Alfonso Gonzales is preparing to graduate from the University of Southern California at 96, as soon as he gets a final college credit hour, according to
KABC-TV.
The former U.S. Marine who served in Okinawa during World War II found out recently that he was one unit short from earning his diploma, which he had starting working on in the 1940s.
"I was a student at Compton Junior College and then transferred to S.C. in 1947," said Gonzales, "That's a long time ago isn't it?"
"I thought all I had to do was go over there and pick up my diploma, but no, I was one unit short they told me," said Gonzales, who went on to run a successful landscaping business. His family started looking into his diploma recently and discovered he was a credit short.
USC's dean of in the School of Gerontology Pinchas Cohen called Gonzales a "special student," as the veteran prepared to become the oldest graduate in the history of the university, noted KABC-TV.
"We would do whatever it takes to reach this goal," Cohen said to the television station. "He is a special student and we all are delighted to have him here."
Gonzales's return to college at his age is a rare feat, but area saw similar gradation last year.
USA Today reported that Doreetha Daniels, graduated from the College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita, California with an associate degree in social sciences at 99.
Many on social media congratulated Gonzales.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.