Corey Smith and Corneisha Dixon

It was about as busy as it could be for Corey Smith and Corneisha Dixon throughout 2020 and early 2021.

In early 2020, they moved to Las Vegas with their now 6-year-old son. Both of them were working full-time, Corneisha had a child in mid-2020 and both Corey and Corneisha were taking online classes toward their degrees at Herzing University.

In spring 2021, they celebrated a remarkable year by flying to the Milwaukee area for their dual graduation. Corneisha graduated with an MBA with a concentration in human resources and Corey earned a bachelor’s degree in business.

Both Corey and Corneisha were from the Milwaukee area and started their Herzing classes while living there.

“The first semester, we had to really figure out a schedule. That was the biggest thing for us,” Corey said. “It's easy to fall behind in your coursework if you procrastinate a lot, so it's important to stay proactive and keep up with your online courses. Once we got used to our schedules and stuck to them, it was a breeze.”

Herzing staff and instructors provided valuable assistance when preparing for their education. “Everything was extremely organized,” he said. “The setup online was great. Our questions were always answered.”

Corey continued to work in person while Corneisha worked from home for a while. They took turns caring for their newborn while also helping their oldest with his online schooling.

“When you’re working and already making money, it’s hard to go back to school,” Corey said.

They also wanted to show their young sons that they can accomplish their goals with a lot of hard work.

“Herzing allowed me to continue to make money, move, take care of our family and still have the flexibility of going to school,” Corey said. “Education is super important. It sets you apart from a lot of other people.”

Their oldest child also had a graduation this year– he graduated from kindergarten.

“It was funny. At our graduation, our 6-year-old was so excited that mom and dad were graduating just like him,” Corey said. “He was super excited to graduate, too. It meant the world to him to have his cap and gown as well.”

Although, for the time being, their educational journey is over, they are both keeping busy. Corey works as an assistant store manager and his fiancé, Corneisha, is in the human resources department at a local airline based in Las Vegas.

“I’m glad we went to school and were able to finish. It’s going to open so many more doors for us. That’s why we did it,” Corey commented.