A 105-year-old Washington resident is earning her master’s degree after an 80-year interruption by World War II

Ginnie Hislop would have obtained her master’s degree long ago if it had not been for World War II.

More than 80 years later, Hislop, 105, earned her master’s degree in education by walking on the Stanford University stage and receiving her diploma at a ceremony Sunday.

“My God,” Hislop said in a press release provided by Stanford. “I’ve been waiting for this for a long time.”

Degree interrupted

Hislop first enrolled at Stanford University in 1936, and received her bachelor’s degree in 1940. A year later, Hislop had completed all the coursework needed for her master’s degree and was preparing to submit her thesis when her then-boyfriend George Hislop became drafted into service during World War II.

The couple quickly married and, before graduating, left campus for the U.S. Army post at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

“I thought it was one of the things I could take with me along the way if I needed it,” Hislop said of the champion’s delay, according to Stanford. “I always liked learning, so I wasn’t too worried about it – and getting married was.”

After the war, the Hislops moved to Yakima, Washington, raising their two children.

And although her formal education ended prematurely, Hislop took advantage of her talents. When her daughter Anne was in first grade, Hislop joined the local school board in advocating for the girl to be allowed to take advanced English classes instead of the prescribed home economics course.

“I believed that all children should have the opportunity to develop their potential to the best of their ability and that everyone should have the opportunity to pursue higher education if they wanted to,” Hislop said.

“No moss grows under her feet”

Hislop also served on Yakima school boards at the city, county and state levels, became a founding member of the board of directors of Yakima Community College and helped found Heritage University in Toppenish, Washington.

“I think I did something good for our local school system and helped expand it,” she said, according to Stanford.

Today, Hislop remains active in her community and cares for her garden. He also enjoys spending a lot of time with his four grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

“The biggest lesson I learned from her is that you never really stop learning,” her son-in-law, Doug Jensen, told Stanford. “She is a voracious reader, and at 105 years old, she is still actively moving and shaking. No moss grows under her feet.

Ginnie Hislop receives a standing ovation at graduation

After eight decades, when Stanford adjusted its degree requirements to no longer require a thesis, Hislop was able to receive her degree.

Her colleagues gave her a standing ovation.

“I’ve been doing this work for years,” she said, adding: “It’s nice to be appreciated.”

Max Hauptman is a popular reporter for USA TODAY. He can be reached at [email protected]

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 105-year-old whose graduate studies were interrupted by World War II receives his degree