Wednesday, July 23, 2025
Mother-daughter duo graduates from CVTC program together with honors
Zephrey London, left, and her daughter Keisha Mathews, attended Chippewa Valley Technical College together, in the same program, and graduated with honors in May. With their love of words, they will continue their passions of civic journalism and providing kids with opportunities, respectively.
When Zephrey London was 14, she was sexually assaulted and became a teen mother. She suffered from depression and never finished high school.
“I experienced years of depression and had to step back from parenting at one point to focus on survival,” she said.
In time, as adults, London and her daughter Keisha Mathews rebuilt their relationship.
“We healed and committed to growing together,” London said.
Then Mathews, also a single mother, decided to go back to school to attend Chippewa Valley Technical College’s Professional Communications program, and London became her biggest cheerleader and her peer. After her high school years, London got her General Education Diploma and completed a paralegal degree. That set her up well for going back to school with her daughter.
“I knew how important it was for (Mathews) to have someone by her side. So, we enrolled together,” London said.
The Black River Falls women love writing, and they run a local news social media page. Going to CVTC for professional communications, an online program, was a clear path for them.
When London struggled with statistics class, Mathews was there to help. When Mathews was second-guessing herself during a group project, London was there to listen. “For the past two years, we have supported each other through every paper, discussion board and late-night study session,” London said.
In the end, they both graduated from CVTC in May with honors, but London is quick to point out that Mathews’ grade point average was higher than her own.
“She’s my best friend,” London said. “I’m grateful every day for her.”
Mathews returned the sentiment.
“I can’t imagine my life without her,” she said of her mother. “Our whole family is really close, and that’s why it’s cool that we got to do this together.”
London will continue fact-finding and reporting out to the community through the Jackson County Pulse – her online journalistic endeavor. But they have even more projects on the horizon where their degrees will come in handy.
Mathews is the Boys and Girls Club membership coordinator in the Black River Falls area, where she uses her newfound skills to create clear and effective communication, engage her audience and craft presentations as needed.
London also runs her own marketing consulting business and is the founder of The Echo Project, “a nonprofit dedicated to grassroots journalism, civic support and second chances,” she said.
She credits Mathews' support and the knowledge she gained at CVTC for giving her the framework to continue doing what she loves – uncovering truths and sharing facts, she said.
“Enrolling in the same program allowed us to strengthen our bond, stay accountable and cheer each other on,” London said. “For both of us, this experience was about more than earning a degree. It was about rewriting our story.”
