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INCLUDING INTERNAL INJURIES, LONG- TERM HEALTH ISSUES, AND EVEN DEATH. TONIGHT, CENTRAL MAINE COMMUNITY COLLEGES CLASS OF 20-24 WILL GRADUATE, WITH THE COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY TAKING PLACE IN LEWISTON.. AMONG THE GRADUATES — AN 81- YEAR-OLD WOMAN WHO WILL FINALLY BE RECEIVING HER DIPLOMA. CONNOR CLEMENT SPOKE WITH HER TODAY — CONNOR, TELL US MORE ABOUT HER INCREDIBLE ACCOMPLISHMENT. KATHLEEN AND TERRY IT REALLY IS AN INCREDIBLE ACCOMPLISHMENT.. KATHY WELGOSS WHO YOU MENTIONED IS 81, NEVER GAVE UP ON HER DREAMS, AND WILL WALK ACROSS THE STAGE HERE TONIGHT TO ACCEPT HER DIPLOMA – A JOURNEY THAT STARTED 21 YEARS AGO FOR THE NEW JERSEY NATIVE.. ORIGINALLY A STAY AT HOME MOM.. KATHY WELGOSS STARTED HER CAREER LATER IN LIFE.. IN 2003, WHEN SHE WAS WORKING FULL- TIME FOR JOHNSON AND JOHNSON IN NEW JERSEY, SHE STARTED WORKING TOWARDS A DEGREE.. 12;23;49-12;23;54 AND SO I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A CLASS THIS SEMESTER, AND THAT’S WHAT I DID. IN 2020 WELGOSS AND HER DAUGHTER AND SON-IN-LAW MOVED TO MAINE FROM NEW JERSEY.. TWO YEARS LATER WELGOSS RETIRED AT THE AGE OF 80 AND ENROLLED AT CMCC — SO SHE COULD FINISH WHAT SHE STARTED 21 YEARS AGO.. 12;24;39-12;24;43 I THINK I TOOK FOUR OR FIVE MORE CLASSES AND HERE WE ARE AGAIN. HER HARD WORK WILL PAY OFF TONIGHT, AND WHILE SHE’S EXICTED TO BE GRADUATING, THERE’S ONE THING SHE REALLY WON’T MISS ABOUT SCHOOL..HOMEWORK. 12;28;37-12;28;45 I DON’T KNOW IF IT WAS THE SUBJECT MATTER OR MY 81 YEAR OLD BRAIN, BUT YEAH, IT WAS VERY TIME CONSUMING. AND DESPITE HER AMAZING ACHIEVEMENT, SHOWING US ALL THAT AGE IS JUST A NUMBER, SHE’S HUMBLE ABOUT HER ACCOMPLISHMENT.. 12;32;16-12;32;29 YEAH, I DID IT. BUT ONE CLASS THIS SEMESTER, THERE ARE WOMEN OUT THERE WITH FAMILIES AND FULL TIME JOBS AND A FULL LOAD. THEY ARE THE ONES TO ADMIRE. WELGOSS IS GRADUATING WITH HER ASSOCIATES DEGREE IN GENERAL STUDIES AND KNOWS EXACTLY HOW SHE’LL FEEL WHEN THAT DIPLOMA IS IN HER HANDS.. 12;33;42-12;33;47 I’LL BE RELIEVED, RELIEF, THERE YOU GO, THAT’S THE WORD, RELIEF, YEAH. AND WHAT WOULD A GRADUATION BE WITHOUT CELEBRATING TONIGHT WITH HER FAMILY.. 12;34;05-12;34;19 I’M GOING TO HAVE A GIANT MARGARITA, AND I’M GONNA JUST KEEP SAYING, OH, I’M GLAD THAT’S OVER. I’M SO GLAD THAT. AND I’M NOT GOING FOR MY FOURTH YEAR. NO, I AM NOT. SO THAT’S IT.. SHE WAS JUST INCREDIBLY FUN TO TALK TO.. AS FOR WHAT’S NEXT FOR HER, SHE SAID SHE’S GOING TO DO WHAT SHE WANTS WHEN SHE WANTS, AND SAID SHE’D LIKE TO SPEND MORE TIME DOING ACTIVITIES WITH THE FOLKS FROM THE AUBURN SENIOR COMMUNI

Hard work pays off: 81-year-old woman graduates college

Age really is just a number.A total of 440 students are set to graduate from Central Maine Community College in Lewiston, Maine. Among them is 81-year-old Kathryn Welgoss, or Kathy, who will accept her associate’s degree in general studies 21 years after the New Jersey native started taking college classes.Originally a stay-at-home mom, Welgoss started her career later in life and didn’t begin taking college courses until 2003, while working full-time at Johnson & Johnson, who paid for her schooling.”I just wanted to take a class a semester, and that’s what I did,” Welgoss said.For 11 years, Welgoss continued to take classes while working — until it came time that she was required to take an algebra course. Welgoss decided it was time to take a break and set school aside.In 2020, during the pandemic, Welgoss, along with her daughter and son-in-law, moved to Maine from New Jersey in the pursuit of a slower pace of life. Two years later, Welgoss retired at the age of 80 and decided it was time to finish what she started. Welgoss enrolled at CMCC.”I think I took four or five more classes, and here we are again,” Welgoss said.Her hard work paid off, and while she’s excited to be graduating, there’s one thing she really won’t miss about school — the homework.”I don’t know if it was the subject matter or my 81-year-old brain, but yeah, it was very time-consuming,” Welgoss said.Despite her amazing achievement, showing us all that age is just a number, she’s humble about her accomplishments.”Yeah, I did it, but one class a semester, there are women out there with families and full-time jobs and a full load. They are the ones to admire,” Welgoss said.Welgoss says she plans to celebrate her graduation with her family and spend more time at the Auburn Senior Community Center, participating in all the activities they offer.”I’m going to have a giant margarita, and I’m going to just keep saying, oh, I’m glad that’s over. I’m so glad, and I’m not going for my fourth year. No, I am not, so that’s it,” Welgoss said.

LEWISTON, Maine —

Age really is just a number.

A total of 440 students are set to graduate from Central Maine Community College in Lewiston, Maine. Among them is 81-year-old Kathryn Welgoss, or Kathy, who will accept her associate’s degree in general studies 21 years after the New Jersey native started taking college classes.

Originally a stay-at-home mom, Welgoss started her career later in life and didn’t begin taking college courses until 2003, while working full-time at Johnson & Johnson, who paid for her schooling.

“I just wanted to take a class a semester, and that’s what I did,” Welgoss said.

For 11 years, Welgoss continued to take classes while working — until it came time that she was required to take an algebra course.

Welgoss decided it was time to take a break and set school aside.

In 2020, during the pandemic, Welgoss, along with her daughter and son-in-law, moved to Maine from New Jersey in the pursuit of a slower pace of life. Two years later, Welgoss retired at the age of 80 and decided it was time to finish what she started. Welgoss enrolled at CMCC.

“I think I took four or five more classes, and here we are again,” Welgoss said.

Her hard work paid off, and while she’s excited to be graduating, there’s one thing she really won’t miss about school — the homework.

“I don’t know if it was the subject matter or my 81-year-old brain, but yeah, it was very time-consuming,” Welgoss said.

Despite her amazing achievement, showing us all that age is just a number, she’s humble about her accomplishments.

“Yeah, I did it, but one class a semester, there are women out there with families and full-time jobs and a full load. They are the ones to admire,” Welgoss said.

Welgoss says she plans to celebrate her graduation with her family and spend more time at the Auburn Senior Community Center, participating in all the activities they offer.

“I’m going to have a giant margarita, and I’m going to just keep saying, oh, I’m glad that’s over. I’m so glad, and I’m not going for my fourth year. No, I am not, so that’s it,” Welgoss said.