By Segun Adeyanju

A mother and her twin daughters have made history by graduating together on the same day from the Open University (OU), in Milton Keynes, England.

Sarah Chappell and her 23-year-old twins, Megan and Abbey Douglas-Chappell, studied from their home in Cambridge while maintaining full-time jobs.

“It was amazing to graduate with my girls. We’ve come so far, and I’m so proud of all they’ve achieved at such a young age,” said Chappell, a senior project manager at a biotechnology firm, who earned a Master’s degree in Systems Thinking in Practice.

She praised the Open University for offering flexible learning that allowed the family to work and study simultaneously.

“With rising costs at traditional universities, the OU gave my girls a chance to stay home, work, and complete their studies with less debt than most of their peers,” she added.

Megan graduated with a first-class degree in Environmental Studies while working at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust.

She now works for a sustainable urban planning firm and credited their “weekend study sessions” for keeping the trio motivated.

Abbey earned a Law degree and has begun a solicitor apprenticeship at Mills and Reeve in Cambridge, where she was already working as a paralegal.

“After struggling with isolation at a traditional university during COVID-19, studying with OU helped me balance my education and career,” she said.

The family’s inspiring academic journey has drawn wide admiration online, celebrating their shared discipline and determination to achieve success together.