Graduation is a Family Affair for Mother, Daughter and Son

Saying the Meboes like to do things as a family is an understatement.

On May 4, 2024, siblings Issa and Joey Meboe graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, Arizona, both receiving Bachelor of Science degrees in Mechanical Engineering. During the ceremony, Issa led the university anthem from the stage. At the same commencement celebration, the Meboes’ mother, Dianne, carried the Embry-Riddle Worldwide Campus banner as the Worldwide class marshal then went on to receive a Master of Science in Leadership with distinction, which she earned while working in Seattle for Embry-Riddle’s Worldwide Campus, first as an assistant campus director and then as a graduate academic advisor.

“Seeing her work hard day and night for her education and ours has been powerful motivation during these past four years,” said Issa of her mom. “I cannot thank my parents enough for their unending support and encouragement.”

Doing things together is nothing new for the Meboes. Dianne and husband Greg Meboe, an engineer at The Boeing Company, home-schooled Issa, Joey and their other two children intermittently. Issa and Joey, who excelled in math, attended Raisbeck Aviation High School (RAHS), taking advantage of the rigorous academic program designed for teenagers interested in aerospace and other STEM fields. Dianne became the special education teacher at the Seattle area high school when Issa was a sophomore, and Joey had graduated and moved on to community college.

After Issa's sophomore year at RAHS, Dianne helped chaperone her and a dozen other students on a visit to Embry-Riddle’s Prescott Campus.

Both mother and daughter fell in love with the campus and its mission.

“Embry-Riddle rolled out the red carpet for us,” she said. “We got to fly Cessna planes, try out flight simulators, tour the machine shop in the Aerospace Experimentation and Fabrication Building and meet current students who loved the school.”

Issa said Dr. Krishna Sampigethaya, associate professor and chair of the Department of Cyber Intelligence and Security, also introduced the high school group to Embry-Riddle’s Prescott cybersecurity classes. “He made a great impression on behalf of the school, exemplifying the unique, student-centric mindset that is so prevalent here in the staff and faculty.”

The family visited a number of engineering schools, but as Issa's high school graduation approached, she applied only to Embry-Riddle. Once accepted, she chose as her major Mechanical Engineering on the Propulsion track. Her brother also enrolled, choosing Mechanical Engineering on the Energy track. Dianne had started working at the Worldwide Campus earlier that same year, and because of her employment, the family was granted tuition waivers.

The siblings’ academic program at Embry-Riddle culminated in a shared capstone project — creating a hybrid engine demonstrator for future students — with five other teammates.

“We work together because we have such a strong bond,” Joey said, adding that before attending college together, he and his sister were not as close. “For a while, Issa and I didn't have family in Arizona, and we ended up spending more time together than we had in the past. I really value the friendship that has come out of this situation. I know we will be close for the rest of our lives.”

For her part, Dianne is thrilled with her family’s Embry-Riddle experience.

“I am honored Embry-Riddle Prescott gave me permission to walk in the same graduation ceremony as our two graduating children. We three are so grateful for the opportunity of a world-class education,” she said.

After graduation, Issa will begin a job as an engineer at JT4 in Nevada. Joey will go to work on innovating automated mountain carving tools at the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation in South Dakota. Dianne plans to continue working at Embry-Riddle Worldwide.

Posted In: Engineering