COLUMBUS, Ohio — It's graduation day at Capital University, but one Comet is marking another milestone today. 

What You Need To Know

• Niel Johnson shares his family history of Capital University graduates


• His family carries not only a tradition of attending the university but also pursuing pastoral dreams. But Johnson shares a different dream


• Johnson will carry on his family's legacy when he graduates on Saturday

On Saturday, Niel Johnson becomes the sixth generation in his family to graduate from Capital U, preceding his mother and grandparents, but he could trace his roots at the university back to the 1800s.

"I mean, shoot, five previous generations is really something. Something I'm really proud of,” said Johnson.  

His great-great-great-grandfather was none other than Richard C. H. Lenski: the Dean of Trinity Lutheran Seminary when Capital got its start.

He also graduated there, including Niel’s great uncle Paul Ferne, who developed Capital's network and Wi-Fi system. 

But why follow Lenski's lead?

"Capital being a Lutheran school, that really is a big part of that,” said Johnson. “My mother's a pastor. My dad's a pastor. My grandpa's a pastor. My great grandpa's a pastor and his great grandpa. That's why they come here. It's a good theological school." 

When Johnson made his mind up on Capital U, it wasn’t to carry on the family tradition or for pastoral dreams, but to become a teacher.

“Capital is a big school for learning how to teach. So, that was a big draw for me,” said Johnson.

Johnson is planning on teaching social studies, 7^th through 12^th grade.

And who knows: Johnson may have just made his great-great-great-grandfather smile from above.

“I think he’d probably want me to be a pastor like all of his kids were, but regardless, I think that seeing another Capital grad he’d be proud," he said.