California man, 78, gets high school diploma 6 decades later

PASADENA, Calif. — For 60 years, Ted Sams regretted lacking his highschool commencement.

Now 78, Sams can lastly name himself a graduate after donning a cap and robe and receiving his diploma Friday with the category of 2022 at Southern California’s San Gabriel Excessive College.

Again in 1962 when he was a highschool senior, Sams bought in bother and was suspended 5 days earlier than the top of the varsity yr. He mentioned he missed a vital closing examination and needed to make it up over the summer season.

“After I went again with my grade, they wouldn’t give me my diploma as a result of I owed $4.80 for a guide,” Sams informed KABC-TV. “And so I simply walked away and mentioned overlook it.”

The college nonetheless had Sams’ unique diploma locked away in an previous submitting cupboard. He beamed as he walked throughout the commencement stage on the Rose Bowl in Pasadena and obtained the diploma.

“Through the years, I complained to my children a variety of instances about how $4.80 stored me from having my diploma,” he mentioned.

Sams mentioned he plans on hanging the diploma on a wall at his dwelling.