March 15 , 2004 Print this page

Determination Drove Wanda Mayhugh
to Graduate from La Salle University

Most college students think of the word “perseverance” and reflect on a time when they studied for two consecutive nights prior to an exam.

For North Philadelphia’s Wanda Mayhugh, the word holds a different meaning.

Last month, Mayhugh received her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from
La Salle University after taking evening classes for eight years while working full time at the University’s food court. She also raised her daughter, Shereese, as a single parent.

“It felt good to finally graduate,” says Mayhugh.

She admits she got tired of going to school at times but people close to her kept her motivated. When Shereese Mayhugh was graduated from La Salle after five years of evening classes and working full time, Wanda received the inspiration she needed to continue studying.

Shereese Mayhugh says, “I started taking classes after my mom, and I finished first. I would always tell my mom, ‘You better take more classes so you can finish first.’ She would joke back saying, ‘My brain is not as young as yours and I’ve been out of high school a long time.’”

Although she needed to take some semesters off because of medical conditions and family commitments, Mayhugh did listen to her daughter who kept her focused.

“My mom worked very hard to complete her degree, it took her awhile, but I always knew she could do it, she’s a hard-worker,” says Shereese Mayhugh.

Mayhugh started out majoring in Business and switched after discovering her love for helping others.

“After working full time during the day and attending evening classes, Wanda had to do her internships on the weekends,” says Bonni Zeitick, Assistant Professor of Social Work at La Salle. “This effort alone would have demonstrated her commitment to social work education, but in my classes, Wanda was always prepared, and was an able contributor to class discussion. She didn’t just attend class!”

As a student, Mayhugh helped care for terminally ill patients at a hospice, and volunteered at the Emergency Services Department of the Philadelphia Chapter of the American Red Cross.

“Wanda interned with the Red Cross mostly during the evenings and weekends since she was employed full time, and took personal time from work on several days to successfully complete her required hours,” says Dwayne Wharton, Director of the Red Cross chapter.

“While working at the Red Cross Communication Center she fielded calls from city agencies, made referrals, spoke with disaster victims themselves, responded to disasters by going into the field as a Disaster Action Team member, assisted these families immediately after disasters by helping them to connect with resources for housing and ensuring that their needs were met,” says Wharton. “I found Wanda to be extremely professional and compassionate in her approach to clients.”

Through working at La Salle’s food court for sixteen years, Mayhugh formed many friendships that helped keep her enthused about going to school.

She also credits Zetick for keeping her focused, “Bonni went out of her way to help her students, mostly older adults taking evening classes and raising families. I was blessed to have her as my professor,” Mayhugh says.

Mayhugh, who still works full time at La Salle and volunteers at the American Red Cross, has applied to graduate school, and is ready to start a career in social work.

“Now the table has turned and my mom is motivating me to get into graduate school with her this coming fall,” Shereese Mayhugh says, “She is a role model of what a good person and an excellent mother should be.”

“I am very proud of Wanda for her achievement in pulling out all the stops to get her education in social work at La Salle University,” says Zeitick.

Wharton says, “Her perseverance and genuine desire to advance her life and to help others is admirable.”

-- Karen Toner