May and June of each year witness a range of graduations that represent the culmination of hard work by students, parents and grandparents who prayed, counseled, encouraged persistence to the end, and in some cases, made financial sacrifices so that caps and gowns could be worn. The Cottagers Inc., guardians of the history, legacy and culture of Oak Bluffs, have many members with storied and lengthy academic careers. They embody the spirit and significance of graduations, as noted by the poet Catherine Pulsifer: “It has all paid off, your studying done/We hope you make time to enjoy some fun/Always remember life is learning journey/Keep filling your mind with all that is worthy.”

Some of their progeny have fulfilled their dreams. Speaking of history, Jocelyn Coleman Walton reports that two of Luella and Ralf Coleman’s great-great-grandsons have news to share. Elijah Williams is graduating from Sidwell Friends in Washington, DC and Cameron Walker graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson in New Jersey.

Yvonne Bauer comments on her grandchildren Lance Gaines and Dr. Latoya Gaines. Lance just received his Masters degree, chasing his sister who received her doctorate last year.

Lynn Bolles is enormously proud of her son, Shane Bolles Walsh. Shane received his Ph.D in American Studies from the University of Maryland at College Park, writing on a famous Shearer Cottage guest, Paul Robeson. His dissertation was entitled The Colossus of Rutgers: The Visual and Print Media Legacy of Paul Leroy Robeson. Robeson, like Roland Hayes and other great voices of their era, spent time at Shearer with the musical genius Harry T. Burleigh.

Tracey Rogers is very proud of her son, Bryant Robinson 4th, who graduated from the Phelps School in Malvern, Penn. and will be joining Elijah Wynton Moss from Chicago at Morehouse College in the fall. Elijah is the son of Union Chapel favorite Rev. Otis Moss 3rd. Both Bryant and Elijah missed out on the most exciting graduation of the 2019 season at Morehouse a few weeks ago. Many are still buzzing about the announcement by billionaire Robert Smith that he would pay off the student debt of Morehouse’s entire 2019 class. Good luck, men of the ‘House! The best is yet to come.

Looking further down the educational ladder, Cottager president Joanne Edey-Rhodes brags on her granddaughter Lula Naima Jackson. Lula, the daughter of Cottager Nia Rhodes Jackson, has been accepted to the W.E.B. DuBois Summer Scholars Program at Princeton University. Congratulations to all these Cottager families.

Locally we congratulate Dr. Karen Holmes Ward who received an honorary degree from her alma mater, Boston University, last week. Karen is an award-winning television producer and host. Her mother, father and siblings joined her in Oak Bluffs over Memorial Day weekend to toast her recognition.

Send Oak Bluffs news to rtaylor@mvgazette.com.