Three generations of women in this American family are graduating this year

24 May 2017

Lawanda Flennoy is set to graduate from college this spring while her two daughters – Paris, 25, and Amari, 23 – recently graduated this year. Another daughter, Jade, is graduating high school while Lawanda’s granddaughter, Brooklyn, will be graduating kindergarten, as reported by Inside Edition,

Photographer Darryl Hammond of Illinois took a photo of all three generations to commemorate their accomplishments.

“I’ve never shot anything like that before,” Hammond said. “It was an inspiration.”

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In the photo, all five graduates post with their mortarboards, with “2017” written on each.

Lawanda is graduating with an associate’s degree from South Suburban College, while Paris recently graduated from Chicago State University with a degree in public relations. Amari graduated from University of Illinois at Chicago with a degree in industrial engineering.

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As a single mother, Lawanda had to put her education goals on hold as she raised her family. But in 2010, she decided to go back and finish school.

“It’s just the first step,” Lawanda said. “It’s a stepping stone to completing my next degree.”