. >> lawanda flennoy. >> it was a special day for lawanda flennoy. for 25 years she worked full time to raise her daughters, finally earning an associate degree this upon was especially sweet. but the best part is that her children are graduating from school too. all at the same time. >> so this is like a happy coincidence? >> absolutely. >> for them, not so much for me. it is expensive for me. >> ahmari just graduated krrksz umlade from the university of illinois at chicago and heading off to a job with ford. paris just graduated from chicago state, and has a job with apple. jade is graduating from high school and preparing to attend illinois state, and four year old granddaughter brooklyn is prekindergarten. if you are keeping score, that's three generations, five family members, all graduating in 2017. >> was she a tough mother. >> absolutely. >> what was the feeling when you were up there on the stage. >> it was overwhelming. >> what did you all think when you saw your mother up there. >> it was really exciting because this is something that we f

. >> lawanda flennoy. >> reporter: it was a special day for lawanda flennoy. >> thank you. >> reporterfor 25 years she worked full-time to raise her three daughters. so finally earning an associate degree this month was especially sweet. >> one, two, three. >> reporter: but the best part is that her children are graduating from school too. all at the same time. so this is like a happy coincidence? >> absolutely. >> for them. not so much for me. it's expensive for me. >> reporter: amari just graduated cum laude from the university of illinois at chicago and is heading off to a job with ford. paris just graduated from chicago state and has a job with apple. jade is graduating from high school and preparing to attend illinois state. and 4-year-old granddaughter brooklyn is about to graduate from prekichndergarten. if you're keeping score, that's three generations, five family members, all graduating in 2017. >> i set expectations and they met them. >> was she a tough mother? >> oh, absolutely. >> what was the feeling when you were up there on the stage? >> it was overwhelming. >> what did

. >> lawanda flennoy. >> reporter: it was a special day for lawanda flennoy. e to raise her three daughters, so finally earning an associate degree this month was especially sweet. >> everybody give lawanda a hug. >> reporter: but the best part gr at the same time. >> so this is like a happy coincidence? >> absolutely. >> for them. not so much for me. it was expensive. >> reporter: her daughter has graduated cum laude and is heading off to ford. paris is heading off to apple. jade is graduating from high school and plans to attend illinois state and 4-year-old brooklyn is about to graduate from prekindergarten. if you're keeping score, that's three generations, five family members all graduating in 2017. >> i suppose you must have seen yourself as a role model. >> i just saw myself as their mother and taking on the role of their mother and making sure they were the best person they could be. >> and was she a role model? >> absolutely. >> absolutely. we wouldn't be here today >> what was the feeling when you were up there on the stage? >> it was overwhelming. >>