Virginia Hislop, a 105-year-old woman, has recently graduated from Stanford University with a master’s degree in education after an 83-year hiatus. Hislop initially enrolled at Stanford in 1936 as an undergraduate. She continued her studies while teaching but left in 1941 when her future husband was called to serve in World War II, as reported by Fox News.
Hislop paused her education to marry and move around the country as an Army wife, eventually settling in Yakima, Washington, with her family. Although she did not return to teaching, she utilized her teaching certificate to contribute to educational committees and boards. Dissatisfied with the suggested curriculum for her daughter, Hislop joined the local school board. She also served as a founding board member for Yakima Valley Community College and helped fundraise for Heritage University in Toppenish, Washington. In 2017, she established the Virginia Hislop Emergency Fund scholarship at Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences.
At her recent graduation, Daniel Schwartz, dean of Stanford’s Graduate School of Education, praised Hislop as a “fierce advocate for equality” and proudly awarded her the Master of Arts in education degree. Her son-in-law’s inquiry about an honorary degree led to the discovery that her 1941 transcripts met current requirements for a master’s degree, making an honorary degree unnecessary.
Hislop celebrated the moment with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, remarking, “I’ve waited a long time for this.” Her accomplishment has garnered admiration online, with many praising her sharp mind and offering congratulations and blessings for her future.
