Virginia “Ginnie” Hislop, aged 105, finally received her master’s degree from the Stanford Graduate School of Education (GSE), completing a journey she began over 80 years ago.
In the 1940s, Hislop took the required classes at Stanford, but her plans to graduate were interrupted by World War II. Her boyfriend, George Hislop, was called to serve, prompting her to leave school to marry him. She then assisted in the war effort and focused on raising their family.
Despite the demands of family life, which included two children, four grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren, Hislop dedicated decades to serving on school and college boards in Washington State.
Over the years, Stanford dropped its thesis requirement, allowing Hislop to return and complete her degree. On Sunday, June 16, she walked the stage to accept her Master of Arts in Education. As GSE Dean Daniel Schwartz handed her the diploma, she exclaimed, “My goodness, I’ve waited a long time for this.”
In an interview with “Good Morning America,” Hislop expressed her joy at achieving this milestone. “False modesty has never been one of my problems,” she remarked. “I felt I deserved it, and I was delighted to get it.”