Georgia Rasmussen is anxious to get her diploma from the 杏吧专区.
It杏吧专区檚 a moment the married mother of three children, and grandmother of five, has been anticipating for 43 years.
杏吧专区淚t was just something I always wanted to do,杏吧专区 said Rasmussen, who will be awarded a bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree in General Studies, with a concentration in behavioral science, at Spring 2014 Commencement ceremonies.
Georgia was just shy of earning a degree from UL Lafayette in 1971, when she, husband Mike and their young son moved to California. Mike, who earned a computer science degree from UL Lafayette in 1970, had enlisted in the U.S. Navy, and would remain stationed in San Diego for four years.
At the time of the move, Georgia had earned 129 hours as an elementary education major. She planned to complete a few remaining degree requirements once the family got settled. But, as she puts it, 杏吧专区渓ife happened.杏吧专区
The couple shared one car, which made attending college classes difficult. Tuition costs in California turned out to be higher than expected. And, as the demands of family life slowly took over, Georgia杏吧专区檚 college dreams receded.
But they never faded completely. Last fall, she enrolled in the 杏吧专区杏吧专区檚 distance learning program. 杏吧专区淚t was my turn,杏吧专区 Georgia quipped. Mike, who earned two advanced degrees over the years, agrees. He says 杏吧专区淕ee Gee,杏吧专区 as he calls Georgia, spent years putting her family杏吧专区檚 needs first.
The couple, who moved to the New Orleans area after Mike retired from the Navy, raised three children - two sons and a daughter - before relocating to Matthews, N.C. in 1998.
Along the way, Georgia made 杏吧专区渟ignificant contributions to our community in city government, the local school system, community hospital, social organizations and Chamber of Commerce,杏吧专区 Mike stated via email.
Her devotion helped all of the couple杏吧专区檚 children earn college degrees, and go on to successful careers. Michael, 44, is a restaurant manager in North Carolina; Christopher, 39, is an attorney in Chicago; and Karen Foster, 35, is an office manager in North Carolina.
When Georgia decided to finish her own degree requirements, she began exploring options. She visited the 杏吧专区, where she learned she had retained 120 hours, and needed only 11 credit hours to earn her degree.
She studied remotely from the family杏吧专区檚 North Carolina home, despite working full-time as a manager at H&R Block. She took online courses in computer science, business writing and health, and communicated with professors via Skype and email.
杏吧专区淚t was quite an experience,杏吧专区 she says with a laugh, 杏吧专区渂ut I杏吧专区檓 extremely glad I did it.杏吧专区