UNCONQUERED SPIRITS

THE JOURNEY OF DYLAN AND BETHANY DUNAWAY

by: Angela Donahue, ’19

Dylan and Bethany Dunaway have encouraged one another to pursue their goals since they met in high school. After Hurricane Michael battered Bay County Oct. 10, the young couple’s goals turned from ensuring the safety of their families and homes to being able to graduate together on time.

After the storm, the couple, who were both on the dean’s list and taking the final course requirements to earn their bachelor’s degrees in professional communication, wanted to make sure all their hard work wasn’t delayed by the destruction.

Desperate for answers, they reached out in an email to Dean Randy Hanna. “He called us at 9 that night,” Bethany said.

Hanna assured the couple that the faculty and staff were committed to doing whatever it took to make sure they both graduated on time.

It would not be easy making up all of the course work in just a few short weeks, but they knew that together they could overcome anything.

“Through all of this, we held each other accountable,” Bethany said. “Our standard as Dunaways is all A’s and we weren’t going to let that drop.”

On Dec. 15, 2018, they walked across the stage in Tallahassee earning their degrees in professional communication.

“I am officially a ‘Nole alumni like my father before me, and I am so proud,” Bethany said.