At age 91, Des Moines woman earns diploma.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- Mary Quijano has always kept her mind sharp.

She used to solve crossword puzzles in the daily newspaper before the sun rose. It's one of many exercises Quijano has done over the decades to stay mentally fit.

Now, it has all paid off.

At 91 years old, the Des Moines resident is a high school graduate, with help from a program at Des Moines Area Community College.

It's been more than 70 years since she left Des Moines' Lincoln High School early to marry her husband, Frank Quijano. But getting her diploma always remained an important goal.

When Frank died two years ago, Mary Quijano knew she needed something to fill the empty days and weeks. She needed to have something else on her mind other than grief.

"I always really wanted to finish my school," she said as tears misted her eyes. "I get sentimental about it."

Quijano isn't the only one moved by her accomplishment. An of about 200 people strong gave Quijano a standing ovation when she walked to the podium last month to collect her diploma during a graduation ceremony at the college's Ankeny campus.

Just three credits separated Quijano from a diploma when she enrolled in the college's high school completion program last fall.

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She took courses in literature and psychology.

"I could've used that when I had kids," Quijano said with a grin of the psychology class.

Getting back in the scholastic groove wasn't entirely easy. She had to retrain herself to sit down and study every morning instead of taking walks and doing other activities that customarily started her day. It worked.

Quijano was pleasantly surprised with her classroom performance. She even aced a couple of exams.

Her family wasn't surprised by her achievement, but they are uplifted.

"It's very inspirational for her children and grandchildren," daughter Dolores Leon said. "We all think she's amazing."'

So do students, faculty and staff at the college.

Terri Valentine, who coordinates the college's correspondence program, said Quijano proves no one is ever too old to go back to school.

"Sometimes life gets in the way of completing one's education, and it can be hard for people to finish," Valentine said. "Mary is a great example to show others how to overcome their fears and get things taken care of on their own terms. She's just impressive."

Quijano is one of the oldest students to go through the college's high school completion program, Valentine said.

Another daughter, Barbara Decker, who is president of Mercy College of Health Sciences in Des Moines, gave the keynote address at her mother's graduation ceremony.

Decker recalled that people like Eleanor Roosevelt and Margaret Mead were her role models while she grew up.

It wasn't until she was in her 50s that Decker realized she wanted to emulate someone else.

"I discovered that my mother embodied all of the qualities of my early role models and so much more," Decker said.

Quijano has no plans to stop learning. Others are certain to learn from her along the way.

She now has her sights set on a new goal: Quijano said she has always wanted to write a book.