After Stanford waived the thesis requirement for her degree, Virginia decided to return to complete her education.
Digital Desk: It's never too late to achieve your dreams, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges. A remarkable elderly woman from the United States has demonstrated that age is no barrier to education. Virginia Ginnie Hislop, at the age of 105, has accomplished the remarkable feat of earning her Masters's degree from Stanford University, a journey she began a staggering 80 years ago.
According to reports from the ABC7 website, Virginia embarked on her academic journey at Stanford Graduate School of Education (GSE) in the 1940s. She attended the required classes for her degree but was unable to complete her studies due to the interruption caused by World War II. At that time, her boyfriend George Hislop was called to serve in the war, prompting Virginia to leave school and marry him. During the war, she dedicated herself to volunteering and raising a family, all while contributing to school and college boards in Washington state in the subsequent decades.
After Stanford waived the thesis requirement for her degree, Virginia decided to return to complete her education. On June 16th, a Sunday, she proudly walked across the stage to receive her Master of Arts in Education. When GSE Dean Daniel Schwartz presented her with the diploma, Ginnie Hislop exclaimed, "My goodness, I've waited a long time for this." Speaking to the media, Dean Schwartz remarked, "Fast-forward 83 years, we no longer have a thesis requirement, so she has fulfilled all the requirements for a Master of Arts from the Graduate School of Education." He expressed pride in honoring a woman "who has accomplished so much."
Virginia Hislop shared with the media that she had always regretted not completing her degree, especially after seeing others achieve advanced degrees during her tenure as a college director. At the graduation ceremony, she was supported by her grandchildren, who enthusiastically cheered for her as she achieved this long-awaited milestone.
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