After 6 Decades On Campus, 85-Year-Old Becomes Oldest Graduate From Virginia Tech

One woman, who is in her mid-80s, is now the oldest person to obtain a bachelor’s degree from Virginia Tech. 

Knowledge and information no matter your age or circumstance, will improve, enhance and better your life. Regardless of the subject matter or topic, learning should be a lifelong passion and objective for everyone. Nobody will ever know every single fact or figure available. There will always, always be something more to learn.

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 Kay Castagnoli is someone who has a passion and love for learning. The 85-year-old grandmother of nine recently walked across the stage to accept her bachelor’s degree in music, according to Virginia Tech. 

The recent college graduate mentioned it was her love of learning and playing the piano in her younger years that made her decide to pursue the degree. 

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“I said I always wanted to go back into the music, which I have been out of for some time. So, I got into the music department, and it was very nice,” Kay said.

She added that while her mother couldn't sing much, her mother's passion and love for music motivated Kay in her studies. 

Thanks To Support From Her Children, Grandchildren and Husband Kay Succeeded

Kay is very familiar with higher learning, having spent more than six decades on a college campus as a student, a researcher and a college professor. But that does not mean she did not encounter difficulties while pursuing her degree.

“The one class I thought I was always going to fail was we had to sing,” Kay said. “We had to get a piece of music printed in front of us and read it off vocally. I thought I would never pass this test.”

But thanks to hard work, dedication and encouragement from her loving husband, Kay did succeed! Kay graduated on May 13, 2023. 

“He keeps me going. I say, ‘I can’t do this,’ and he says ‘Of course, you can do this.”’ Kay told WSLS. 

This lover of learning is not satisfied and willing to sit back and not challenge herself mentally. 

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 The recent recipient of a degree in music has plans to enroll in more classes and work toward a minor in Italian. 

What an impressive woman who clearly has a love of all things education and learning!

“The heart of the man of good sense gets knowledge; the ear of the wise is searching for knowledge.” - Proverbs 18:15

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h/t: Virginia Tech, WSLS and YouTube.com/Virginia Tech

Feature Image Credit: YouTube.com/Virginia Tech