It's never too late to graduate high school, just ask 101-year-old Merrill Pittman Cooper.
Cooper attended Storer College, which used to be a high school, from 1934 to 1938. Jefferson County Schools said in a statement that Cooper was forced to drop out of high school during his senior year when he moved from West Virginia with his mother to Philadelphia due to financial reasons.
The statement added that Cooper visited the school in 2018 and expressed some regret that he never finished to earn his diploma. However, his family decided to see if they could change that.
"Mr. Cooper’s family members reached out to park staff, who began a process of collaboration with local, regional, and state entities to honor Mr. Cooper, his time at Storer, and his life beyond its campus," the statement said.
Their efforts paid off, and Cooper was awarded his diploma on March 21.
"Jefferson County Schools (JCS) worked with Harpers Ferry National Historical Park (NHP), the Storer College National Alumni Association, the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE), and the Cooper extended family to honor Mr. Cooper for his achievements at Storer and beyond," the statement said.
While in school, he took college preparatory courses in Latin, biology, history, English, and mathematics. At the time, he had aspirations to become a lawyer, according to ABC News.
Cooper went on to live in Philadelphia for 50 years after his family moved, and worked in the transportation industry, eventually becoming the first Black union president for SEPTA workers.
Jefferson County Schools superintendent Bondy Shay Gibson-Learn said in the statement that they are proud to give Cooper his diploma more than 80 years later.
"Jefferson County Schools is committed to helping every student, young or old, fulfill their dreams," Gibson-Learn said. "For Mr. Cooper, that meant receiving a high school diploma. We are honored to help make that dream a reality."
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