A 79-year-old great-grandmother of six Lucy Capers, has graduated from the University of Maryland University College.
According to ABC News, Capers went to a segregated elementary school in Alabama. She never graduated from high school.
She moved to Maryland, got married, had her first child, and
started working for the federal government. In 1957, she finally got her
GED. Sixty years later, she’s finally finished college.
started working for the federal government. In 1957, she finally got her
GED. Sixty years later, she’s finally finished college.
“Basically, I always wanted an education,” she said. “And the more you learn, the more you open up to new things and look at the world in a different way.”
Capers earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Studies and
hopes to set a positive example for her many great-grandchildren.
hopes to set a positive example for her many great-grandchildren.
Married at 18 years old, Capers’ husband was in the military. After
a number of moves, the couple raised three children in Maryland. She
worked for the Department of Defense but retired in 2002.
a number of moves, the couple raised three children in Maryland. She
worked for the Department of Defense but retired in 2002.
In 2004, she started studying at Prince George’s Community College
where she was only required to pay for registration and books. She got
two associates degrees but wanted that four-year degree so she started
at UMUC two years later.
where she was only required to pay for registration and books. She got
two associates degrees but wanted that four-year degree so she started
at UMUC two years later.
She took one or more classes a term for nine years and only missing
class during one semester when her husband’s health declined. So is she
finished?
class during one semester when her husband’s health declined. So is she
finished?
“If the university pays for master’s degrees for seniors, I may try for that,” she said.
-NAN