By UW-Stout News Bureau
Growing up as triplets, especially in a small town, Jami, Jeni and Joni Donath didn’t have much choice but to be close.
They weren’t just same-age sisters and classmates; they also became best friends and even a force to be reckoned with – comprising almost 50 percent of their family and nearly 10 percent of their Clayton High School graduating class in 2014.
When the Donaths graduated from high school, however, they had a choice to make. Would they stick together as the Donath triplets when they went off to college or would they decide it was time to branch out on their own?
After they realized that the University of Wisconsin-Stout – just 45 minutes from home – had the academic programs each of them wanted, the decision became easy. Plus, their sister, Amy, graduated from UW-Stout in 2010 and brother Ryan also attended UW-Stout and supported their decision.
Going to UW-Stout seemed like it was meant to be. Besides, the triplets really were hoping they could stay together.
“We have four more years to grow up together, so we decided let’s make the most of it,” Joni said.
“This will be the last big experience before we go our separate ways,” Jeni said.
“It’s a big step we get to experience together,” Jami said.
Nearing the end of their freshman year, the triplets truly are sticking together. They live in the same residence hall room – appropriately, what’s referred to as a triple room – in Curran-Kranzusch-Tustison-Oetting Hall, or CKTO.
“It’s so cool that we can room together,” Joni said, with Jami and Jeni agreeing that the arrangement has worked out well for them. “We all help each other out.”
The sisters, who recently turned 19, have chosen separate but service-oriented majors.
Jami is studying human development and family studies. Jeni – like her older sister, Amy – is majoring in early childhood education. Joni is majoring in vocational rehabilitation.
“We’re all quite different,” Joni said. “It’s amazing we all found our majors here.”
“We’re all kind of hands-on people. That’s why we like UW-Stout so much,” Jeni said. “Everyone is so friendly.”
So far, just Jami and Jeni have ended up in a class together, which means that when they’re studying in the evening for quizzes and tests Joni, jokingly referred to by her sisters as the outcast, knows she has to be quiet.
A void at home
Having three daughters leave home at once was hard for parents Lynda and Scott Donath. The shock of abruptly becoming empty-nesters has been eased by the triplets frequent weekend home visits.
The Village of Clayton, with a population of 571, is 33 miles north of UW-Stout in Polk County.
“When I dropped them off at Stout and we said our goodbyes and walked away, I never looked back. If I did, I knew I’d lose it,” Lynda said, recalling the emotional moment.
However, it’s also brought peace of mind to Lynda and Scott knowing the triplets are in one place and are watching out for each other.
“When they said they wanted to be in the same dorm room together, it actually made me feel good,” Lynda said. “They have that special bond, being triplets. They seem to be getting along just fine. They’re really enjoying it.”
Jeni agrees. “If our parents can’t look after us anymore, we can at least look after each other,” she said.
The sisters are considered identical triplets because they were in the same placenta, Lynda said. But they do have slight facial differences.
They were born seven weeks early and weighed between three pounds, eight ounces and three pounds, 10 ounces, considered a healthy weight for triplets.
Making new friends
Although they room together and eat meals together most evenings, Jami, Jeni and Joni also realize their lives are beginning to go in separate directions through their differing classes, majors, new friends, on-campus volunteer opportunities and other interests.
“We’ve always been best friends” Jamie said. “Going to UW-Stout hasn’t changed that. We’ve just got more friends.”
Their residence hall adviser at CKTO, Natalie Huertas, a student from Milwaukee, said the sisters are easy to mix up at first glance, but they have different personalities.
“They like to keep to themselves, but when they come out they’re little celebrities in my building,” Huertas said. “I remember that for a majority of the (first) semester, no one really believed they were triplets, let alone identical, and residents just had to see for themselves.
“They are a wonderful, happy, hard-working set of girls who support each other,” Huertas added. “I’ve never had a complaint from them or anyone else about them for that matter. The only issue is that I still mix them up. And their room always smells fresh.”