Gradual graduate. (The Goodness of America).During the May 10th commencement at the University of Toledo National recognition In its 125-year history UT has garnered several national accolades. The University’s programs, faculty and facilities have been highlighted in the media, including in Ohio, Don Flickinger received his associate's degree as·so·ci·ate's degree n. An academic degree conferred by a two-year college after the prescribed course of study has been successfully completed. in technical studies. This accomplishment would be unremarkable were it not that Flickinger, who compiled a 3.5 gradepoint average, celebrated his 96th birthday two days later. He spent 75 years, off and on, pursuing the degree. Born on May 12, 1907, Flickinger first entered Toledo U. in 1928, when Calvin Coolidge was U.S. president and Babe Ruth was still playing for the New York Yankees  Editing of this page by unregistered or newly registered users is currently disabled due to vandalism. . The cost per credit hour then was $5; today,
it is $199.68.
The May 4th Toledo Blade recalled that Flickinger's "quest for Verb 1. quest for - go in search of or hunt for; "pursue a hobby" quest after, go after, pursue look for, search, seek - try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of; "The police are searching for clues"; "They are searching for the a college diploma was the result of ... meeting a pretty city girl. His eventual wife, Henrietta, who passed away in 1992, had a 30-year career in education, including 26 years as a principal in Toledo. 'The fact that my wife had a degree inspired me,' he said. 'I wanted her to be proud of me.'" As the Great Depression began, Flickinger could not afford to stay in school and dropped out to take ajob doing road work. Later, he joined the former Electric AutoLite Co. and after that became a computer programmer for Kaiser Jeep Kaiser Jeep was the result of the merger between the Kaiser-Frazer Corporation, an independent automaker based in Willow Run, Michigan, and the Toledo, Ohio-based Willys-Overland Company. Corp. Along the way, he found time for sporadic night classes at the university. In 1966, he returned to Toledo U. as both student and employee, taking additional night classes while working in the purchasing department Noun 1. purchasing department - the division of a business that is responsible for purchases business department - a division of a business firm during the day. After retiring, he and his wife opted to travel extensively, which led to another delay in his quest for a degree. "This time," according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the Blade, "it took until 2001 for him to get back into class. His academic adviser ... guided him to UT's university college, where he took an independent study that gave him enough credits for the associate degree." Flickinger, after joking that he returned to school as an "ego trip ego trip n. Slang An act, experience, or course of behavior that gratifies the ego. ego trip Noun Informal something that a person does in order to boost his or her self-image ," seriously insists that he is "trying to show my great-grandchildren that it's possible, even at my age." Asked about plans for celebrating his notable achievement, he quips: "At my age, celebrating means getting into bed for a good nap." Flickinger has no intention of slowing down, however. "He has," the Blade notes, "been blessed with a healthy constitution and a great memory, and he takes pride in the fact that he continues to drive his car...." Regarding future educational goals, he intends to earn a bachelor's degree, and is "trying to get my back in shape so I can sit in class for three hours." |
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