Father and two sons graduate in university together

Last weekend when 53-year-old Harven Burke, regional field officer at the Jamaica Observer, walked across the stage to receive his Master's of Business Administration, his son Kemoi, 28, was right behind him.

What's more, his younger son Kamol, 23, walked the very stage not an hour before, receiving the award of Bachelor of Science in Operational Management.

"When I went up, Kemoi was behind me in the line. I heard the announcer say," Ladies and gentlemen, we have a special announcement.

We have a father and son graduating today, and the place erupted.

My knees felt weak; I could not walk, "he told the Jamaica Observer.

"I was elated because not only was I graduating with my sons, but also because I finally went through with my master's, after starting and stopping twice," Burke said.

She was like a hand in my back, "he said, laughing.

"His wife is Dr Olivene Burke, executive director of Mona Social Services and adjunct lecturer of transformational leadership at the Mona School of Business and Management.

Burke credits her for pushing everyone in the family to further their education.

This year, the men jumped one hurdle, and very soon, the couple's daughter Kaedi, who is a second-year medical science student, will do the same.

Kemoi, coordinator promotions at CB Group, told Career & Education that neither he nor his dad knew the other was enrolling in the MBA program.

It was applied and was accepted, but was planning to defer, he explained.

"When I saw my father at the orientation I was shocked.

They spent the next 27 months mostly in the same classes, studying the same content, poring over the same coursework, completing the same assignments.

It worked well, too, because when Kemoi had to miss classes as a result of travelling for work, for example, his father and other classmates would get him up to speed.

Studying together also meant the father and son could explain things to each other at home.

As for the other young men in the class, the elder Burke said he became a bit of counsel to them.

"I was an inspiration to them, and they to me because they taught me things, too.

"It really was a golden experience. I never felt intimidated or out of place," Burke added.

Kamol was on a job job on Friday and was unable to speak with Career & Education, but his father and brother told the newspaper that he was just as ecstatic as they were.

The elder Burke did his MBA emphasis on human resource and marketing, while Kemoi did it in marketing.