It's that time of year for pomp and circumstance and diplomas.
More than 1,300 students at the University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) will be college graduates Saturday. But at least one didn't think graduating from college was a realistic dream.
"It's going to be amazing," said 26-year-old UIS student Destiny Skaggs. "I'll probably be all smiles up there."
Destiny is one of 732 who will be walking across the stage at the Prairie Capital Convention Center and receiving a diploma--finally earning her college degree after years of hard work.
"Just last semester, I worked 60 hours, I worked two jobs and then I had five classes to take care of," said Skaggs. "It's a lot of work and I wanted to do well with my grades."
Making the grades is exactly what she did.
"My lowest grade since 2009 was an A-," said Skaggs.
She's the first to earn a bachelors degree in her family, and now graduating with honors in the criminal justice program at UIS. Like many soon-to-be graduates, Skaggs was set on landing a job, so she applied to the university's police force.
The story was reported by WICS-TV 20 on May 16, 2014.
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