Anthony Brutto, 95, enrolled at West Virginia University in 1939, when tuition was just $50, Now, more than 75 years after he started working towards his degree, he just graduated from the university.
He studied engineering, physical education and industrial arts.
He was close to graduation when he was drafted during world war 2 serving in the Army Air Corps for three and a half years, WVU said.
He returned to school in 1946 but was forced to drop out again, this time to take care of his ill wife, according to WVU. He soon started working as a machinist in various factories, Yahoonews reports.
Brutto retired in the 1980s, sculpting
in his spare time. But he committed himself to returning to school, and his
daughter, Lisa Bridges, who works for the university as a web developer, said
she found out students can get credit for life experience.
"[I thought] it would be really
great at this point in his life for him to be able to get his degree,"
Bridges said.
Next week, Brutto will graduate with
about 4,500 other WVU students.
"I think it's great," Brutto
told ABC News today.
His wife, Donna Brutto, agreed."I think it's wonderful that he's getting this after all these years," she said. "He most certainly deserves it."
April Kaull, assistant director of WVU's University Relations/News, said Brutto's story "reflects the determination and perseverance of many students on the WVU campus."
"He didn't let anything in his life or the challenges that he faced keep him from his ultimate goal," Kaull said. "And that's what we find is a theme among many of our students."
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