Woman, 99, finally receives her college diploma after waiting 75 years

Jessie White's graduation may be 75 years late, but that's better than never! At the age of 99, White finally received her college diploma last week.

According to ABC News, White completed her degree in stenography and bookkeeping at Beal College in Bangor, Maine, in 1939. But she could not afford the $5 transcript fee at the time, which prevented her from officially graduating.

After hearing about the outstanding $5 fee, a friend of White’s informed the Beal College president Allen Stehle about the situation.

Stehle decided he wanted to pay the fee himself. He also set up and hosted a ceremony for White so that she could finally attend her official graduation.

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White was awarded with her long-overdue diploma from Beal College in front of family and friends.

“It was wonderful. I had a lot of fun,” said White. “I didn’t think my life was complete without it.”

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White spent much of her life struggling with a disability from a polio infection but that didn’t stop her from working as a bookkeeper for many years. Clearly, neither did her lack of diploma, even if the new grad admits that finally getting her degree made her feel “great.”

“Never give up learning,” were White’s words of encouragement in an interview. “They say when you give up learning you grow old, so I don’t intend to give up learning,” she added. Definitely some wise words from this 99-year-old graduate!

Photo via ABC News

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