97-year-old gets her high school diploma
WALKER Mich. — A 97-year-old woman received her high school diploma, 79 years after she was supposed to graduate.
Margaret Bekema, now living in the Grand Rapids' suburb of Walker, Mich., was forced to drop out of Catholic Central High School in Grand Rapids in her junior year to take care of her family. Her mother had cancer, and she also needed to help with her three younger siblings.
She donned a mortarboard Thursday in front of her friends and family to fulfill her lifelong goal to graduate. School administrators presented her with an honorary diploma at Yorkshire and Stonebridge Manor senior community in Walker.
"After all of these years, representing all of the core values for which our school stands, we proudly recognize Margaret with an official honorary diploma," school Principal Greg Deja said.
Leaving school at age 17 broke her heart, she said, and she’s thankful for the recognition. After her mother died, Bekema did clerical work for the armed forces and eventually became a preschool teacher.
Contributing: The Associated Press. Follow WZZM-TV on Twitter: @wzzm13
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