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Education

University of Central Florida

05/04/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 05/04/2026 11:05

A Family’s Unlikely Journey to Become Knights

Highlights

This commencement, U.S. Marine veteran and education student StaceyAnn Castro Tapler, 49, will graduate alongside her son 21-year-old Johnny Castro, an aspiring doctor. Castro Tapler's journey to her diploma has taken 33 years of perseverance - never giving up on the connection she felt when she first visited campus in 1993 as a teenager.
Castro Tapler aims to become a special education teacher working with students with disabilities - like Johnny, who has neurological hearing loss and wants to help patients with similar circumstances.
The Office of Military and Veteran Student Success has provided critical support for Castro Tapler's success at UCF. Her connection to Knight Nation is also strengthened by her other son, Michael Tapler, who will complete his emergency management degree later this year.

When StaceyAnn Castro Tapler and her 21-year-old-son, Johnny, graduate this week, it won't be the first time a parent-child duo has simultaneously celebrated commencement at UCF. But to understand why this particular family's story is remarkable, you must first appreciate the journey.

StaceyAnn Castro Tapler (49) and her son Johnny (21) graduate together this week. (Photo by Antoine Hart)

We could start 33 years ago to when Castro Tapler first visited UCF and dreamed of becoming a Knight.

Or jump to when she lost sight of that dream in the whirlwind of life after enlisting in the U.S. Marines, completing an overseas deployment, getting married and raising a family.

Or here, in present day, as the 49-year-old graduates alongside her oldest, each with degree choices influenced by Johnny's struggle with neurological hearing loss - hers, early childhood development and education and his, communications sciences and disorders. And don't forget her other son, Michael, an emergency management major, close behind and husband, John, graduating later this year from Valencia College, a DirectConnect to UCF partner.

Their story is one of many subplots and selfless acts, and so much love for family - a family that pulled strength from each other on the road to this long-awaited, triumphant moment.

"People doubted us for moving here from Long Island to become Knights," Castro Tapler says. "We said, 'Just watch.' "We're proving that you can do anything you put your mind to doing by adapting and overcoming."

StaceyAnn Castro Tapler first visited UCF in 1993 as a teenager and always dreamed of earning a degree from the university. At 49, she's finally achieving her goal. (Photo by Antoine Hart)

A Dream Put on Hold, But Never Forgotten

Castro Tapler's mind first fixed on UCF in 1993 when the family of her friend, David Konits '01, paid for her to visit them in Orlando to thank her for saving their son's life after a serious injury. Putting others first had already become ingrained for Castro Tapler, then 16, despite a childhood without means. She lived with her mother in another friend's basement and had never traveled beyond New York.

"They brought me to the UCF campus and I was blown away," she says. "I'd never seen such nice kids studying together in such a beautiful environment. If I could ever afford college, I wanted it to be here."

Castro Tapler went back home, finished high school and joined the U.S. Marines. Shortly after 9/11, she was deployed to Kuwait. The idea of college continued to dim as she fulfilled her military duty, returned to Long Island, went to work and raised a family.

"The goal was always out there," she says, "but I just couldn't get to it."

She wanted a more streamlined path for her sons, Johnny and Michael, so she and her husband always included tours of universities during family trips.

"When we came to UCF, the boys and John fell in love," Castro Tapler says, "and to me, that feeling of belonging was still there after so many years."

On the day of Johnny's high school graduation, they loaded up the car and moved to Orlando - placing her within reach of the dream she never gave up on.

Planting Roots on Campus

As a U.S. Marine veteran, Castro Tapler has chilling stories about how she calmly put out oil fires in open combat zones. On her first day of classes at UCF, she - like a good Marine - arrived 30 minutes early with food and hydration. An emotion consumed her: Fear.

Here she was, surrounded by students half her age using tablets and carrying backpacks while she pulled around a wagon and used a spiral notebook. She would need to relearn how to learn. Three encounters quickly made her feel at ease.

"The sound of a piano in the lobby soothed my nerves. Then a group of girls in my first class invited me to work with them. And I found the Office of Military and Veteran Student Success," she says. "A college campus is a different world from what veterans are used to. The people in that office helped me understand aid, tutoring and the culture. They're veterans, too, so they know how difficult the transition can be."

Her fear turned to joy and a genuine belief she belonged. She felt even more connected knowing Johnny and Michael were on the same campus feeling the same pride.

Johnny Castro ntends to use his communications and sciences disorders degree as the first step toward a medical degree in audiology. (Photo by Antoine Hart)

The Start of a New Future

We come to the most surreal moment: mom and son graduating together. She points out this is a goal achieved, but not the goal.

"Our degrees open doors to serve others," Castro Tapler says.

She'll teach first grade, knowing each child is unique, perhaps with a challenge that hasn't yet been identified. Johnny intends to use his communications and sciences disorders degree as the first step toward a medical degree in audiology. He visualizes being the first person parents see when their babies are diagnosed with a complication. He already knows what he'll say:

"It's going to be OK. Look at me. I have a hearing disorder, too, and now I'm a doctor," Johnny says.

Michael will apply his emergency management degree from UCF to help communities on a larger scale. And John, after finishing at Valencia College, will consider an online business master's program at UCF, so he can provide financial planning and support for those facing their own challenges.

"He wants so badly to be a Knight like the rest of us," Castro Tapler says.

It makes sense. Knights are known for their grit. And this family has plenty of it.

"I think back to people saying you'll never afford college, you're too old, and Johnny can't become a doctor with hearing loss," Castro Tapler says. "Now we're going to walk to the stage together and hear our names called."