William and Alivia Sparrow both came to the UToledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences for the physician assistants (PA) program.
Through their pursuit of education, they found one another.
CELEBRATING SUCCESS: UToledo recognizes the Class of 2024 with a series of stories featuring students receiving their degrees at fall commencement.
“We met early on in the PA program. We spent a decent amount of time together because we were a part of the same friend group. Over time I grew to greatly appreciate the energy and excitement Alivia brought to our interactions,” William said. “It’s crazy to think that we wouldn’t have met if it wasn’t for us both being accepted into the PA program at the same time, and I wouldn’t be sitting here feeling like the luckiest man alive.”
Not long after, William and Alivia were engaged and expecting a new addition to their family.
“We found out that I was pregnant right before starting clinical rotations and that our daughter would arrive in September,” Alivia said. “Believe it or not, the timing of everything worked out in such a way that I would still be on track to graduate with our class. William has been extremely supportive throughout this whole experience, and I could not imagine life without him or our beautiful daughter, Sophia.”
The couple navigated clinical rotations, exams and Alivia’s pregnancy all at once.
“My greatest challenge was completing my clinical rotations while pregnant and postpartum,” Alivia said. “This is something that is difficult for all women but was especially for me as a full-time student in a rigorous graduate program.”
William and Alivia Sparrow found each other as students in the College of Graduate Studies for the physician assistants program. They started a family and now will each graduate with a master of science degree in biomedical sciences on Dec. 14.
They married on Sept. 15 in a small ceremony. Ten days later, their daughter, Sophia, was born.
“I married my wife, started our family and graduated with a master’ s degree all in the same year,” William said. “It has been a whirlwind of a time and probably the most challenging period of my life.”
Graduating Dec. 14, both William and Alivia will be receiving their master of science degree in biomedical sciences.
The couple is thankful to UToledo for bringing them together.
“I am extremely grateful for everything that UToledo has given me in the 27 months that I have spent here,” Alivia said. “Not only was I given an excellent education, but it was where I met my best friend and now husband. I will miss all the memories that we created at the Health Science Campus, recreation center, football field and so on.”
“I will always remember this University as the place I met the love of my life and the time period we began our family,” Will said. “I think most people have pride for their University, The University of Toledo has a permanent place in my heart.”
