Mom who went to classes with quadriplegic son gets MBA

ORANGE, Calif. — A Southern California university has awarded an honorary degree to the mother of a quadriplegic student after she attended every class with him and took his notes while he pursued his Master of Business Administration.

Judy O'Connor, a retired elementary-school teacher, pushed her son Marty in his wheelchair for him to receive his degree during commencement Saturday at Chapman University in the Los Angeles suburb of Orange.

Then, a choked-up graduation announcer said the school's faculty, administrators and board of trustees had decided to give her an MBA. The idea for the surprise honorary degree came from her son.

A stunned but composed Judy O'Connor blew a kiss to the crowd giving her a standing ovation.

"I'm a geek. I love being in school," she said before the ceremony. "I'm not going to lie. I've enjoyed every minute of it."

Marty O'Connor received an undergraduate degree from the University of Colorado and was working as a salesman for a packaging industry company in 2012 when he fell down a flight of stairs and was paralyzed.

"After I got hurt, I didn't know which end was up. I didn't really have a direction," he said in a story on the school's website. "I needed that mental challenge and wanted to add some professional value to myself."

Chapman University said that he works with an iPad, laptop, voice recognition software and a special stylus, but it was impossible for him to take notes or write down answers for tests. That's where his mother came in.

She was living in Florida but moved to Southern California to help her son earn his MBA. She also had a business degree from Notre Dame.

Marty told Chapman University's blog that the business curriculum proved challenging.

“There is no challenge greater than trying to do data analytics with voice software,” O’Connor said.

When he resumes his career, he'll be aided by a professional assistant who will take over where his mom left over. Marty said the MBA has allowed a reset on his life following the crash.

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Associated Press