Tiny college graduates 8 sets of twins

DE PERE, Wis. -- It has been said that good things happen in numbers. That could be true for the unusually large group of twins accepting diplomas Sunday at St. Norbert College.

Of about 500 graduating seniors this year, the private liberal arts college in De Pere will say goodbye to eight sets of twins and three-quarters of a set of quadruplets, adding up to 19 multiples.

Chris Doran didn't intend to follow his twin brother, Cameron, to St. Norbert. He had plans to attend the University of Minnesota-Duluth.

"It just worked out that way," Chris said. "He was coming here first. I came along for the tour because I was bored, and something about the campus spoke to me. My brother maybe was not too happy about that. He joked he was stuck with me for 18 years and now for another four years. But it worked out."

Chris majored in biology and Cameron in international business. The brothers, who come from the Appleton area, will be parting ways soon. Chris is going to chiropractic school in Iowa and his brother is heading to Arizona.

Amber Saskowski of the Milwaukee area said she loved sharing her college experience with her twin sister, Ashley.

"She's my best friend," Amber said. "We pretty much know everything about each other. It's nice to know someone always has your back. We loved our experience at St. Norbert. If we could do it again, we would."

The girls roomed together at the college and won't be parting soon. Amber plans to attend law school at Marquette University and Ashley has job lined up in Sheboygan, so both are moving back home.

St. Norbert administrators didn't intentionally seek the twins and multiples.

The college does a number of regional receptions in early spring in the Fox Valley and Milwaukee areas, and administrators noticed two or three sets of twins at both events, said Ed Lamm, vice president of enrollment management and communications.

"We've looked at numbers in the years before and since to see if there's a trend," Lamm said. "So far it seems to be a one-year wonder."