COLLEGE GRADUATION TRULY FAMILY AFFAIR FOR COBDEN, ILL., RESIDENTS

COBDEN, Ill. -- Graduation is a family affair for the Demmins, who will be throwing a party at their home Saturday.

Karen and Ron Demmin and their son Rama and daughter Amma will graduate from college this month.

Amma, 21, will receive a bachelor of science degree in social work from Southeast Missouri State University on May 17.

Rama, 24, and Ron, 51, will graduate today from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale.

Rama will graduate with a bachelor of science degree in anthropology. Ron will receive a master's degree in social work.

Karen, 50, will receive an associate of arts degree in social work from Shawnee Community College at Ullin on May 16.

"I'm really proud of my parents for going back to school when they did," said Amma.

Last summer Amma and her mother were enrolled in a statistics class at Shawnee Community College. Amma said it was fun to take the class together.

Amma and Rama were home-schooled by their mother until they reached sixth grade. Then they began attending Cobden public schools.

Amma praised the home schooling. "It has made a great difference in our lives due to the one-on-one time with mom. We also have a strong relationship with dad," she said.

"We had a lot of fun with mom when we were taught at home. She made learning exciting and interesting because we had a lot of hands-on learning."

Although Amma and Rama live on campus at their respective schools, they occasionally return home on weekends and for birthdays.

With the entire family enrolled in college, the home atmosphere has centered around writing term papers and studying for finals.

"We are all very supportive of each other," said Amma. "We understand each other's stress."

The entire family is interested in social work. Amma said that her father completed his bachelor of science degree in social work just prior to her studying in the same major.

"Dad's a great resource," she said.

A former carpenter, Ron works as an alcohol and drug rehabilitation counselor at Fellowship House Inc. in Anna.

Karen is employed at Anna Vista Senior Citizen Apartments in Anna.

Amma was salutatorian of the class of 1993 at Cobden High School. She received a scholarship to attend Southeast and will graduate with honors with a 3.8 grade-point average.

This summer Amma will travel on a mission trip through eight states with Signs of Christ, a North Carolina-based group that performs sign language and drama to the accompaniment of contemporary Christian music.