Prince William sisters master education

When sisters, Sandra Hardeman, 39, and Davina Smith, 34, graduated together from Liberty University in Lynchburg May 9, they wanted to show their children that anything can be achieved.

The sisters said graduation day marked a needed celebration in a time when the economy, housing issues and unemployment had taken its toll. They saw it as a time to look back at how far they have come and hope for the future.

Smith, of Dumfries, received her Master of Science degree in Human Services with a specialization in Business. Hardeman, of Triangle, received her Master of Science degree in Management.

These first-generation, American-born sisters were the first two in their West Indian family to complete a college education.

Both graduated from Gar-Field High School and neither took a traditional route to college.

Hardeman went to work full-time while attending college part-time. Smith joined the Army enlisting for 12 years. Both married when they were 21 and were raising young families when they completed their undergraduate degrees. Hardeman graduated from Radford University and Smith from Liberty University.

The sisters returned to Prince William County a few years ago, pursuing careers, business opportunities and raising their children when they began discussing graduate school.

Smith had already attended Liberty and said encouraged her big sister to transfer her graduate credits from Virginia Tech to Liberty University which not only offered a greater flexibility to complete the Masters program but also the opportunity to embrace the Christian values and ethics that seemed to be missing from traditional programs.

"There was some discussion, from time to time, about what we both were looking to accomplish. Although we were in different programs, fundamentally the ideologies we wanted in our education were best found at Liberty" Hardeman said.

Both sisters worked full-time and took six credits a semester. They encouraged each other, sometimes editing each other's work and talking about their class experiences all which has been instrumental to finishing their programs.

"We did not intend to graduate at the same time but as we got closer to the end, we really pushed one another," Smith said. "Looking back, we remember the struggles, but I also remember the many wonderful opportunities that going to school provided us. Higher education is certainly a bond that ties the family together."

-- Press release