New grads hope degrees open doors

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - May is a month full of graduations. Family members snapped pictures during the University of Phoenix 's graduation inside the Convention Center Saturday morning. Many children filled the seats in the audience because many of those in caps and gowns are adults getting degrees.

John Spafford has been a teaching assistant, but wanted to go back to school to get a certification that would earn him more money.

"I had actually been working as a journalist, print journalist, newspapers, when I had a career change in that, I decided I wanted to go into teaching. I have been working around a lot of teachers. I’ve done a lot of stories on education and I thought there was a need," said Spafford.

For Dawn Hutson, going back to school would mean she could have a chance to move up to a better job.

"I was also told by my employer that if I didn't get my degree I would have no opportunity to advance," Huston said. "So I always promised myself I'd go back so I decided to take the time to go do it."

For Tory Reynolds, a new degree means a start of a dream.

"Well we have all of these baby boomers as we know and they're going to have to go someplace and I'm going to have the most perfect nursing home eventually. They'll come, they'll be treated in their golden years as they should be. The market's good," said Reynolds.

In Saturday's group from the University of Phoenix, 50 received associate’s degrees, 81 received bachelor's degrees and 63 received master’s degrees.