PALO ALTO: A 105-year-old woman has earned a master’s degree from the Stanford Graduate School of Education (GSE) after starting her schooling journey 80 years ago.
Virginia “Ginny” Hislop took required classes at Stanford in the 1940s.
Before he started his final master’s thesis, World War II broke out and this affected his plans to graduate.
Her boyfriend at the time, George Hislop, was drafted into the war, causing Ginny Hislop to leave school to get married. Eventually, he focused on raising his family while helping in the war effort.
While navigating life with her family of two children, four grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren, Ginny Hislop served on school and college boards in Washington State for decades.
Stanford dropped the thesis requirement and Ginny Hislop finally graduated on Sunday, June 16, when she took the stage to receive her Master of Arts in Education.
“Thank God, I’ve been waiting for this,” Ginny Hislop was heard saying as she was presented with her diploma by GSE Dean Daniel Schwarz.
In an interview with “Good Morning America” that aired Wednesday, Ginny Hislop expressed how excited she was about the long-awaited move.
“Sealan’s modesty has never been my problem,” he said. “I feel like I deserve it and I’m glad I got it.”
