Mom, son receive master’s degrees together

 

When Patrick Breazeale Jr. of Homestead received his master’s degree from Grand Canyon University April 26, he was right behind his mother.

Melodee Breazeale, too, earned her Master of Science in the same field, psychology with an emphasis on industrial and organizational psychology. A resident of Rancho El Dorado, she works from home for Chase Bank while Patrick works for the State of Arizona.

Both Breazeales graduated summa cum laude.

“Needless to say, two heads are always better than one, and both of us helped each other when we might have got stuck on any one area or class,” Melodee Braezeale said. “There were some pretty funny events in some of the classes, so this will be a memory for both of us going forward.”

Melodee Breazeale has an associate’s degree in administration of justice. She and Patrick both have bachelor’s degrees in business management. Melodee received her bachelor’s degree from GCU in 2016, and Patrick did the same in 2017.

Melodee’s employer allotted her $7,500 per year toward tuition for her graduate program. That allowed her to take four classes a year. Though she started her master’s program ahead of Patrick, he was able to take more classes at a time to finish in the same graduating class with his mother.

“I am so proud of my son to carry on and get his master’s degree, and I am still pinching myself that I got through my classes with a 4.0,” she said.

On graduation day, she was teary-eyed walking across the stage to receive her degree.

“But I had to stop when I heard, ‘and her son… Patrick Breazeale Jr,’” she said. “I stopped walking, turned around, and I got to watch my son shake hands and get his degree. I could not have been more proud of my son at that time!”

After the event sank in, Patrick called his mother later, saying, “This is not very common, right?”

Melodee’s parents are Hal and Shyrlee Cole of Province.