Florida

Great-Grandmother Earns College Degree at 89

A great-grandmother has earned a bachelor's degree from Florida Atlantic University at the age of 89.

The South Florida Sun Sentinel reports Betty Reilly received a degree in English Thursday after an 11-year journey to earn her General Education Development diploma, an associate's degree and a bachelor's.

She says she didn't finish high school as a teenager, but decided to do so after job searching at 78. Reilly says she was turned down for a job at a library because she didn't have a high school diploma.

She began her education journey thereafter.

She passed her GED exam in 2007 at the age of 80 and then applied for federal grants in order to attend college.

Reilly's now considering a paid job as a tutor at Broward College.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
Contact Us