The family of the Muchnick triplets of Ft. Washington, Pa., should have considered wearing sneakers to Spring Commencement. After all, they did their own version of the 50-yard dash in their effort to attend ceremonies for each of the students, who graduated together from the University May 29.
Lauren Beth and Jordan Blake Muchnick received bachelor of science degrees in business administration from the Lerner College of Business and Economics, in the fields of management and operations management, respectively. Seth Ryan Muchnick received a bachelor of science degree in food
and agribusiness management from the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
When their mother, Judy Muchnick, first looked at the Commencement schedule, she knew she had a dilemma. Lauren and Jordan's convocation was scheduled for 11 a.m., at the Bob Carpenter Center; Seth's convocation was at 11:30 a.m. at the Carpenter Sports Building.
Muchnick says she immediately called University President David Roselle and asked for his assistance. "He couldn't have been more sympathetic," Muchnick recalls. "He said he would do whatever he could to help us get to both convocations."
Roselle's solution was to obtain box seats for Judy and husband Steve and 15 extended family members so that they could quickly get in and out of the ceremonies. And, he saw to it that Lauren's and Jordan's names were announced first at their convocation, while Seth's name was called last at his.
Even Steve's 83-year-old parents, Sydney and Lucille Muchnick, were game to hop in the car and go on the mad dash from event to event.
"I'm only getting to do this once," Judy Muchnick, who has no other children, says. "It was very important for me to be able to participate in every aspect of the day."
It's a bit ironic that all the Muchnick triplets ended up at UD. "Although we're a close family, I did not want to go to the same college as my brothers," Lauren says. "We graduated from a small high school in Huntingdon Valley, Pa., before my parents moved to Ft. Washington. Everyone knew everyone in Huntingdon Valley; I wanted to go to a large school and be more independent."
Judy Muchnick had always heard good things about UD, so she brought the triplets for a visit while they were high school seniors.
"I instantly fell in love with the place; I thought the campus was so beautiful," Lauren says. "I remember telling my brothers: 'This is my school. You can go somewhere else!'"
A few weeks after the visit, Jordan told Lauren how much he liked UD. So, she "relented" and told him he could attend, too, she says. By sophomore year, Seth had transferred to the University.
"I made friends here who I know will be my friends forever," Lauren says of UD.
Jordan echoes Lauren's sentiments about the campus ambiance. "I liked my classes and the teachers were really good. But, the overall campus atmosphere--the look of the University--is what I liked the very most," Jordan says.
Being in a small college at a large university was one of the things Seth says he enjoyed about UD. "I had small classes in the College of Ag, so I developed great relationships with the professors," he notes.
Although Lauren, Jordan and Seth say they will miss much about their University experience, there's one thing Judy and Steve Muchnick won't miss--triple tuition bills.
"I put smiley faces on the very last check I wrote to the University," Judy Muchnick says. "It's great to have that behind us."
--Margo McDonough, AS '86, '95M