A Shared Milestone
At OKWU’s 2025 Spring Commencement, the Aeschleman family celebrated a moment few families ever share—a mother, father, and daughter all graduating together. Three family members, three degrees, one unforgettable walk across the stage. OKWU’s assistant women’s basketball coach, Taneisha Aeshleman, completed her master’s in strategic leadership. Her husband, Bradley, earned his master’s in business. Their daughter Cierra, the middle of five siblings, became the first of her siblings to receive a college diploma.
The timing came as a surprise. When Cierra learned she could graduate a year early, what started as individual timelines quickly became a shared moment of purpose. “It just aligned,” said Taneisha. “It wasn’t something we set out to do, but it became a shared blessing.”
Balancing Life, Loss, and Learning
For Taneisha, pursuing a graduate degree while coaching and raising a family was already a full plate. Then, halfway through the program, she lost her mother. Grief made everything harder, and finishing the program felt nearly impossible.
“I was ready to quit, but God used my professors, my team, and my family to remind me there was still purpose in pushing through.” – Taneisha Aeschleman, MSSL
It was the OKWU community that helped her keep going. Her professors extended grace and flexibility when she needed it most. Her players offered encouragement. And at home, her husband and daughter became part of her support system. “I was ready to quit,” Taneisha said. “But God used my professors, my team, and my family to remind me there was still purpose in pushing through.” Bradley and Cierra were balancing their own academic demands, too. Their dining room was often turned into a shared study space, books stacked on the table, with their laptops open late into the night. But no matter what, they continued to show up for each other.
To the Aeschlemans, this was more than a family project, but it was a generational milestone. Bradley returned to school in honor of the value his own parents had placed on lifelong learning.
“I wanted my kids to see that personal growth never stops…No matter your age or stage, there’s always more to learn.” – Bradley Aeschleman, MBA
Cierra, now a college graduate, had watched both her parents push through challenges and saw what perseverance really looked like. “I wanted my kids to see that personal growth never stops,” said Bradley. “No matter your age or stage, there’s always more to learn.” Each of them was chasing individual growth, but they were also building a legacy their entire family could look up to.
Throughout the process, OKWU didn’t just equip them with academic knowledge, it shaped their faith and resilience. Taneisha found space to grow spiritually while leading others, Bradley found perspective and peace through coursework rooted in a biblical worldview, and Cierra helped start a student-led Bible study.
“OKWU didn’t just teach me, it helped me become who I’m meant to be. Spiritually, mentally, emotionally, [OKWU] shaped all of it.”
– Cierra Aeschleman, Class of 2025
Now, with degrees in hand, the Aeschlemans look to what’s next, but they carry something deeper than credentials. Their journey is a story of shared strength, steady faith, and the kind of leadership that begins at home. If the Aeschlemans’ story has sparked something in you, maybe it’s time to take the next step.
At OKWU, you don’t have to walk this journey alone, and you don’t have to do it all at once. With flexible online options and a Christ-centered support system, higher education can fit your life and your calling! Explore our programs here: Graduate & Online Degrees
