90-year-old great-grandmother earns degree to 'keep her brain alive'
A 90-year-old great-grandmother in California proved that her mind is still as sharp as ever after she successfully earned a college degree.
According to a news release from Mount San Jacinto College, Rita Victoria Hernandez of Temecula received the distinction of being the school's oldest graduate in the class of 2025.
Hernandez was encouraged by her family to enroll at MSJC during the COVID-19 pandemic to "keep her brain alive." Despite health challenges and personal loss, she persevered until she was able to proudly walk across the stage to receive her diploma for Associate of Arts.
To make the moment even more special, video footage showed Hernandez rolling through the crowd using a mobility scooter as cheers erupted.
"As someone who had never experienced college before, I can honestly say the support I received at MSJC was unbelievable. I was fortunate to learn from inspiring and dedicated professors whose encouragement played a key role in my success," Hernandez said.
According to a report from KABC-TV, Hernandez only managed to finish high school 73 years ago before she moved to Torrance from Puerto Rico. Since then, she's been a grandmother to 12 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Her family shared that she had always liked to stay mentally active by playing crossword and Wordle.
Her graduation adds another chapter to a proud family tradition—her granddaughter graduated from MSJC in 2022, her great-granddaughter in 2024, and her great-grandson will begin at MSJC in the fall.
