Two generations apart but united by York College of Pennsylvania, Sheila Cason-Gregory ’84 and granddaughter Aniya Gregory share a special connection to the residence hall.
Men filled row upon row of seats in every accounting class taken by Sheila Cason-Gregory ’84, a York College of Pennsylvania Accounting alumna. It was the early 1980s, and it was rare to find female students pursuing a financial career. Cason-Gregory didn’t let that dissuade her. As she pursued her college education, she carried a lifetime of lessons handed down from her parents.
Her father, a colonel in the Army, always taught Cason-Gregory to push through challenges instead of trying to go around them or letting them overwhelm her.
“One thing my dad would say when we were younger was, ‘Don’t work hard, work smart,’” she says.
Her mom, whom she describes as “one of the best officers’ wives she could be,” as well as an educator and mother of five, taught her to turn life’s lemons into lemonade, then sit back, take a sip, and enjoy it.
Continuing a legacy
Her parents’ words of wisdom not only carried Cason-Gregory through four years of college but helped her to thrive. While a student at York College, she joined the cheerleading squad; played intramural flag football, volleyball, and softball; and helped to form the Black Student Union.
“I feel like we were the class of pioneers for Black women on campus,” she says.
She also became the first resident assistant of Manor Hall West when it opened in 1983. It was her first supervisory role and taught her to manage people and navigate conflict, lessons she’s carried with her throughout her career. Cason-Gregory is a senior consultant at Robert Half Management Resources and continues to build on the confidence and boldness instilled in her at York College.
When Cason-Gregory’s granddaughter Aniya Gregory began looking into colleges where she could study fine art, Cason-Gregory wanted to share a piece of her legacy. She took the aspiring artist into a room she refers to as her York College Room. There, photos of her cheerleading days, her time as an RA, and her friends from the Black Student Union grace the walls.
A few months later, Cason-Gregory learned that her granddaughter had not only applied to York College for its Fine Art program but had also been accepted and awarded an academic scholarship.
A full-circle moment
On move-in day for the 2024 Fall Semester, Cason-Gregory had the honor of settling her granddaughter into Manor Hall West, the same residence hall where she once served as an RA. It was a full-circle moment of nostalgia and pride.
“It’s really a blessing,” Cason-Gregory says of seeing her granddaughter follow in her footsteps, albeit in her own way. “Aniya really took this and did it on her own.”
Cason-Gregory recognized Aniya’s artistic talent early. She still has one of Aniya’s first drawings from when she was 8 years old.
“I always knew she had something special,” Cason-Gregory says.
For Aniya, York College represents a new chapter, shaped by her grandmother’s history at the institution and her own dreams. For years, teachers, friends, and family told her she should go to school to study art. But Aniya worried she might not be talented enough. Receiving a York College scholarship helped her overcome that self-doubt.
“If you think that you’re good at something or you have a talent, pursue it,” Aniya says. “Don’t second-guess yourself.”
Though her college career is just beginning, Aniya feels inspired by her grandmother’s experience and advice. She’s taking two art classes and exploring the College’s array of activities, clubs, and sports. She doesn’t know where her art degree will take her, but she’s excited to explore new possibilities as she carries on a rich legacy.
