{"id":3530,"date":"2016-05-13T06:10:44","date_gmt":"2016-05-13T10:10:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/pr\/?p=3530"},"modified":"2026-07-13T21:55:00","modified_gmt":"2026-07-14T01:55:00","slug":"this-umes-family-is-doubly-proud","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/scm\/this-umes-family-is-doubly-proud\/","title":{"rendered":"This UMES family is doubly proud"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Friday, May 13, 2016<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PRINCESS ANNE, MD.<\/strong>– (May 13, 2016) – They could have given up at any point and understandably so, going to classes while holding down jobs and caring for young children.  But Michel’le White and Kanisha Stewart of Princess Anne had something in their favor – each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The step-sisters are about to graduate at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore’s 129th<\/sup> spring commencement exercises, where they will join 470 of their peers as they walk across the stage to accept their diplomas – well deserved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh, it’s going to be the most amazing feeling to see them achieve their goals,\u201d said Anna White, Kanisha’s mother, with a heaven-ward glance.  \u201cI’m so excited and proud of both of them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRelief\u201d was the first word that came to mind for Dr. James White. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Michel’le, as the daughter of UMES’ associate vice president for student affairs, grew up on the UMES campus as a \u201cWee Hawk\u201d and was able to \u201cshow her sister the ropes\u201d of college life.  The two had occasional classes together, joined some of the same school activities, studied together and shared their knowledge when one was better at a subject than the other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMichel’le is the more outspoken of the two of us, so she encourages me to network and socialize more,\u201d Stewart said.  Both were members of the university’s gospel choir, drama society, academic quiz competition team and active in other organizations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Michel’le, 24, became a parent two months ago to daughter Amara, it was Stewart, 23, mother to two-year-old Kyree, who returned the favor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI told her it’s hard to juggle it all, but stressed not being afraid to ask for help,\u201d Stewart said.  \u201cPrioritize and organize everything from work and class schedules to homework and doctors’ appointments and always plan ahead for the unexpected.\u201d  Stewart, who was a junior at the time, sat for her finals the week after her son’s birth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fortunately, the two had solid support from family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAt one time, they both wanted to take a semester off and we encouraged them to stay in school,\u201d Anna White said.  \u201cThey made it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 When they graduate May 20, it will be with their own cheering squad; their two children and seven siblings (a UMES alum among them) along with their parents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kanisha, who concentrated in hospitality and tourism management, will continue employment at Salisbury’s Marriott Residence Inn, where she will train as a manager following commencement exercises. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI’m ready to start my new journey-the next step,\u201d she said.  She aspires to one day be general manager of a five-star hotel and \u201cwork my way up to corporate leadership.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sociology major Michel’le is hopeful of securing \u201ca state job in one of the three lower counties working for the health or social work departments.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her advice to single moms in school; \u201cDon’t give up\u201d and for those looking to attend college; \u201cDo it.\u201d  \u201cFocus on the most important part of what you’re trying to achieve-the degree,\u201d she said.  \u201cIt might be challenging now, but it will all pay off in the end-bettering yourself and your child\/children.  Utilize resources on campus like counseling services, the tutoring center and don’t be afraid to ask for help.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

#HawkPride <\/strong>   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

UMES Office of Public Relations<\/a>, (410) 651-6669<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Friday, May 13, 2016 PRINCESS ANNE, MD.– (May 13, 2016) – They could have given up at any point and understandably so, going to classes while holding down jobs and caring for young children.  But Michel’le White and Kanisha Stewart of Princess Anne had something in their favor – each other.  The step-sisters are about…Read more This UMES family is doubly proud<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3531,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","wds_primary_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[103],"tags":[],"post_folder":[],"class_list":["post-3530","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/scm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3530","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/scm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/scm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/scm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/scm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3530"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/scm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3530\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/scm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3531"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/scm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3530"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/scm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3530"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/scm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3530"},{"taxonomy":"post_folder","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/scm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post_folder?post=3530"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}