For Toledo natives Aniyah and Jaiden Woodley being a Rocket is a family affair.
Their mother, Toni Woodley, graduated from The University of Toledo in 2015 with her bachelor’s degree in nursing and works at The University of Toledo Medical Center as a house supervisor.
CELEBRATING SUCCESS: UToledo recognizes the Class of 2023 with a series of stories featuring students receiving their degrees at spring commencement.
Jawaun Woodley, their cousin, graduated in 2017 and Rashad Woodley, their older brother, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in computer science and engineering technology in 2018. Their dad, Robert Woodley, received his master’s in education from UToledo in 2019, and is the program manager for Retention for the Office of Multicultural Student Success.
Growing up, the Woodley siblings have fond memories of going to basketball and football games to see their cousin play for the Rockets. Their parents encouraged them to look at UToledo for college — not just to join them as Rockets but also for the affordability UToledo offers.
Now, Aniyah and Jaiden will join the Rocket alumni in their family as they celebrate their graduation — with bachelor’s degrees in environmental science and information technology, respectively — during Spring Commencement on Saturday, May 6.
Although choosing UToledo was easy for both, they had their own reasons for their decisions and have crafted their own paths.
Aniyah, majoring in environmental science with a minor in environmental biology, chose UToledo because of the University’s expertise in environmental science and water quality.
“I knew I wanted to explore Lake Erie and its issues, so the location was also a deciding factor,” Aniyah said. “I’ve always been interested in nature and the environment while growing up, but what really kicked off my interest was the Toledo Water Crisis in 2014.
“I wanted to learn exactly how and why it happened, and the policies that protect the lake and where on a local and state level we can improve.”
In the summer of 2021, she was awarded a grant from the National Science Foundation to conduct research at the Lake Erie Center with Dr. Bill Hintz. Together, they studied the interactions between road salts and zooplankton in local bodies of water.
The University of Toledo is all in the family for the Woodleys. From left, Jaiden graduates May 6 with a bachelor’s degree in information technology and his sister, Aniyah, right center, will receive her bachelor’s degree in environmental science May 6 as well. Their mother, Toni, father, Robert, and older brother, Rashad, are all UToledo graduates as well.
Aniyah is finishing an internship at Vehtek Systems, a metal stamping facility in Bowling Green. She helps ensure that the plant is compliant with EPA and OSHA rules and regulations.
Outside of classes, she was president of UT Tuners, a student organization for car enthusiasts.
“My favorite memory was taking over Centennial Mall with UT Tuners,” Aniyah said. “We gathered some community partners, current students and alumni to all park their cars last year in Centennial Mall.”
After graduation, Aniyah hopes to work on environmental, health and safety concerns and eventually work for the EPA or OSHA.
Her brother, Jaiden — who is older by a year and five months — chose UToledo because of his interest in computers. He chose to major in information technology with a minor in business. Growing up, he attended technology camps hosted by the University.
“I grew up with a dad and brother who loved technology; my brother, specifically, was the person who got me interested in computers and IT as a profession,” Jaiden said. “UToledo’s campus has an unmatched atmosphere compared to other colleges in the area.”
Jaiden works as an IT student worker in Carlson Library and the University Computing Center and completed an internship in Iowa at Athene, an annuity business, in summer 2022. He helped new hires set up computers and other technology and helped erase and manage the company’s laptop inventory.
He said he hopes to use his degree to find a career in end-user support — and one day return to UToledo for his master’s degree.
Aniyah and Jaiden’s father, Robert, who is the Office of Multicultural Student Success program manager for retention, is proud of their success in the classroom and the mark they’ve left on the University.
Aniyah Woodley and older brother Jaiden graduate May 6.
“Aniyah and Jaiden are both extremely motivated and high academic achievers, but more importantly they are great human beings,” Robert said. “They are thoughtful, caring, empathic and handle situations with grace and courage. As parents, Toni and I could not be prouder of what they have accomplished this spring here at UToledo.”
Aniyah and Jaiden are equally proud to join the rest of the Rocket alumni in their family.
“There is a sense of pride in all of us that we were able to graduate from UToledo,” Jaiden said. “I know that among my siblings we frequently discuss our time at UToledo, whether about the classes we took or events happening on campus.
“Now that graduation is near, I can’t help but think about how fast it all went by, but at the same time I’m happy to have had such a great time at The University of Toledo and I’m excited to see what the future will bring.”
