97-year-old grandma in Utah earns high school diploma, proving it's never too late

HANNA, Utah (KUTV) — A small Utah town celebrated a 97-year-old grandmother who graduated from high school.

Kathryn Cole lives in Hanna, Utah, and helps students with reading at Tabiona Public Schools, which is about 60 miles (96 kilometers) from Heber City.

Her story reminds us "it's never too late." Even if you don't accomplish your goals in the timeframe you want, it doesn't mean you can't get there eventually.

For some of us, that graduation cap and gown are some of our first "uniforms" we put on in life. These symbols are known for acknowledging years of studying, tests, grades and classes. But for Cole, they recognize a lifetime of hard work.

Back in the 1940s, around the time of World War II, she was about to graduate high school in Fairview when her grandfather died.

"This is what I've been wanting all my life, and I haven't been able to get it," Cole said. "The day that our finals were being given was the date of his funeral."

Her focus shifted toward helping take care of her family, and she didn't graduate. Her granddaughter says she was just one English credit shy of graduating.

Shanea Bingham says, "For as long as I've known, my grandma has really impressed upon me the importance of education." She watched her grandmother fall more and more in love with reading.

Cole helps students at Tabiona Public School work on their reading skills. She reads with them multiple times a week for several hours in her reading nook.

Cole has worked with so many students, it's safe to say she earned that "missing English credit." The district agreed to recognize her as an honorary graduate this year. They gave her a diploma at the graduation ceremony, and the crowd cheered.

"This is what I've been wanting my whole life, and I haven't been able to get it," Cole said. "It's never too late to keep learning."

She plans to continue mentoring and tutoring students at the school. Her next goal is to make it to 100 years old.