Lighter side: Talk about a ‘super senior’!
June 12, 2009 by Geneva ReidPosted in: Enrollment, In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views
You’ve seen the recent headlines about colleges failing to graduate the majority of their students in six years.
Six years? That’s nothing to one man who took 40 years to get his diploma.
When Jerry Zullo of California attended San Diego State back in the ’60s, he passed all his courses in four years. But one class was listed as incomplete – so he never got his degree.
The incomplete grade came about because Zullo handed in a paper one week late. Not too surprising, since he was also working three part-time jobs.
When his instructor received the paper, he changed Zullo’s grade to a C – but that change wasn’t recorded on the official transcript.
For the next 40 years, Zullo never told anyone he was a college graduate – because he didn’t have a diploma.
Happy ending: The error finally has been corrected, and Zullo received his diploma a couple of weeks ago at the age of 63.
Of course, he was the only radio/TV broadcast major attending the ceremony. That department isn’t around anymore – it’s now the TV, Film and New Media department.
What’s the longest it’s taken someone you know to receive a diploma? Tell us in the comments section below.
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Tags: graduation, San Diego State
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June 17th, 2009 at 11:49 am
I’m currently finishing my BA in Liberal Arts. I started in ’78 at U of I in Chicago, and over the years took enough hours that by the time that I contacted Excelsior College (which took all my prior credits) I only needed a 1 credit class to graduate. I should graduate with the fall commencement as I will finish the class this week – 31 years after my first on-campus class!
June 17th, 2009 at 3:25 pm
My mother, who turns 80 next month, started taking classes in the 1960′s while she and my Dad were raising nine children. She put everything on hold while all her children completed their bachelor/masters degrees. At age 60 she had a major heart attack and subsequent bypass surgery. While in the hospital, she decided she would do three things: 1) conquer her fear of flying, 2) conquer her fear of swimming and 3) complete her degree. At the age of 65, she walked across the stage to accept her diploma at the University of Michigan. Soon after, she took up swimming and two years ago, flew to Ireland! My mother currently teaches ESL classes.
June 17th, 2009 at 5:27 pm
Congratulation’s to all who have received their degree’s — albeit, years later. I’m in your company too, but am twenty credit’s shy of completing my studies.
July 29th, 2009 at 5:15 pm
Renee,
I’m curious about your decision to use apostrophes in “congratulation’s,” “degree’s,” and “credit’s.” Just because a word ends in -s doesn’t mean it’s possessive.