By HEIDI KNAKE
UNK Communications
KEARNEY – Matthew and Kathy Welte used to meet each other on the highway – one driving east and the other west – flashing the lights and blasting the horns on their big rigs as they passed by.
That was their version of a date night.
“People had to think we were crazy,” Kathy recalled with a laugh.
Now, the North Platte couple are headed in the same direction. They both crossed the stage Friday during the University of Nebraska at Kearney’s spring commencement ceremony, where Kathy earned a Master of Business Administration and Matthew received a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a healthcare management minor.
The two have been married for eight years, and they have 11 children.
“I would suggest people go to school before they have children,” Kathy said half-jokingly.
“But it’s never too late,” Matthew quickly responded.
The Weltes were working long hours as truck drivers and trying to keep up with their large family when Kathy decided to give college another try.
“I had failed college seven times before,” she explained.
At Mid-Plains Community College, the focus was on her potential, not her past. She earned an associate degree and certificate there while discovering her passion for teaching.
“The minute she walked in the classroom, she was like, ‘I want to do this,’” Matthew said of his wife.
“It’s my thing,” she added with a smile.
Kathy went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in business, marketing and information technology education from UNK in 2024. The College of Business and Technology’s strong reputation played a part in her decision to attend UNK, and she also knew she could easily progress toward a master’s degree.
Now more than two years into her teaching career at North Platte High School, Kathy revamped the Future Business Leaders of America program, which was dormant for more than a decade. She also serves on the Nebraska State Business Education Association Executive Board.
Like his wife, Matthew experienced prior challenges in college, but he knew he needed to make a career change to enhance his physical health.
“You can make good money as a truck driver, but it takes a major toll on your body,” he said. “I knew I had to go back to school so I could make enough money.”
Matthew also ended up at Mid-Plains, where he earned an associate degree and certificate.
“We’re kind of into this whole doing everything the same thing,” Kathy said with a laugh.
There is one difference. Healthcare management became Matthew’s passion, something he discovered after accepting a position at Great Plains Health in North Platte.
“Kind of like me, he was just like, ‘This is my thing,’” Kathy said of her husband, who now works at Gothenburg Health as a patient access specialist.
Matthew will pursue an online master’s degree in healthcare management through Southern New Hampshire University, and Kathy is already enrolled in UNK’s school principalship endorsement program for the fall.
In addition to receiving their degrees together, last week’s commencement ceremony was special for the Welte family for another reason.
“This is the first time either of our parents has been able to attend one of our graduations,” Kathy said.
The celebration continued Saturday, when their daughter Abigail graduated from Brady High School. Though still deciding, she’s been accepted to UNK and hopes to become a school counselor.
For Matthew and Kathy, the road to graduation looked different than most, but their journey shows there’s no single path to success.
“A few of our kids have gone to college, but none of them have finished. And that’s totally OK,” Kathy said. “I want our story to show them and others that no matter how many times you failed, how old you are or what your circumstances are, you can always go back to school, and you can be successful.”
