Virginia Hislop, aged 105, made history by returning to Stanford University after an astonishing 83-year hiatus to receive her master’s degree in education.
Hislop’s journey began in 1936 when she first enrolled at Stanford as an undergraduate student.
According to Stanford’s Graduate School of Education, she completed her bachelor’s degree in education by 1940 and continued her studies towards a graduate degree while teaching.
However, World War II intervened in 1941, prompting Hislop to pause her academic pursuits when her husband, then serving in the military, required her support. Reflecting on that time, Hislop shared with Stanford’s news website that marriage precedes her educational goals, though she always valued learning and teaching.
She moved around the country for several years as an Army wife, then eventually settled with her husband and two children in Yakima, Washington.
After the war, Hislop settled with her family in Yakima, Washington, where she became actively involved in municipal, county, and state educational initiatives for over eight decades. Her advocacy included enhancing academic opportunities and curriculum standards, notably challenging her daughter’s home economics course recommendation and securing a seat on the local school board.
Hislop’s commitment to education extended beyond K-12 settings. She played pivotal roles in founding educational institutions like Yakima Valley Community College and contributed significantly to fundraising efforts for what would become Heritage University.
Hislop went on to serve as a founding board member for what was then known as Yakima Valley Community College.
In 2017, she helped establish a scholarship at the Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences, underscoring her enduring dedication to educational advancement.
During the recent graduation ceremony at Stanford, Daniel Schwartz, Dean of the Graduate School of Education, praised Hislop as a “fierce advocate for equality” and proudly conferred upon her the Master of Arts in Education.
Reflecting on the momentous occasion, Schwartz noted that Hislop’s participation in the ceremony stemmed from her son-in-law’s inquiry about an honorary degree, which ultimately led to the discovery that she met all requirements for the master’s degree based on her original 1941 transcripts.
Virginia Hislop’s remarkable journey from student to educator, interrupted by historical challenges and resumed with unwavering dedication, stands as a testament to lifelong learning and perseverance. Her achievement at Stanford University at age 105 inspires admiration and underscores the enduring impact of educational passion and advocacy.
