BY JOHN HOPKINS
The Cincinnati Enquirer
When Marna Williams and her sister Alana Mattingly were at their lowest -- living in shelters with their children -- they dreamed of a day when homelessness would turn to hope.
Marna Williams, 35, of Forest Park, left, stands with her sister Alana Mattingly, 29, of Walnut Hills.
(Craig Ruttle photo)
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That day came Friday.
The sisters were among 4,000 students to receive degrees during the 179th commencement of the University of Cincinnati.
Bill Moyers, reporter and commentator on America, was the keynote speaker.
"You are going to have to make your own map into an unfamiliar course called the future," Mr. Moyers told the graduates.
He warned that there will be "sharp turns in the highway of life. I hope they taught you that here."
The sisters know firsthand of those "sharp turns."
At points in their lives, Ms. Williams and Ms. Mattingly both found themselves living at the Bethany House shelter in Fairmount -- the result of poor decisions and bad relationships. But today, they talk of continuing their education. Someday, they hope to open a rehabilitation center for women.
"With God anything is possible," Ms. Mattingly said. "It does not matter how far down the ladder you are, you can always achieve your success as long as you have determination, dedication and a strong belief that you can make it."
Ms. Mattingly, 29, of Walnut Hills, received an associate degree in criminal justice. Her sister received an associate degree in social work technology. Both are graduates of Aiken High School. "I learned a lot from being in that shelter, and after that, I was determined to never be in that situation again," said Ms. Williams, 35, of Forest Park.
"Looking at the other ladies and their children (in the shelter), I knew that this was not me and that this was not the purpose in life God had for me."
Mr. Moyers received an honorary doctorate. Also recognized with honorary degrees were Jack E. Brown, chairman of BBI Marketing Services Inc.; Robert Fabe, professor emeritus of fine arts; John Hope Franklin, Duke University professor emeritus of history; Lee Roy Reams, Broadway performer, choreographer and director; and Robert Wehling, Procter & Gamble vice president.
Josef E. Fischer, chairman of the department of surgery, received the University of Cincinnati Award for Excellence.
Celebrations continue tonight as more than 180 of UC's African-American graduates hold a special ceremony called "Tyehimba," Swahili for "we stand as a nation." The free event is 8:30 p.m. in Shoemaker Center. Keynote speaker will be George Fraser, author of Success Runs in Our Race.
