Jason and Maricela Cedillo, graduate students at OLLU’s Houston campus and husband and wife, earned their Master of Business Administration degrees on May 17 during ceremonies in San Antonio, completing an educational journey together.

Maricela’s goal was always to earn an MBA and the OLLU Houston campus met her needs for earning a degree on the weekends. She urged her husband to join her in the pursuit of an advanced degree and at the last minute, he accepted the challenge.

The hand of fate was persistent in joining Jason and Maricela on their lifelong journey as the two almost didn’t meet despite attending the same college and having mutual friends.

As undergraduate students at Texas A&M University in College Station, Jason and Maricela somehow slipped by each other unnoticed and hardly spoke. Maricela graduated in 1999 with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing and a minor in International Business Studies. Jason followed in 2001 with a Bachelor of Science in Manufacturing Engineering Technology.

It wasn’t until Jason and Maricela met again in their hometown of San Antonio at a downtown nightclub that the two began a relationship. When Jason’s job took him to Houston, Maricela joined him. They married in 2004.

Another significant journey will begin for the couple when Maricela gives birth to the couple’s first child – a son – who is due on July 4, 2008.

As the two prepared to graduate, Jason credited his wife for her persistence as she planted the seed of education in his heart. He crossed the stage on May 17 immediately followed by Maricela and as the two completed one journey, they celebrated and looked ahead to the exciting next chapter in their lives together.