna, who is employed as an administrative assistant in the Business Management Division at SHU. After several years of part-time degree work, she earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration in 2012.

But she still wanted to pursue a higher degree.

“I felt designed by God to be in counseling,” Donna said. “I’ve always enjoyed listening to others, so I applied for the master’s program in counseling.”

After one or two semesters, Donna and Koby starting discussing the idea of graduating together, as he was pursuing a bachelor’s degree in applied science with a minor in professional communications.

However, for him to do so, he would have to set up an aggressive class schedule.

“Koby called his adviser and he was set up on an accelerated plan,” Donna said.

And then they realized that Tayleen was going to graduate at the same time, Koby said.

“Donna said, ‘You know, if you hurried up a bit, you can graduate with your daughter,’ ” Koby said. “That motivated me, with her encouragement, to go back and finish. Tayleen was like, ‘Do it, Dad.’ So I speeded up.”

Koby said he never attained a bachelor’s degree when, 34 years ago, he opened his Adrian store, The Image Gallery. His full-time dedication to his business prevented him from doing so.

Though Donna and Koby participated in commencement, their journey is not quite complete. Koby plans to be finished with his degree requirements by August, while Donna has a 600-hour internship that she will complete by December.

Reaching a higher level of education is something Donna said she has always encouraged and is pleased to see come to fruition.

“I have always valued education. I’ve always told my girls to go on to college,” she said. “I was happy when it worked for Tayleen to go here (to Siena Heights) and Tenille to go to a sister school, and just to have Koby come on board and complete his education.

“I am proud of our family and the commitment we made in our lives to value education and each other as we have gone through this process,” she said.

Tayleen said she is also proud of her parents for their own perseverance and accomplishments.

“It’s exciting; I am proud of them,” she said. “I think it’s difficult to go back to school after a summer, let alone years later.

“To go back and get your bachelor’s and master’s degrees years after high school, that is super exciting,” she said.

Plus, to receive degrees at the same time is the icing on the cake, Tayleen said. “How many families can say they did that together?” she said.