SOUTHERN MARYLAND —For about 30 seconds, television viewers see the Wathen family smiling together in a new University of Maryland Global Campus commercial.
What they do not see are the years behind it.
The late-night assignments. The weekends shaped around deadlines. The evenings when one parent handled bedtime while the other finished schoolwork. For about 30 seconds, television viewers get a glimpse of the Wathen family.
What they do not see are the years behind it.
The late-night assignments. The weekends shaped around deadlines. The evenings when one parent handled bedtime while the other finished schoolwork.
For Howard and Laura Wathen, the commercial is more than a brief appearance on television. It is a snapshot of years spent balancing full-time work, raising their sons, Daniel and David, and pursuing graduate degrees together.
“For 30 seconds, people get to see the Wathens,” Howard Wathen told The BayNet. “For us, those 30 seconds represent years of work.”
The Southern Maryland family never expected those years of work to land them in a university commercial.
They were simply trying to finish what they started.
Going Back To School As A Family
Howard and Laura are both on track to complete their master’s degrees in fall 2026.
For Howard, choosing UMGC was largely about finding an education that could fit into a life that was already full.
He works full time and is pursuing a master’s degree in cloud computing systems with an emphasis in cybersecurity, hoping to continue advancing professionally in technology, cloud computing and cybersecurity.
“I obviously cannot put those responsibilities on hold while pursuing another degree,” Howard said. “UMGC gave me the flexibility to continue moving forward professionally without having to choose between being a student, an employee, a husband or a father.”
That experience closely reflects the population UMGC was created to serve.
Founded in Maryland in 1947, the public university has long focused on working adults and military-connected students. Today, UMGC describes its mission as providing accessible education to adults balancing school with careers, families and other responsibilities.
The Wathens know that balancing act firsthand.
Howard said there was never a perfect formula.
Some nights, school came after work, dinner and getting the children settled. Some weekends included family time with assignments waiting in the background.
Laura was navigating many of the same pressures while pursuing her own education and career.
“There really wasn’t a perfect balance,” Howard said. “Some days one responsibility simply needed more attention than another.”
So they learned to trade places.
When one had a deadline, the other took on more parenting responsibilities. When the situation reversed, they switched.
“The biggest sacrifice was probably time,” Howard said. “There are only so many hours in a day.”
Their Sons Were Part Of The Journey Too
Howard does not view the degrees as accomplishments belonging only to him and Laura.
Daniel and David have grown up watching both parents work, study, complete assignments and participate in group projects while still trying to remain present at home.
“Our children sacrificed some time with us as well, even if they didn’t necessarily realize it,” Howard said. “That makes reaching the finish line even more meaningful because they are part of the accomplishment too.”
That is also why appearing in the commercial as a family felt natural.
UMGC learned about the Wathens and their connection to the university and eventually invited all four family members to participate.
Howard said one part of the opportunity made him laugh.
Long before technology, cybersecurity and fatherhood became major parts of his life, he wanted to be an actor.
“I had actually always wanted to be on camera,” he said. “Growing up, I wanted to be an actor, so when this opportunity came along, there was definitely a part of me thinking, ‘Finally, here’s my chance!’”
The opportunity just arrived differently than he imagined.
“I just never imagined my wife and kids would be doing it alongside me.”
A Full Day For 30 Seconds
The Wathens quickly learned how much work goes into producing even a short commercial.
Filming took nearly an entire day.
There were repeated takes, lighting adjustments, camera changes and directions from the production crew, all to produce roughly 30 seconds of finished footage.
And then there were two young boys on set.
“Kids don’t necessarily care that there is a production schedule,” Howard said. “They’re still going to be kids.”
But the part Howard remembers most was not the cameras.
It was looking around the set and realizing his entire family was there.
The commercial does not depict actors pretending to be a family balancing work, education and parenting.
Those are the Wathens.
“Those are our children,” Howard said. “That’s my wife. That’s our educational journey.”
More Than A Commercial
The timing has made the experience especially meaningful.
Laura began a job she had long hoped for in March, while both parents are now preparing to complete their master’s degrees this fall.
Years from now, the commercial will preserve more than an educational accomplishment.
It will preserve Daniel and David at this age.
It will capture Howard and Laura at this stage of their marriage and careers.
And it will document a period when everyone in the house was working toward something together.
Howard hopes another parent sees their family and recognizes a little of their own life.
“You don’t need perfect circumstances to continue your education,” he said. “There probably won’t ever be a time when everything in life suddenly becomes easy and you have unlimited free time. Sometimes you have to begin while life is already busy.”
The Wathens hope that lesson eventually reaches their sons, too.
Right now, Daniel and David may remember the cameras, the production crew and an unusual day spent filming a commercial with their parents.
As they grow older, Howard hopes they understand what was happening beyond the camera.
“But your children are watching,” he said. “I hope one day they understand that the diplomas weren’t the only accomplishment. The perseverance it took to earn them was just as important.”
For the Wathens, that may ultimately be what the commercial captured best.
Not four people acting out someone else’s story.
A family living its own.
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