100-Year-Old Veteran Finally Receives His College Diploma After Earning Degree in the 1960s

Danielle Jennings

6 May 2024 at 4:37 pm·2-min read

"I feel like this is the finale of a long journey in education," Jack Milton said

<p>University of Maryland Global Campus</p> John — University of Maryland Global Campus
John 'Jack' Milton

It’s never too late to fulfill your dreams, and World War II veteran Jack Milton knows about that firsthand. Milton, 100, recently crossed a lifelong goal off his bucket list when he finally received his college diploma.

Despite taking the required University of Maryland Global Campus college courses at the Pentagon, and actually earning his undergraduate degree in the 1960s, Milton — a pilot who served in World War II, Korea and Vietnam — never actually attended graduation or received his degree, the school tells PEOPLE.

But that all changed on April 30, when Milton attended an event he initially assumed was a celebration for his 100th birthday, but actually turned out to be a graduation ceremony and formal presentation of his Bachelor of Arts degree, according to Fox affiliate WTTG.

Per NBC affiliate WRC-TV, Milton was overwhelmed with the celebration, for which he said he was “appreciative.”

"I’ve had many ceremonies throughout my life, fortunately, to celebrate many occasions, but this has to be the tops," he added.

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Although he may have missed out on graduation, after retiring from the military following 31 years of service, UMGC was never far from Milton's heart.

In addition to serving as a charter member of the University of Maryland Foundation Board of Trustees he also received the UMGC President’s Medal in 2001, and supported a number of scholarship programs, including with the establishment of the John L. and Symantha Milton Scholarship Fund.

<p>University of Maryland Global Campus</p> John 'Jack' Milton at his special ceremony — University of Maryland Global Campus
John 'Jack' Milton at his special ceremony

"It brought Jack a tremendous amount of joy to finally celebrate his graduation with his family, as he had planned to so many years ago," UMGC President Gregory Fowler tells PEOPLE in a statement.

Adds Fowler, "But it still seems like such a small gesture in comparison to what he has done for his country and what he has done for our students, many of whom are currently serving in the armed forces around the world."

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Read the original article on People.

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