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| MARGARET BEKEMA |
WALKER Mich. — A 97-year-old
woman received her high school diploma, 79 years after she was supposed to
graduate.
Margaret Bekema, now living in the
Grand Rapids' suburb of Walker, Mich., was forced to drop out of
Catholic Central High School in Grand Rapids in her junior year to take
care of her family. Her mother had cancer, and she also needed to help with her
three younger siblings.
She donned a mortarboard
Thursday in front of her friends and family to fulfill her lifelong goal to
graduate. School administrators presented her with an honorary diploma at
Yorkshire and Stonebridge Manor senior community in Walker.
"After all of these years,
representing all of the core values for which our school stands, we proudly
recognize Margaret with an official honorary diploma," school
Principal Greg Deja said.
Leaving school at age 17 broke her
heart, she said, and she’s thankful for the recognition. After her mother
died, Bekema did clerical work for the armed forces and eventually became
a preschool teacher.
Contributing: The Associated Press
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