YOU'RE NEVER TOO OLD: AT 82, SOUTHEAST'S OLDEST STUDENT CONTINUES EDUCATION

The oldest student at Southeast Missouri State University has enrolled again.

Margorie Monahan, 82, is taking another class this fall. She said she doesn't believe education and learning should be limited to any age group.

"Going to college is a great delight for me," she said. "I think many older people can enjoy college. I meet new people on campus and I'm always learning new things. And senior citizens will soon be the largest voting bloc, so we have a responsibility to be well-informed."

Her son, Dean Monahan, a professor here since 1965, said, "She's a terrific student, always studying and learning more about the world. And she goes to plays and music programs on campus and is active in Elderhostel too."

"More adults and retired people are coming back to college all the time," Monahan added. "We really try to be helpful to everyone, not just high school graduates."

The university gives a discount on fees to senior citizens. They pay only $8 per credit hour versus $78 for regular students. One class is usually 3 credit hours.

Marjorie Monahan never finished high school, but she has been taking college classes for many years and she even graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Wayne State University in 1969 meaning she earned all As and Bs.

"She earned an A in my class too," Monahan said. "She was active in class discussions, and younger students enjoyed her more mature views about literature."

Frank Nickell directs the summer Elderhostel program and she's taken several of his classes. "Education has sharpened her mind," Nickell said. "She relates her knowledge to things happening around her. She can analyze the news and political speeches and question the meaning of what is said."

She has five children. Three of them have doctorates; one son is a CPA and a daughter is registered nurse.

"Maybe I inspired them with my love of learning," she said. "But my late husband, Jerome, deserves a lot of the credit. He helped all of us go to college."

She said her husband never had a high school education but he had the best degree of all. "He had a Ph.D of the heart," she said.