April 30, 2008

This is the story of the Ellis family of Hoover. Dad David Ellis, 47, is a Gulf War veteran who followed his daughters to college at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). He graduated before them, receiving his bachelor's in physics this past December. His daughters, Sarah, 23, a mathematics major, and Emily, 22, a biology major, will graduate in May. Watching their father graduate was "a proud moment in a daughter's life," Emily says. This past semester was their first at UAB without their father, whom they missed, especially their daily lunches together. All three took calculus together a few years ago. Faculty and fellow students still ask Emily and Sarah how their father is doing.

David Ellis joined the Army after graduating from Homewood High School in 1979. He served in the Army for 11 years, including six months in Iraq during the Gulf War.     

After being discharged with a disability, Ellis worked as an automotive technician before deciding to return to college for his physics degree.  "After some soul-searching, teaching is what I wanted to do," he says. "So I decided to get my physics degree with a minor in education. Now that I've gotten my degree, I am going to be pursuing a master's in education." He wants to teach physics.

Ellis was in school for three years. He credits the financial support as well as counseling and encouragement received from the Veteran's Administration. He also thanks faculty and administrators in the schools of Natural Science and Mathematics and Education. One of the challenges David cites was being the same age as the parents of many of his classmates. Some classmates were reluctant to join him in study groups ... that is until they noticed David's test scores. Emily's friends told her David helped them get through some classes. David is thankful for the support of his mother, and he also thanks his wife, Renee, who was encouraging to him and the couple's two daughters. "She (Renee) has been a real trouper with all three of us going to school," he says. "She's spent a lot of time by herself and she has been extremely supportive." Emily and Sarah credit their mother as well. "There were nights, especially when we all had calculus, when the three of us were on campus past midnight," Sarah says. Despite the hard work, David hopes his story is an encouragement to other veterans. "There's a soft place in my heart for all of those who put on a uniform," he says.

David (physics) and Sarah (mathematics) plan to become teachers and attend graduate school at UAB in the Alternative Master's Teacher Education Program. "I want to be a teacher because I like working with kids, and they need someone to tell them which direction to go sometimes," David says. "I want to be there to help them." Emily plans to pursue her Ph.D. and teach in a science learning center. This summer, Emily will intern at Walt Disney World working with marine mammals in The Seas exhibit at Epcot Center.