80-year-old graduates from college 50 years after her academic career was derailed


Olivia Burnett, 80, stands in a rotunda before summer commencement at the Schottenstein Center on The Ohio State University campus on Sunday. Burnett is receiving her degree in child and youth studies from the College of Education and Human Ecology. She attended Ohio State from 1970-73, but had to quit after having extensive surgery and then having to take a job to provide for her family.

An 80-year-old woman has graduated from Ohio State University after illness and other responsibilities forced her to drop out 50 years ago.

Olivia Burnett walked for graduation at the Schottenstein Center Sunday, receiving her bachelor’s degree in child and youth studies from the College of Education and Human Ecology. She was just a few credits shy of graduating in 1973, but had to quit school after having extensive surgery and then having to take a job to provide for her family.

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