Correspondent photo / Sean Barron Sonia Wilson-Green of Youngstown displays the inscription on her cap before receiving her degree during Youngstown State University’s fall commencement Saturday morning in Beeghly Center.

YOUNGSTOWN — After she attended Kent State University for a semester beginning in September 1960, the album of Carol J. Skye’s life has consisted of getting married, raising two children, being a certified heavy-equipment operator, working seven years at the former J&L Steel Co., being a flight attendant for six years and serving as clerk / treasurer in Lisbon.

Sixty-five years after graduating from high school — and after her first foray into higher education at KSU, the latest song on Skye’s life’s album has been written. Specifically, the 83-year-old single mother graduated with honors from Youngstown State University with a bachelor’s degree in general studies and an associate degree in fine arts.

“I like to finish what I start,” Skye, of Hilliard, said.

“I promised my son and daughter, and it was on my bucket list.”

Suffice it to say she did precisely that, because Skye was among the YSU graduates and undergraduates who crossed the stage to receive their degrees during a fall commencement Saturday morning in Beeghly Center for students in the university’s Beeghly College of Liberal Arts, Social Sciences and Education as well as the Cliffe College of Creative Arts.

The first commencement was Friday for students in YSU’s College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, and those in the Williamson College of Business Administration. The third ceremony was Saturday afternoon for students in the Bitonte College of Health and Human Services.

Altogether, an estimated 900 graduates and undergrads earned degrees this semester, Rebecca Rose, university spokeswoman, noted.

Skye said that her son, Luke Lincoln of Hilliard, who also attended his mother’s commencement, discovered, after having called and conducted research on various universities, that YSU would accept the greatest number of her out-of-state credits. Skye also briefly attended Columbus State University in Columbus, Georgia.

In addition, the album of her life contains a monumental loss.

“She has worked so hard and for so long to provide for my sister, Steffany (Obenour), who passed away in 2018. She’s been through quite a lot with the loss, but she’s done so much for our family as a single mom for 45 years,” Lincoln said, holding back tears.

“She raised us on her own and gave everything for us. It’s 65 years of waiting for this moment.”

In some respects, Sonia Wilson-Green’s journey that has led to her being handed a degree parallels Skye’s. Wilson-Green of Youngstown, a 1982 East High School graduate, also is a single parent whose children encouraged her to return to the higher education arena after a long hiatus, the result of which earned Wilson-Green an associate degree in arts.

“I’m planning to continue my education; I’m six classes from a bachelor’s in general studies,” said the mother of three, who worked 30 years as an officer with the Youngstown Police Department.

Wilson-Green also is in her third year as secretary to Youngstown police Chief Carl Davis.

“I’m able to finish it all up before she gets here,” a pregnant Audra Thompson of Port Clinton said, referring to the daughter she’s expecting in late January.

Finishing it up meant the soon-to-be mother completed an online program YSU offers in which she took home a master’s degree in educational leadership, said Thompson, who also is a special education teacher in Vermilion. Beforehand, she earned a bachelor’s degree in childhood and special education in 2021 from Wittenberg University, a liberal-arts college in Springfield.

‘I’m very proud and happy she has gone to the next step with the baby coming,” Thompson’s father, Jerry Metzger, added.

Also by Thompson’s side was her mother, Rebecca Metzger.

The commencement speaker was Sean Jones, a Warren native and 2000 YSU grad who became an internationally recognized and celebrated jazz trumpeter, composer and educator.

Jones drew connections between the art form and finding one’s “authentic self.” The engine and lifeblood of jazz is improvisation, something that is eternally vital in one’s life and often requires unplanned and creative spontaneity and extemporizing.

He also said it’s important for the grads to realize and appreciate three “enoughs in life:” realizing when they have had enough of that which holds them back from attaining their potential greatness and reaching their true selves, understanding when they have enough already and reaching the point where they realize they are enough, and worth investing in themselves.

“Together, we can be enough,” Jones said, adding, “I have amazing friends and a wonderful family. Another fancy car isn’t going to make me happy.”

Jones, who has recorded with jazz luminaries such as Marcus Miller, Dianne Reeves, Nancy Wilson and the legendary saxophonists Wayne Shorter and Joe Lovano, also serves as artistic director for the Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra and Carnegie Hall’s NYO Jazz program. In addition, he is artist-in-residence for San Francisco Performances and a member of the SFJAZZ collective.

Jones concluded his presentation by reciting lyrics to the popular 1967 Louis Armstrong tune “What a Wonderful World,” followed by a trumpet rendition of the song that exudes optimism.

The other two commencement speakers were Tim Petrey, HD Growth Partners’ chief executive officer, and Judge Carla J. Baldwin of Youngstown Municipal Court.

Saturday morning’s student speaker was Nathan Johnson, who graduated with honors in interpersonal and organizational communication in three years. He also is a former student athlete and intern with the university’s athletic program.

“I’ll always be grateful to YSU for the connections I have made,” Johnson said, adding that he made the difficult decision to leave the university’s swim team in his sophomore year to focus more on his studies and developing meaningful relationships.

Calling the grads “beacons of hope,” YSU President Bill Johnson said earning a degree is merely “a down payment” to their future endeavors. Character and the values they uphold and espouse will “not only shape your own destiny, but the future of America,” he said.

During his remarks, Johnson also asked student veterans, as well as those in the audience, to stand to be recognized, both of which were met with applause.

Now that Skye has returned home with her degree, the octogenarian still may have another song to add to her long life’s album.

“I don’t know what I want to be when I grow up,” she said with a chuckle. “I may go for my master’s.”