Sue Wetzel and her family mastered every class from nursing to spelling this school year, wrapping up their accomplishments with four graduations this month.

Wetzel, her daughter, her son-in-law and her grandson are right in the middle of the graduation season in Butler County, one that will soon be awash in mortar boards, gowns and tassels.

Wetzel, of Cabot, is graduating from Waynesburg College with two master’s degrees, one in nursing and the other in business administration for health systems.

The 35-year registered nurse said she had previously gone to St. John’s Hospital for nursing school, but several years ago took a job that required her to have her bachelor’s degree in nursing.

“So I went to Waynesburg’s Wexford campus (now in Seven Fields), graduating in 2002,” she said.

Wetzel continued school to earn the two master’s degrees — a feat she could not have done without the support of her family, especially husband, Bob.

Michael and Kelley Hibbs, Wetzel’s son-in-law and daughter, have a similar relationship, supporting each other emotionally while they worked their way through college.

Michael Hibbs graduated earlier this month with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Point Park University in Pittsburgh. Also a Butler County Community College graduate, Michael worked his way through college for 11 years.

He now has a new job with Joy Mining Machines in Warrendale that he landed with his new degree.

Kelley Hibbs, who met Michael at BC3, graduated earlier this month with a master’s in human resource management from La Roche College in McCandless Township, Allegheny County. She worked her way through college while working at USIS in Boyers.

The Karns City couple said they leaned on each other when the going got rough.

“I’d call her and tell her how much I wanted to quit. I mean, 11 years, but Kelley Hibbs would always help me get through whatever it was and continue on toward my degree,” Michael said.

The fourth graduate is just on the cusp of his academic career. Calvin Mitchell, 5, is graduating next week from St. Joseph’s preschool in Cabot.

Calvin knew his numbers when he started school this year, but he learned how to spell his name.

His favorite part of preschool?

“Painting with a brush (winning out over finger painting),” Calvin said.

He is looking forward to taking his bicycle to the graduation picnic and to going to kindergarten in the fall.

Each graduate has special advice for those still in school or those considering going back.

Michael Hibbs encourages students to keep their eyes on the prize.

“You can do anything you want as long as you focus on your goals and keep trying to get what it is you want,” he said, adding he will soon start work on his master’s in business administration.

Kelley Hibbs said her mother taught her “nothing was more important than education, so I’m following in her footsteps.”

Wetzel said when she began working on her bachelor’s degree, she worried that she was too old to be a student.

“But I was wrong. Age doesn’t matter when it comes to learning,” she said. “Remember, education is the thing you can always take with you.”

As for Calvin, he said if other children asked him about preschool, he’d tell them that “it’s like a fun,” and they would “love it!”