For the typical college student, graduating with one degree and a minor in another field is the norm. A dual degree, especially in the field of teacher education, is not uncommon. But to graduate with enough credit hours to earn five degrees is extremely rareespecially when you do so in a six-year span with a 3.6 grade-point average.
Such is life for West Virginia University senior Daniel R. Miller, who will collect those five diplomas Sunday (May 19) from the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences. The magna cum laude graduate will receive a bachelor of science in biology and bachelor of arts degrees in English, geography, history and liberal arts and sciences.
The 23-year-old Miller, who entered WVU in the fall of 1996, explained his search for knowledge.
“I didn’t start out to earn five degrees. I began as a biology major, hoping to one day attend medical school,”said Miller, a 1996 graduate of Shady Spring High School.”But I soon discovered that I enjoyed other subjects just as much. I had a lot of interests, and didnt want to pigeon-hole myself. So, I stayed in biologythen took some history classes because I found them interestingadded some geographyand it just grew from there.”
All total, Miller is expected to have over 240 credit hours when he graduates128 for the first degree and a minimum of 30 additional credit hours per each additional baccalaureate.
“Daniel is a terrific example of a student who has taken full advantage of the breadth of academic opportunities available in the liberal arts and sciences,”said Dean M. Duane Nellis of the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences.”We don’t expector even encouragemany students to pursue multiple undergraduate degrees, but Daniel’s spirit of inquiry is refreshing and his ability to perform well in a wide variety of disciplines is enviable.”
A WVU Bucklew Scholarone of WVU s elite awards named for former President Neil S. BucklewMiller came to the University six years ago on the full tuition and fees scholarship. Because of his academic standing, he was admitted into the WVU Honors Program and has remained in the highly selective program throughout his WVU career.
Keith Garbutt, director of the Honors Program, said it was hard keeping up with Miller.
“Im not surprised youre having trouble tracking him down for an interview,”Garbutt quipped.”I have trouble tracking him down myself but, certainly, this is quite an accomplishment. In my experience, this is the most degrees Ive ever seen earned at one time.”
Eberly College associate dean for undergraduate education Nick Evans agreed.
“I know we’ve had students complete three degrees at one time,”Evans said,”but I really can’t recall any over the last couple of decades who completed four or even five.”
With so much to do, one would guess that Miller spent most of his time in the classroom or library, but not so. He was a member of”The Pride of West Virginia,” WVU Marching Band for five years, playing the trumpet and flugal horn and serving as a district officer for Kappa Kappa Psi national band honorary.
He was involved in the WVU Geography Club and inducted into the national geography honorary Gamma Theta Upsilon and the academic honorary Phi Kappa Phi.
He also found time to work at the local Book Exchange.
“I balanced schoolwork, friends, band and work,”he said.”It definitely was not all work and no play.”
Miller said he feels fortunate to have been able to take advantage of all the opportunities offered by WVU .
“I was lucky because my various scholarships paid for most of my education and I could concentrate on all that WVU had to offer debt free,”he said.”My family and friends have also been very supportive. I couldnt have done it without them.”
Sharon Miller, Daniels mother, is a WVU graduate with a degree in medical technology. His fathera big influence on his lifeis deceased. Bother Matt is a student at Mountain State College in Beckley; sister Monica lives in North Carolina; and sister Brooke, age 4, is at home. Miller said the family will get together in Beckley for a”big celebration”later this summer.
Asked what friends back home who hear the news for the first time might say about his quintuple accomplishment, Miller was modest.”I dont think theyll be too shocked, as Ive always been a diligent student.”
As for most of his close friends, Miller said most have known for awhile”because I often turn to them for support, advice and just plain diversion.”
He attributes part of his focus and drive to starting school early.
“I was always a busy and active youth, taking piano lessons, playing in the band, taking part in drama productions and student government. I started school a year early, so I guess I always felt like I had to work a little bit harder than everyone else.”
After graduation, Miller plans to return home for a time and then re-enroll at WVU in the fall as a non-degree graduate student for one year. During that year, he plans to apply to several law schools and evaluate his future.
If he does decide to go into law, he plans to specialize in biological and medical cases, public policy and medical malpractice issues.
In addition to the Bucklew Scholarship, Miller also received financial support from several other sources, including a National Merit Finalist Scholarship, a Robert C. Byrd Scholarship, a Tylenol Scholarship and a scholarship from the Vecillio and Grogan Foundation of Beckley.
WVU s 133rd Commencement begins at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, May 19, at the WVU Coliseum. Over 2,850 degrees will be conferred. Some 4,000 students will have graduated from WVU this year, including December graduates. WVU alumnus Ray Lane, former Oracle COO , will give the commencement address,”New Kids, Turtles and the Cabbage Patch.”