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A 94-year-old university graduate is inspiring students around the world after walking across the stage more than 60 years after first starting her doctoral journey.
Virginia J. Morelock earned her Doctor of Education in Curriculum & Instruction: Elementary Education through Liberty University Online Programs in September. On Friday, she finally celebrated her achievement in person, crossing the stage during Liberty’s 52nd Commencement ceremony in Lynchburg, Va.
“It’s been 63 years since I started,” Morelock said. “It’s very, very exciting.”
Morelock, of Orange County, Calif., had never stepped foot on Liberty’s campus until this week. She toured the university on Thursday with two of her daughters and a close friend, snapping photos and preparing for the big moment.
Morelock’s journey into education began as the daughter of a school principal and a home economics teacher. After earning a bachelor’s degree in science and math from the University of Wisconsin and a master’s from the University of Cincinnati, she taught for more than 30 years in California, primarily as a ninth-grade science teacher.
Though she briefly began doctoral studies at UCLA, life circumstances caused her to pause her education. It wasn’t until the death of her husband in 2019 that she decided to revisit her dream of completing her doctorate.
“I have spent my entire life doing things for others,” she told her family. “But now it is time to do something for me.”
Despite being legally blind and unfamiliar with modern technology, Morelock persevered — with help from her grandson and Liberty’s IT HelpDesk. After a slow start, she completed her program with only one B — and straight A’s in all other courses. She was assisted in her final capstone project by Liberty adjunct instructor Dr. Mandy Vipperman, focusing on parental involvement in schools.
“I am tenacious,” she said. “If I start something, I finish it.”
Morelock now hopes her story will motivate others to pursue their goals, no matter the timeline.
“Whatever your dream is, don’t ever give up,” she said. “Keep working towards it, and if you persist, you will make that dream come true.”