Lois Price, of Fallon, shakes her hands in joy on Thursday night in celebration of earning her GED, 58 years after leaving high school. Price, 72, was among 35 graduates who recieved their degrees during a graduation reception at Western Nevada Community College.
More than 50 years after her classmates received their diplomas, Lois Price of Fallon finally graduated from high school.
"I had always wanted to do it," said Price, 72, shortly before the commencement exercises. "I feel wonderful but nervous."
Family and friends traveled from as far away as Utah and Colorado to watch Price receive her General Education Degree certificate as part of a ceremony at Western Nevada Community College on Thursday evening.
Although Christy Gray, in her mid 30s, did not wait as long as Price to receive her high school equivalency diploma, she was just as relieved.
"It's a total weight off my chest," she said. And in more ways than one.
Gray, who is a stay-at-home mom, lied to her husband of eight years, never telling him she failed high school.
She decided to study for the GED exam but kept her books hidden in the car to keep her secret.
"It's an awful feeling," she said.
While attending classes she left her two children, ages 4 and 2, with her sister. She told her sister she had taken a part-time cleaning job.
She finally confessed to her husband.
"At first he couldn't believe it. He was in total shock," she said. "But then he was glad I was going back. He's very supportive and he helped me study."
The 36 students who received their diplomas joined the ranks of other celebrities such as musician Waylon Jennings, entertainer Bill Cosby and Olympian Mary Lou Retton who also received high-school-equivalency degrees.
Price is enrolled in accounting, business math and business communication at the college. Gray said she also plans to pursue higher education but now her focus is on raising her children.