UMW – a family affair

Katherine and Ronald Napier experienced a bit of déjà vu as they watched their son, Andrew, receive his diploma at the University’s  2007 Commencement. They walked across the same stage on Ball Circle decades ago.

The younger Napier is among the first double legacy graduates at UMW. Men were not allowed to enroll at Mary Washington until 1972; consequently, few marriage matches were made until the mid-70s. Ronald ’77 and Katherine ’78 met during their undergraduate days, and subsequently married. The Napiers now live in Front Royal, Va.

Ronald is a juvenile and domestic relations judge in the 26th Judicial District, and Katherine is vice president of business development for Thermo Fisher Scientific.

“We are so happy for Andrew,” said Katherine. “We love UMW. We get that same wonderful feeling whenever we walk on campus.”

So does Andrew. The Napiers’ three children routinely accompanied their parents to class reunions, and Andrew grew to love the campus. On a visit during his senior year in high school, Andrew realized he had found the right academic match.

“I looked at the theater department and was very impressed,” said Andrew, a theater major. “I liked the downtown atmosphere and the fact that Fredericksburg was unlike a typical college town.”

His parents’ alma mater has lived up to his expectations. UMW has prepared him well for life after college, he said. Andrew sharpened his leadership abilities as chair of Studio 115, the student-run theater. He honed indispensable people skills while working in the theater’s box office and assisting the admission’s office.  He was a regular at campus theater productions, often working behind the scenes designing the set.

The Napiers will maintain their UMW dynasty for four more years. Andrew’s younger sister, Mary Katherine, will begin her freshman year at the University this fall.

                                                                                        – Marty Morrison