Father and son, Duvinson and Benjamin Jeanty, made history as the first in their family to earn college degrees by graduating together from William Paterson University on the same day.
In a moving celebration of perseverance and family, 63-year-old Duvinson Jeanty and his 27-year-old son, Benjamin Jeanty, both graduated from William Paterson University on the same day—making history as the first members of their family to receive college degrees.
Benjamin, a first-generation American, earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology, while his father received a degree in finance. The moment marked a powerful milestone not only in their lives but for their Haitian-American family.
“I always imagined becoming the first to graduate,” Benjamin said. “But to do it with my dad? It’s indescribable.”
Duvinson’s academic journey began more than a decade ago, after migrating from Haiti to the United States in 1983. He enrolled in college while working full-time as a bus driver and caring for his elderly mother. Despite the pressures, he persisted—earning an associate’s degree from Passaic County Community College in 2016 before continuing toward his bachelor’s.
Benjamin was in high school when his father returned to school. “It was tough on our family,” he recalled, “but it inspired me. Watching him go after his dreams despite everything planted a desire in me to do the same.”
After a brief stint at Rutgers University and time working in the restaurant industry, Benjamin returned to school and eventually transferred to William Paterson to be closer to his dad. Despite a past rift between them, the two reconciled, making their shared graduation even more meaningful.
“What better way to show him I appreciate him and love him than to graduate alongside him?” Benjamin said.
Looking ahead, Benjamin plans to pursue a master’s in urban policy analysis. Duvinson, now a proud college graduate, has launched Genevieve Investment Solutions—named after his late mother—to support first-time home buyers and promote financial literacy within underserved communities.
Their joint achievement serves as a powerful reminder that it’s never too late to pursue education—and that family, persistence, and purpose can overcome any odds.
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SOURCES: ALLSCHOOL, SCHOLARSHIP REGION