Mark Menatti was 6 years old when he stood in a stadium watching his father graduate from California Polytech State University in San Luis Obispo. Twenty-three years later, he will be the one standing with the cap and gown ready to graduate. His father, John, will have worn the same cap and gown just five hours earlier.
The father and son will both graduate from the U in May with master’s degrees.
“I held my son in 1980 when I graduated, and he said that looking at that picture of us motivated him to go to college,” John Menatti said. “We hope it’ll have the same effect on my grandson.”
John Menatti didn’t intend to graduate with his son. He started working on his Master of Science and Technology degree four years ago while working for the Department of Environmental Quality as a manager.
“We just ended up finishing at the same time and thought it was really cool,” Mark Menatti said. “It was something we discovered a while ago.”
Mark Menatti received his economics degree from Brigham Young University a few years ago and went to work before coming back to school. He enrolled in the Master of Business Administration program at the U. Students in the MBA program are required to be out of school for at least two years before applying for an MBA degree.
He found himself working on class projects alongside one of his father’s coworkers, Jeff Bigalow-another full-time professional who wanted a master’s degree for better job opportunities.
“Mark and I worked together for our MBA classes,” Bigalow said. “We realized when we were talking one day that I know his dad.”
After seeing both Menattis at school, Bigalow said they are both dedicated to their work, but have different interests. John is fascinated with science and wastewater management, while Mark studies finance, he said.
Bigalow and John Menatti are not the only workers in their office interested in a master’s degree.
“We’re encouraging people to go back to school,” Bigalow said. “We can work and go to school, so I know they can, too.”
John Menatti said he knew he would someday go back for an MST degree. It’s a lot of work, but he said it will definitely help with job promotions.
Mark Menatti has made use of the nearly completed degree when he was hired several weeks ago for a venture capital company. Yet, the youngest Menatti is more focused on his 4-year-old son.
“It’ll be a great thing for my son to see his dad and grandpa walk across the stage together,” he said. “I hope it will encourage him to go to college someday too.”