Kristina Deere, mother of freshman Danielle Deere, started her education at a community college, but soon learned she was pregnant with Danielle. She decided to put her dreams on hold to raise her family.
Kristina gained her drive from her father, who did not graduate from high school. He pushed her to get an education and become all that she could be; he wanted her to have the life he wasn’t able to. Danielle has gained this same passion from her mother.
Kristina, a senior art major at Adrian College will graduate this spring and hopes to attend graduate school to earn her Master’s degree. If she were given the chance, she would return to AC and become an art professor. Her artwork has been displayed in Tecumseh, Italy, The Fort Wayne Museum of Fine Arts, Amvets, The Box Art Show, and in AC’s own exhibits.
Kristina had the opportunity to study abroad last year. She took her children with her to Italy and was able to share Italian art and history with them. While there, she helped paint a mural for the oldest hospital in the world.
Kristina is a mother figure towards the students she is friends with, but also has that cool mom attitude.
“She’s like our mom away from home, but [she] can still relate to us,” said various art students.
She has Danielle’s friends or her AC friends and professors over for dinner, because they are conveniently located close to campus.
Kristina is extremely grateful for all the opportunities that AC has been able to offer her. She feels that AC has broadened her horizons.
“I like being able to relate to her, there are a lot of things parents don’t understand about college, but I am able to experience them with her. It has been a blessing to be a part of this huge step in her life. While most parents have to let go of their babies, I am able to have dinner with mine,” Kristina said.
Danielle is majoring in English with a minor in journalism. She is an active member of Chi Omega sorority, Japanese Club, and the Pen and Ink Society. She will also be taking part in the production “Titus Andronicus.” In addition to these activities, Danielle cheerleads at AC and works two jobs on campus. She hopes to also attend graduate school at Columbia University or New York University and write for a major magazine.
Danielle is proud of her mom for returning to college after all this time.
“It’s a little weird to see my mom interacting so easily with people my age, but having her here as well as my dad gives AC a home-like feeling for me,” Danielle said.
Kristina’s son plans on attending AC next fall. Jim Deere, Danielle’s father, is the head football coach for the AC Bulldogs, and is a 1989 graduate.
AC has become a Deere family tradition.