105-year-old graduates from Stanford with a Master's Degree.
During Stanford University's 2024 graduation ceremony, a 105-year-old student completed a master’s degree in education, 83 years after she first started her coursework. Eight decades ago, her diploma was put on hold in favor of starting a family, but Virginia Hislop finally earned her degree, celebrating with her peers. While attending Stanford in 1940, Hislop needed to write a master’s thesis to obtain her degree. However, the US entered World War II in the middle of the school year, and her fiancé was called to serve in the military. They quickly married, and she joined the war effort on the homefront.
After the war, Hislop embarked on a long career in education, making use of the teaching certificate she obtained through her bachelor’s degree. Decades later, Hislop discovered that the master’s thesis requirement had been removed, making it possible for her to return to campus and complete her degree. In June, 83 years later, she finally did just that, with her grandkids and great-grandkids looking on. Stanford Dean Daniel Schwartz said, "For a lot of people, the degree is a badge of accomplishment, and it was great to be able to celebrate someone who cared so much about learning and dedicated her lifetime to other people’s learning."Her son-in-law described her as a woman who is always active, volunteering, reading voraciously, and walking around her garden.
105-year-old Virginia Hislop completing a master's degree in education 83 years after she started her coursework.
Corbley, A. (2024a, June 24). She Finally Earned Her Stanford Master’s Degree at 105: ‘I’ve waited a long time for this.’ Good News Network. https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/she-finally-earned-her-stanford-masters-degree-at-105-ive-waited-a-long-time-for-this/
