After a half-century hiatus, 82-year-old woman to graduate from UF

April 29, 2003

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Marguerite Shotwell is a lot like any other senior at the University of Florida. She studies for tests, worries about her grades and looks forward to graduation.

There’s one key difference, though – Shotwell is 82 years old. Her age will earn the octogenarian the designation as oldest graduate ever from UF’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, and she is believed to be one of the oldest graduates in the university’s history.

Shotwell said she chose to leave college in 1941 after her junior year at Michigan State University to go with her husband, Eldon, a second lieutenant in the Army Air Corps who was called to Ft. Bliss in El Paso, Texas, to train for World War II. He was in the service for five and a half years, and although Shotwell always wanted to finish her degree, after having three children – Barbara, Steve and Larry – something always came up, she said.

“When people get older they have regrets,” she said. “This was one regret I could do something about – and I’m doing it.”

Shotwell, of Spring Hill, credits part of her motivation for returning to school to her late aunt, who paid for her tuition and books when she first started college in 1938 at Michigan State. When her aunt died a few years ago and left Shotwell some money, she said she felt she owed it to herself and her aunt to finish school.

After a lot of digging through old transcripts to make sure at least some of the credits from three years at Michigan State would transfer, Shotwell enrolled at UF in January 2002. She will graduate on May 2 with a bachelor’s degree in dietetics from UF’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. Shotwell, who has volunteered helping Hospice patients for more than five years including during her time as a UF student, plans to continue her work there after graduation.

Coincidentally, Shotwell, who has seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, will graduate at the same time as two of her grandchildren: Matt, who is receiving a law degree from Michigan State, and Corrie, who’s getting a master’s in theater production from Wayne State University.

The best part about coming back to school was the professors, Shotwell said.

“I cannot praise them enough,” she said. “They have been so eager to help me.”

One of her instructors, Susan Bluck, an assistant professor of psychology who is affiliated with the Center of Gerontological Studies, said Shotwell sat in the back of her Introduction to Gerontology class and wanted to be treated like any other student.

“When you come back to school at that age, you’re really coming back for the education,” Bluck said. “You’re really coming back for the love of learning.”

Shotwell will be among 7,129 candidates eligible to receive degrees, including 4,910 bachelor’s, and 1,537 master’s and doctorates.

Based on the number of caps and gowns reserved through UF bookstores, 4,731 of the eligible students will participate in commencement ceremonies on Friday and Saturday.

During the ceremonies, the UF Alumni Association will recognize graduates who have made outstanding contributions in their fields. J. Brooks Brown and Heinz K. Fridrich will receive Distinguished Achievement awards. Distinguished Alumnus awards will go to Ronald M. Garl, Carl B. Loop Jr. and Perry C. McGriff Jr.

Humanitarian and women’s rights activist Eleanor Smeal, and L. Gale Lemerand, a philanthropist and owner of one of the largest insulation subcontracting firms in the country, will receive honorary doctoral degrees.

Former U.S. Rep. Karen L. Thurman will receive the Stephen C. O’Connell Distinguished Service award for her many achievements in public service. Prior to serving 10 years as a congresswoman, Thurman was a Florida senator.

Outstanding Four-Year Scholar awards will be presented to undergraduates James S. Andrews, Julio C. Avalos, Taylar B. Hinkle, Jennifer L. Luetkemeyer, Bradley J. Potsic, Justin H. Townsend and Baligh Yehia. Two-Year Scholar awards will go to Charles T. Douglas, Tiffany L. Lutz and Jeremy L. Snyder.

To be named as Outstanding Female leaders are Stephanie Ducheine, Candace Hunter, Sarah Lindquist, Monique Pardo and Yasmine P. Taeb. Outstanding Male Leader awards will go to Michael Gale, Joel Howell and William E. Sexton.

Nicole McCray, a UF volleyball player, will receive the Tracy Caulkins Award for outstanding achievement in athletics, and basketball player Matthew R. Bonner will receive the Doug Belden Award and the Outstanding Leadership Award.