102-year-old Ohio woman receives honorary college degree

ZANESVILLE, Ohio — A 102-year-old Ohio woman realized a lifelong dream on Thursday, as she received an honorary college degree.

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Nancy Power Hodous, who turns 103 on April 17, received an associate degree in public service from Zane State College, WBNS-TV reported.

Houdous, who lives at The Oaks at Bethesda in Zanesville, wore a cap and gown to the special ceremony, according to the television station.

“Like they say, follow your heart,” Hodous told WKRC-TV. “If it’s something you can do, go ahead and do it.”

The graduation ceremony was organized by Trilogy Health Service’s “Live a Dream” program, according to WBNS.

“Nancy has such a zest for learning, with her love of poetry and continued education,” Tiffany Goins, executive director at The Oaks at Bethesda, told the television station. “We are so honored to present her with this degree. Nancy is proof that it’s never too late in life to keep reaching for your dreams.”

A lifetime resident of Zanesville, Hodous graduated from Lash High School. She was a secretary to Principal E.D. Cleary at her alma mater, according to The Times Recorder of Zanesville.

She married Robert Hodous on Sept. 5, 1942. He was the general manager of the WHIZ radio and television stations from 1964 until his death in 1982, The Times Recorder reported.

They raised two children: Susan Jane Hodous and Robert Power Hodous.

Nancy Hodous remained active in the Zanesville community, working with the area’s historical society, according to WBNS.

She took several business, arts and poetry courses at the college level, the television station reported. She also had the chance to audit a poetry class at Harvard University, according to a release from Trilogy Health Services.

And now Hodous has a college degree to cap off her academic goals.