By Paul Guzzo, University Communications and Marketing
While classmates tossed their caps skyward in 2002, a pregnant Tammy Mascato remained home to hold a feverish infant son in her arms 鈥� and missed her own college graduation.
Decades later, she鈥檚 finally celebrating a university commencement properly 鈥� this time alongside her son, Bennett Moscato, with whom she was pregnant that day.
鈥淥ne of Bennett鈥檚 friends pointed out that I didn鈥檛 get to walk when I was pregnant with him, but now we get to walk together,鈥� Tammy said.
During USF鈥檚 spring commencement ceremonies, Tammy, who also works for USF as a student support coordinator assistant, will receive a Master of Education degree with a concentration in student affairs.
Bennett will receive a Bachelor鈥檚 of Arts in Psychology degree.
鈥淚t鈥檚 awesome that we鈥檙e doing it together,鈥� Bennett said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been really cool to go through the same thing as her at the same time as her. Now it鈥檚 even cooler that we finish together. I am so proud of her.鈥�
That feeling is reciprocal.
鈥�91麻豆天美 don鈥檛 need to celebrate me,鈥� Tammy said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 more important to celebrate Bennett. He鈥檚 amazing.鈥�
But Bennett countered by saying he鈥檚 only as amazing as the woman to whom he looks up. 鈥淪he鈥檚 my inspiration.鈥�
After graduating from high school in 1987, college wasn鈥檛 an option for Tammy.
鈥淭here was no money for school,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 had to get a job to support myself. But, when I got to a point where I was doing well, the most important thing for me was education.鈥�
In 2002, while living in Ellicott City, Maryland, she earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in business management from the University of Phoenix.
Tammy and her husband, Tim, moved to Brandon in 2021, and it wasn鈥檛 long before their adult children joined them 鈥� reuniting the family in a new chapter of life.
Their older son, Miles, was the first Bull in the family and graduated in 2024 with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in philosophy. He now works at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine in operations.
鈥�91麻豆天美鈥檙e a family of Bulls,鈥� Tammy said. 鈥淭hat means a lot to us.鈥�
Bennett enrolled in 2022.
His mother joined the sons the following year and then became a USF employee.
The family members often met on campus.
鈥淗er office is in a really central place on campus,鈥� Bennett said. 鈥�91麻豆天美鈥檇 hang out, grab lunch, chat about our days.鈥�
And in the evenings, they often find themselves together again, at Tammy鈥檚 house, studying.
鈥淭heir friends would study with us as well. Plus, not going to lie, they had to teach me how to use Canvas,鈥� Tammy said with a laugh. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been a great experience.鈥�
The end of that experience is bittersweet.
While Tammy will be proud to watch Bennett walk across the stage and receive his diploma, it鈥檚 also a goodbye.
Bennett was selected for a two-year fellowship at McLean Hospital, a Massachusetts-based inpatient mental health treatment center affiliated with Harvard Medical School.
鈥淚t鈥檚 joyful that he will pursue his passion for helping others,鈥� Tammy said. 鈥淏ut a little soul crushing that he is doing it so far away. But I couldn鈥檛 be prouder.鈥�