105-year-old dons cap and gown, receives overdue degree from Stanford University

Anciana de 105 años recibe su master’s degree de Stanford University ...

STANFORD — At age 105, Virginia Hislop has lived a full life with two children, four grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. She has devoted much of her life to education and has served on school and college boards in central Washington, where she lives.

Despite her success, she says something was missing.

“From time to time, I wished I had finished and gotten my master’s (degree),” Hislop said. “Part of it was the fact that I’ve been a college director for a good number of years and I didn’t have the advanced degree that some of the other ones did.”

Hislop had taken the required classes at Stanford University but had not yet submitted a master’s thesis when the U.S. entered World War II in 1941.

“The Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor,” Hislop explained.

She quickly married her college sweetheart before his Army deployment. She assisted in the war effort then focused on her family but never finished her thesis.
Virginia Hislop
105-year-old Virginia Hislop receives a master’s degree at Stanford.  KPIX
“Fast-forward 83 years — we don’t have a thesis requirement anymore so she’s actually satisfied the requirements for Master of Arts in the Graduate School of Education,” said Daniel Schwartz, dean of the Stanford Graduate School of Education. “So, 83 years later, we’re honoring this woman who has done so much.”

Sunday afternoon at the education department’s commencement ceremony, fellow graduates and Hislop’s family, many of whom live in the Bay Area, gave her a standing ovation as she walked onto the stage with a little support from her cane.

“So much gratitude. She’s believed in all of us and cheered us on all the way through and we get to cheer her on now. It’s pretty cool,” said Elizabeth Jensen, Hislop’s granddaughter. “I feel like this is the crowning glory of her amazing career. This is her lifetime achievement award.”

Hislop received her master’s academic hoop and her diploma.

“Very satisfied, very pleased,” Hislop beamed.

She was quick to remind people it’s never too late to get a college degree. And this one added one more highlight to her many accomplishments.

When asked what she’d do with the diploma, she smiled.

“Add it to the others I have in the basement,” she said.

Related Posts

“¡Impactante! Blake Lively causa pánico en el tribunal tras mostrar una prueba que .tuyet

“¡Impactante! Blake Lively causa pánico en el tribunal tras mostrar una prueba que dejó a todos sin palabras: ¿Qué pasó realmente?” ¡Un giro inesperado en el juicio!Blake…

“¡Impactante! José Said ya rindió su declaración sobre su relación con Marianne ‘N’.tuyet

“¡Impactante! José Said ya rindió su declaración sobre su relación con Marianne ‘N’: ¿Qué confesó que está causando revuelo?” ¡Nuevas revelaciones sobre una historia que sacudió los…

“¡Escándalo total! José Eduardo Derbez confiesa la peor travesura que le hizo a un amigo.tuyet

“¡Escándalo total! José Eduardo Derbez confiesa la peor travesura que le hizo a un amigo: ¡La historia que no esperabas!” ¡Una confesión explosiva!José Eduardo Derbez, uno de…

¡Inesperado! Marco Chacón se esconde de los medios después del comunicado de Imelda Tuñón.tuyet

“¡Inesperado! Marco Chacón se esconde de los medios después del comunicado de Imelda Tuñón: ¿Está huyendo de la controversia?” ¡El misterio crece!Marco Chacón, una de las figuras…

“¡Escándalo total! ¿Está la salud de Daniel Bisogno en peligro.tuyet

“¡Escándalo total! ¿Está la salud de Daniel Bisogno en peligro? Linet rompe el silencio sobre los rumores de su familia” ¡Una gran sorpresa!La noticia sobre la salud…

📢 🔥 ¡FLORINDA MEZA ROMPE EL SILENCIO A SUS 75 AÑOS! 📢.tuyet

📢 🔥 ¡FLORINDA MEZA ROMPE EL SILENCIO A SUS 75 AÑOS! 📢 😱 La icónica actriz de El Chavo del Ocho deja al mundo atónito con su…