Parents know their place on graduation day. Seated among an enthusiastic audience, it's a satisfying opportunity to shine the spotlight on their child's achievement. That's not entirely so for Mark Bridges. On May 26, this proud father shared the stage with daughter Tobie at Rochester Institute of Technology's Commencement 2001.

Both father and daughter received a bachelor of fine arts degree from RIT's College of Imaging Arts and Sciences. Mark, a mechanical designer at Eastman Kodak, majored in industrial design and has been working on his degree part-time for the past five years. Having Tobie receive her degree during the same ceremony added to his excitement.

"I feel like I've been her teacher all these years, so I can't think of a better way to mark this shared accomplishment than by graduating together," he says.

Tobie earned her degree in applied photography after transferring to RIT from the University of Buffalo in 1999. Since that time, Tobie and her dad's paths have occasionally crossed on campus. At one point, they were even taking the same class. She says it was enjoyable sharing the college experience with her father.

"I'd kind of brag about it," she recalls. "My friends here couldn't believe that my dad went to school, but after they met him, they all got along with him really well."

The Bridges, who live in Spencerport, planned to celebrate the double graduation with plenty of pomp and circumstance. Relatives from around the country were expected to make the trip into town for the big event. "Many of my siblings haven't been back to the Rochester area in over 20 years. It'll be quite a family reunion, and the graduation is a good excuse to make that happen," he said.