WATERVILLE — Wilton’s Randy Hoyt will be a proud father when he watches his son Jordan receive his bachelor’s degree in business management from Thomas College Saturday afternoon.

Photo ops will have to wait, though, until the elder Hoyt follows his son at commencement, receiving his master’s degree in business administration.

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COLLEGE BUDDIES: Randy Hoyt, left, of Wilton, and his son Jordan will graduate from Thomas College in Waterville on Saturday. Staff photo by David Leaming

“It’s special for us,” said Randy Hoyt, 46. “Family is important and education is important and this is a combination of the both for us.”

The Hoyts didn’t time it this way. Randy Hoyt, who received an undergraduate degree in business administration at the University of Maine Augusta in 2008 started classes at Thomas College before Jordan decided to attend the school.

The family also includes wife and mother Beth, and sons Derek, a sophomore at Bowdoin College and Devon, a sophomor at Mt. Blue High School in Farmington.

“I always believed that education is a lifelong journey,” Randy Hoyt said. “I had positive things to say, but as a parent you want your child to make his own decision and not discourage or encourage a particular place.”

A graduate of Mt. Blue High School in Farmington, Jordan Hoyt was looking primarily at three colleges: the University of Maine, Husson University and Thomas College.

“Thomas gave me more of a community feeling where everyone knows each other and you can build strong relationships with other students and staff,” said Jordan Hoyt, 22. “I have a great relationship with my parents and the distance from home, only an hour, gave me that separation and independence that I wanted, but I could always go home if I needed.”

While the commute back home was easy for Jordan Hoyt, who played basketball at Thomas College for four years, it was just as easy to have dad bring something on to campus.

“A lot of times we’d see each other. Most graduate classes were in the evening so I’d come down at around six o’clock and bring a care package from mom,” Randy Hoyt said.

Having his father on campus didn’t seem to bother Jordan Hoyt.

“I’d see him around, sometimes he’d poke his head into (basketball) practice,” he said. “He’s a great role model.”

Working full-time for Hannaford in Lewiston for 27 years, the last 15 years as store manager, Randy Hoyt took the two-year masters program part-time around his job and also managed, with the rest of the family, to attend Jordan’s basketball games.

“I went to many games and all the home games. I try to take a low profile,” Randy Hoyt said, adding that the past couple years a sibling rivalry has come into play.

“I have another son who goes to Bowdoin, and when they played each other I had a little concern as to who to root for. But Derek doesn’t play on the team and Jordan does, so it was pretty easy.”

After receiving a degree Saturday in business management, Jordan Hoyt said he’s still considering his options, whether to enter the working world or continue his education at Thomas College.

Despite receiving another degree, Randy Hoyt said it wasn’t part of some scheme for a new career or any sort of midlife crisis. It was a logical and convenient way to improve himself while acting as a role model for his children, he said.

“Anytime you can get an education, it’s important,” he said. “And I’ve always believed in continuing to learn. It allows me to be a better manager and more successful at what I do now. I don’t think it’s necessarily you have this (degree) and now you have to do something different. But it certainly makes you better.”

Jesse Scardina — 861-9239 | jscardina@centralmaine.com | Twitter: @jessescardina

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