There are certain life milestones one hits along the way. For many, college graduation is the real beginning of adulthood. Quintuplets in New Jersey earned this life achievement together.
The five Povolo siblings graduated from Montclair State University on Monday, May 13, 2024. It is believed this is the first time in the university’s history that this has occurred. They are first generation college graduates.
Victoria, Ludovico, Ashley, Michael, and Marcus all studied different subjects. Victoria tackled biochemistry and minored in Italian. Ludovico studied political science with minors in pre-law and business, and Ashley was an English major in the teacher education program. Marcus studied business administration while Michael took on nutrition and food science.
The Povolo quintuplets were born on July 4, 2002. Because of their birthday, they were nicknamed the “Five Little Firecrackers” by the media. Their parents, Paolo and Silvia Povolo, couldn’t be prouder.
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“It’s a gigantic moment for them and for us,” dad Paolo gushed. “So basically, we’ve been saying, ‘When one door closes another one opens.’ In the sense that college is coming to an end, we have to think of the future, we have to think of what’s next … and that is in the making.”
"We didn't go to college. We came from another country and here they are blooming," Mom Silvia told CBS News. She believes her kids’ college graduation is “a dream come true."
There was a time that Paolo and Silvia worried this dream’s price tag might be too expensive. The siblings considered community college and trade schools instead. "Each of us wanted very different things in terms of majors. But the one thing we shared was applying to Montclair,” Michael explained.
Montclair granted all five siblings Presidential Scholarships. This, combined with grants and additional scholarships, meant that their four years of college education was tuition free. The family is so grateful for this amazing support.
Victoria revealed her path might have looked different if the scholarships hadn't come through. "I was very aware of the financial situation of my family," she explained. "If it had been too much, I would have bowed out and just not gone to college because I didn’t want to put that on my parents, and I didn’t want to put that on myself financially."
Instead she graduated with her siblings. It’s exciting to muse what’s next for these accomplished young scholars.
