Not many married couples can say they graduated from college side by side. For Duston and Heather Starr, that milestone is just the beginning. The pair not only earned their degrees together at Piedmont Community College (PCC), but today they work together — and continue taking classes together — as they prepare for their next chapter.
Duston made the decision to go back to school in 2023 and convinced Heather to join him. With a passion for public safety, Duston began working on an associate degree in criminal justice.
Heather began working on an associate degree in finance – her goal being to open a donut shop for her son Tanner, who has autism. At just 11 years old, Tanner’s dream job quickly became Heather’s dream as she knew that starting this business for him would aid him in his future. This career path also offers Heather the flexibility she needs to balance work with managing Crohn’s disease, which has kept her out of work in the past.
Although Duston and Heather graduated from PCC in May 2025, their educational journey isn’t over yet. The couple is still taking classes to earn additional credits before transferring to a four-year school. Along with their coursework, they both work at PCC — Duston as a part-time security officer on the Caswell County Campus and Heather as a work-study student in the Financial Aid department. Heather also serves as a student ambassador for the PCC Foundation while homeschooling their children.
For many adults returning to school, one of the biggest challenges is time. This is no different for the Starrs as they navigate work, school, family and finding time to just be with each other. Since they’ve had several general education classes together, sometimes quality time together looks a bit different and means studying together or working on homework together.
They are both proud to say that they’ve maintained excellent grades since going back to school and are even more proud to talk about the influence they’ve had on their children.
A moment Heather will never forget is when her son looked up at her the evening of graduation and said, “I’m proud of you.”
“Don’t hesitate,” Heather said when asked what advice she’d give to other couples and parents thinking about returning to school. “It can be intimidating and nerve-wracking, but it’s well worth it in the end to show your kids it’s possible. Don’t give up – you’re never too old to go back to school.”
“Just stick with it and be dedicated,” Duston said. “Even if you can’t come back full-time, do it at your own pace. PCC has great resources and people.”
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