May 16, 2025
Grandmother and Granddaughter Graduate Together from Lake-Sumter State College
By Kyle Coppola
Grandmother and Granddaughter Graduate Together from Lake-Sumter State College
CLERMONT, Fla. – Last week marked a milestone for 71-year-old Diane Maca and her 19-year-old granddaughter, Payton Kuhn, as they both graduated from Lake-Sumter State College with Associate in Arts degrees.
On May 8, at the Clermont Arts & Recreation Center, four generations of family gathered for the college’s 71st commencement ceremony to watch Maca and Kuhn cross the stage side by side.
“Diane and Payton’s journey is a powerful reminder that education is truly transformational at any stage of life,” said Dr. Laura Byrd, interim president of Lake-Sumter State College. “This special experience speaks to our commitment to empower students to achieve their goals and inspire change in our community. We are proud to have been part of their story and look forward to seeing all they accomplish.”
For Maca, the moment was more than a personal achievement—it was the culmination of a lifelong journey shaped by a belief in the power of education. The daughter of immigrants who passed through Ellis Island, Maca was raised with a deep appreciation for the American dream. Though her parents never went beyond an eighth-grade education, they instilled in her the importance of earning a college degree.
Adding to the meaning of the day, Maca’s 98-year-old mother, Stella Strusinski, was in attendance to proudly watch her daughter and great-granddaughter graduate.
“I’ve taken college courses off and on for years,” Maca said. “But when I met with the staff at LSSC and they helped map out a path forward, I knew I was finally going to finish what I started. And to do it alongside my granddaughter made it even more special.”
Maca isn’t finished yet. She is just nine credits away from completing a Bachelor of Applied Science in Leadership and continues to take classes at LSSC while proudly watching three of her grandchildren pursue their own college paths. She believes it’s never too late to follow your dreams and hopes her story inspires others to keep learning, no matter their age.
Kuhn is preparing to transfer to the University of Central Florida with the goal of attending veterinary school at the University of Florida. A passionate horse lover, she plans to become an equine veterinarian. While at LSSC, she and her grandmother created memories that brought them even closer.
“At first, it was a little awkward going to college with my grandma,” Kuhn said with a laugh. “But it turned out to be a really cool experience. We’ve had fun together, and it’s something I’ll always cherish. My friends all love her and she fit right in.”
Their accomplishment is a family milestone that showcases the value of education at any age—and the meaningful connections that can grow through learning.
At Lake-Sumter State College, students find not only the resources and support to pursue their goals, but also a community that celebrates learners at every stage of life. Diane and Payton’s experience is a powerful reminder: it’s never too late to chase your dreams and turn them into reality.
Kyle Coppola was born in Newton, Massachusetts and received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communications from Curry College in 2016. After traveling to Florida on a family vacation, he decided he could not get enough of the warm weather and made the move from snowy Massachusetts to central Florida 8 years ago.
For the last decade Kyle has gained valuable experience in social media content creation, marketing and sales, writing, video production, sports announcing and even broadcasting for local radio stations, such as FM 102.9 in The Villages and FM 91.5 in Massachusetts. Every year he volunteers at The Villages Charter High School as a play-by-play sports announcer for the football games as well as a public address announcer for the basketball games, including the annual Battle at The Villages Tournament.
Outside the office Kyle is a husband and father to two beautiful girls along with their cat. In his spare time he likes to spend time with his family, travel, play golf and swim. He is also a huge sports junkie and even bigger motorsports fan and loves to attend racing events when he can.
