Triple Triumph: Three siblings to graduate together from Reynolds

May 14, 2024, will mark a defining moment among the Reynolds Community College spring graduating class of 2024. One family, however, will have three times the reason to celebrate. Siblings Jacob, Noah, and Kylie Inocencio will wear caps and gowns and cross the stage to receive their diplomas, all three graduating from Reynolds this spring.

The culmination of time, energy, and work that they’ve put into gaining their qualifications will give them each a great reason to celebrate. It’s been a journey filled with challenges, sacrifices, and moments of triumph.

Jacob, the eldest of the three soon-to-be graduates, began his journey at Reynolds in the Fast Forward program, a financial assistance program that rewards students who successfully complete training and earn a high-demand industry certification.

There he earned his National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) Core certification, NCCER Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning (HVAC) certification, and then his Commercial Drivers’ License (CDL) license.

With hopes to be an entrepreneur with his own small contracting firm, Jacob moved from skilled trades training at Community College Workforce Alliance (CCWA) to working on his Business Administration associate degree at Reynolds.

When asked about his thoughts on graduating with his siblings, Jacob said, “I have always been close with all of my siblings. I love the fact that we just so happen to accomplish a significant event all at the same time. We have all had our individual accomplishments, but this is a once-in-a-lifetime event where we can all celebrate each other, together.”

Alongside his brother, Noah Inocencio will also graduate and earn his Business Administration associate degree. He has gone the more traditional route as a full-time student attending Reynolds. It hasn’t been without challenges though. He had always struggled with reading due to dyslexia but says that hard work and taking a risk to further his education turned out to be rewarding. “I can do what I set my mind to!”

When asked what advice he’d give to students, he said, “Find a part-time job that aligns with your major to begin building a work history, and don't hesitate to take advantage of the Writing Studio and math tutors at Reynolds.”

Rounding out the trio is the brothers’ younger sister, Kylie, who at the age of 15 will receive her Early Childhood Education Career Studies Certificate. She is enrolled in Reynolds’s Dual Enrollment program, designed for high school juniors and seniors, who can take college-level classes that fulfill both high school and college requirements.

What surprised Kylie was the number of classes she could successfully take at Reynolds, all while keeping up with her high school course load and extracurricular sports.

Kylie, currently a sophomore at Veritas School, next plans to enroll in the Reynolds Early Childhood Education program and earn her associate degree before she graduates from high school. After that, she plans to further her education at a four-year university and eventually become a teacher.

For the Inocencio siblings, graduation is not just a culmination, but a beginning filled with endless possibilities and boundless opportunities. As they step into the world, they do so with the knowledge that their dreams are within reach, fueled by their unwavering belief in themselves and each other.

Their Mom, Kirsten says, “Jacob and Noah are very close with each other. They help out with cooking, yard work, and driving their younger siblings to tutoring, school, and sports when needed. Kylie, being younger, looks up to them. Our house rule is that they have to help each other to the best of their ability. We encourage each of our children to work hard, try new things, and seize any opportunities afforded to them.”

For the family of eight, the cost-savings, along with the versatility and flexibility that Reynolds offers in their programming allowed them to have their children’s dreams come true.

More than a piece of paper; the trio’s diplomas will represent their hard work, dedication, determination, and the family support they’ve gotten. Celebrating this milestone acknowledges their perseverance and serves as a reminder of their accomplishments, paving the way for even greater things ahead.

Read here to learn more about Reynolds Fast Forward and Dual Enrollment programs.