Mother and son graduate together at SUNY Schenectady

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Thursday was graduation day at SUNY Schenectady, and one pair that crossed the stage has something in common. While parents are normally in the audience clapping and taking pictures, one local mom decided to join her son on stage for the special occasion.

There was no shortage of pride at SUNY Schenectady as the Class of 2025 crossed the stage. Two of the graduates know each other very well -- they're mother and son.

"My parents never went to college, so I'm the first one to go to college, so I'm the first generation in college, so I'm happy about it," Elizabeth Christina Mendonca said.

Mendonca works in a school and is on track to be a full-fledged teacher.

"I find it pretty inspiring to see my mom, who's so hard working," Mohamed Shehebuddeen said. "She has to work with kids, then studying late into the night getting her homework completed. My mom is the role model that I aspire to become."

Shehebuddeen is well on his way. He graduated high school and SUNY Schenectady at the same time.

"I wanna pursue aerospace engineering," he said. 'I currently got accepted to Siena College, so after I graduate, I wanna work for NASA."

While every graduate is celebrated, this mother-son duo was inspiring.

"Talks about the power of education and the power of community colleges, including SUNY Schenectady," SUNY Schenectady Pres. Dr. Steady Moono said. "That there's a son who's graduating, and a mother who's graduating, and they've become each other's vision supporters."

The lesson plan to take away from this graduation?

"It's never too late to get an education."