(KRON) — They say better late than never, and that may be true for Virginia “Ginger” Hislop. At 105-years-old, Hislop received her master’s degree from Stanford University this weekend, 83 years after she’d begun her program at the Stanford Graduate School of Education (GSE).
Hislop, according to a post on the Stanford website, started at the GSE back in 1936, intending to get a bachelor’s of education and then obtain her masters. She completed her bachelor’s in 1940, but then the world — or rather World War II — intervened.
Just after completing her coursework and right before turning in her final thesis, her boyfriend at the time, who was a GSE student in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC), was called to serve. This prompted the pair to get married and Hislop to leave Stanford before graduating.
“I thought it was one of the things I could pick up along the way if I needed it and I always enjoyed studying, so that wasn’t really a great concern to me — and getting married was,” said Hislop, a Yakima, Washington resident who was born in Palo Alto.
After spending a lifetime working in education, Hislop finally returned to Stanford and just this week, completed what she’d began, decades ago on the eve of WWII.
“A fierce advocate for equity and the opportunity to learn … today we are proud to confer the master of arts in education to our 105-year-old graduate,” said GSE Dean Daniel Schwartz at Sunday’s commencement ceremony.
Although she has retired from education, Hislop credits her time at Stanford for her ability to impact students.
“I think I did good things for our local school system and I helped broaden it out,” she said. “For me, this degree is an appreciation of the many years I’ve put in working for the schools in the Yakima area and on different boards.”
When she arose from her seat in her cap and gown to walk across the stage to receive her master’s hood, she was greeted by applause, according to the Stanford website. Among the crowd were her grandkids and great-grandkids.
“My goodness,” she said. “I’ve waited a long time for this.”