Alyson and Sandy Kluskowski

Beginning this year, Walden University is presenting the Above and Beyond Award to a friend or family member of a graduating student whose support went above and beyond the call of duty and made it possible for the graduate to achieve her or his goal. This year’s recipient was Alyson Kluskowski. Here’s the nomination letter her mother wrote:

I would like to nominate my daughter Alyson Kluskowski for the Above and Beyond Award. Alyson’s support during the time that I completed my master’s degree truly set her apart from the typical 12- and 13-year-old. 

I began pursuing my master’s degree about nine months after my husband died from cancer. My husband, Kevin, and I were happily married and enjoying parenting our children, Alyson and David. Kevin and I were both teachers and about to pursue our master’s degrees when he was diagnosed with brain cancer. Needless to say, this pursuit had to be delayed. We shared one more year with Kevin before he died when Alyson was 11 and David was 4.

The following year, a group of teachers asked me to join their master’s degree program through Walden University. I was eager to participate primarily because it would be a degree in reading and literacy, which was of great interest to me. The program would include meeting with these teachers as a study group once a week, as well as completing reading and weekly assignments. I shared this idea with many family members who discouraged me from taking on this challenge at this point in my life.  They felt that the added stress and workload would be way too much for me to handle.  Indeed, I almost quit the program after two courses. It was Alyson who kept me going.

When I first decided to join the group, I talked with Alyson about my concerns. I knew that the reading and assignments could be completed at home, primarily after David’s bedtime. The study group would keep me away one evening a week for about two hours. Alyson immediately took on the responsibility of caring for her brother during this time.

She was in the midst of her own adjustments to our new lifestyle, but willing to care for her brother, and willing to help me to gain my master’s degree. I could not have completed the program without her support.

At this point, David was so attached to Alyson and me that he would not allow anyone else to put him to bed at night. She willingly took on this role. When I wanted to quit the master’s program because I feared that my family members were correct and I couldn’t get through it, they all encouraged me to give myself a break and quit. Alyson encouraged me to keep going. She kept up the routine of watching her brother, and also offered to help out with him when I needed to work on an assignment before his bedtime.

Alyson truly went above and beyond to help me earn my degree. I was overwhelmed by her love and show of support for her brother and me. She is a responsible, bright young lady of 14. I feel she will continue to excel due to her dedication and determination to help others, as well as herself, succeed. She has a true appreciation for her own education as well as mine. She and I are both thrilled that I am able to use the knowledge gained in my master’s program on a daily basis to help teach young children. For all of these reasons, I would like to nominate Alyson Kluskowski for the Above and Beyond Award.

August Ponder front page