Finals week can be a crazy time for the Knoerzer family of Algonquin. Geof Knoerzer, father of three and a master's of business administration (MBA) student at DePaul University's Kellstadt Graduate School of Business, studies for his classes in management information systems. Daughter Jennifer, a senior at DePaul's College of Commerce, crams for tests in marketing. Meanwhile, her brother Christopher, a sophomore, pores over notes from his DePaul business classes.

But the academic tension will come to a joyful end for two of the three Knoerzers on June 13. That's the day that DePaul College of Commerce Dean Ronald Patten will hand Geof his MBA diploma and Jennifer her bachelor's degree. The Knoerzer father and daughter will graduate at the college's commencement ceremony that begins at 9:30 a.m. in the McCormick Place Convention Center, Lakeside Center Level Three, 2301 S. Lake Shore Drive.

Although records on graduates with family ties are not kept by the university and many families have sent several generations to DePaul, a father and daughter graduating on the same day from the same college is unusual and may be a first for the university.

"We both view this as a very special and positive event, and we're really enjoying something that very few fathers and daughters get to do together," Geof said.

"It was my idea to come to DePaul. He followed," Jennifer, 23, said. "At first I didn't like

going to the same school as my father, but then I started to get into it. It brought us closer together. We've kind of bonded."

Jennifer said she was inspired to study business in the first place by watching her dad perform his job as director for Information Technology for Ameritech's cellular unit.

"I was at a high point in my career, but I had always wanted to get my MBA," explained Geof, 48. "This was an opportunity to work with my two kids and to see them a little more often. Being in school together has been both a motivating factor and a bonding experience for us."

Although they've never had class together because they are pursuing different degrees, they've had several of the same professors, even during the same quarters, creating a bit of daughter-father rivalry. "He would have a professor and then so would I and they'd expect me to do as well as he did," Jennifer said.

"I like to have fun. He's more into studying," she added. "He tries to nudge me a little."

Geof said returning to school to earn an MBA while working full-time has provided a deep feeling of accomplishment. "I feel really good about it," he said. "It's been a tough time, and I've put my personal life on hold for the last 18 months. My weekends have literally been consumed by study, and my wife (Eileen) will be glad to get our life back."

Although life for the Knoerzers will get less hectic after graduation day, it may not stay that way for long. Jennifer is thinking of returning to school to get her master's degree, and Geof may pursue a Ph.D. Meanwhile, Christopher, 19, has two more years at DePaul. "My mother asked us to please give her a year off (before returning to school). She wants the family to have a normal life," Jennifer said with a laugh.

In addition to their DePaul diplomas, Geof and Jennifer will have something else in common after the June 13 commencement. They bought two 1999 black Mustang convertibles as graduation presents, one for Geof and one for Jennifer.