Georgia Rasmussen is anxious to get her diploma from the 小蝌蚪APP.
It小蝌蚪APP檚 a moment the married mother of three children, and grandmother of five, has been anticipating for 43 years.
小蝌蚪APP淚t was just something I always wanted to do,小蝌蚪APP said Rasmussen, who will be awarded a bachelor小蝌蚪APP檚 degree in General Studies, with a concentration in behavioral science, at Spring 2014 Commencement ceremonies.
Georgia was just shy of earning a degree from UL Lafayette in 1971, when she, husband Mike and their young son moved to California. Mike, who earned a computer science degree from UL Lafayette in 1970, had enlisted in the U.S. Navy, and would remain stationed in San Diego for four years.
At the time of the move, Georgia had earned 129 hours as an elementary education major. She planned to complete a few remaining degree requirements once the family got settled. But, as she puts it, 小蝌蚪APP渓ife happened.小蝌蚪APP
The couple shared one car, which made attending college classes difficult. Tuition costs in California turned out to be higher than expected. And, as the demands of family life slowly took over, Georgia小蝌蚪APP檚 college dreams receded.
But they never faded completely. Last fall, she enrolled in the 小蝌蚪APP小蝌蚪APP檚 distance learning program. 小蝌蚪APP淚t was my turn,小蝌蚪APP Georgia quipped. Mike, who earned two advanced degrees over the years, agrees. He says 小蝌蚪APP淕ee Gee,小蝌蚪APP as he calls Georgia, spent years putting her family小蝌蚪APP檚 needs first.
The couple, who moved to the New Orleans area after Mike retired from the Navy, raised three children - two sons and a daughter - before relocating to Matthews, N.C. in 1998.
Along the way, Georgia made 小蝌蚪APP渟ignificant contributions to our community in city government, the local school system, community hospital, social organizations and Chamber of Commerce,小蝌蚪APP Mike stated via email.
Her devotion helped all of the couple小蝌蚪APP檚 children earn college degrees, and go on to successful careers. Michael, 44, is a restaurant manager in North Carolina; Christopher, 39, is an attorney in Chicago; and Karen Foster, 35, is an office manager in North Carolina.
When Georgia decided to finish her own degree requirements, she began exploring options. She visited the 小蝌蚪APP, where she learned she had retained 120 hours, and needed only 11 credit hours to earn her degree.
She studied remotely from the family小蝌蚪APP檚 North Carolina home, despite working full-time as a manager at H&R Block. She took online courses in computer science, business writing and health, and communicated with professors via Skype and email.
小蝌蚪APP淚t was quite an experience,小蝌蚪APP she says with a laugh, 小蝌蚪APP渂ut I小蝌蚪APP檓 extremely glad I did it.小蝌蚪APP