Jamaican-American Violet Edwards, who made historical past by graduating college at the age of 96 in 2022, celebrated her one centesimal birthday with household, pals, and neighborhood leaders on Saturday evening in Broward County.
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Wearing a ruby pink robe, Edwards radiated pleasure as she mirrored on her extraordinary life. “I’m very glad,” she stated.
The centenarian obtained proclamations from the Jamaican Consulate Basic and Parkland Mayor Wealthy Walker in recognition of her achievements and neighborhood affect.
Her daughter, Dr. Christine Edwards, described her mom as a supply of inspiration. “She at all times taught me that you are able to do something and be something that you really want, which exhibits me what she did at 96. She’s my position mannequin… she’s at all times optimistic. She’s my finest pal,” she stated.
The celebration additionally honored the scholarship fund established in her title, which has already benefited six college students. Visitors on the social gathering donated to the fund in lieu of items. “When you’ve gotten such a exceptional particular person to take care of, it’s very simple to get so many individuals collectively. Each one who was invited got here,” stated Edwards’ son-in-law, Everett Smith.
A Exceptional Educational Journey
Edwards’ path to her school diploma spans a long time. She started her research within the Nineteen Eighties on the School of New Rochelle however paused to help her household, together with serving to fund her daughter’s medical college. When her unique school closed, Edwards transferred her credit to Mercy School and accomplished her coursework on-line. She graduated in 2022 on the age of 96, incomes an Affiliate of Science diploma with an ideal 4.0 GPA. This achievement made her the fifth-oldest school graduate on the planet and the oldest Black American to graduate from school.
Her extraordinary accomplishment earned her recognition from the College of the West Indies, which introduced a scholarship in her honor, and from the Metropolis of Parkland, which formally acknowledged her contributions at a Metropolis Fee assembly in August 2022. The town famous that whereas it continuously acknowledges college students for educational and athletic accomplishments, Edwards’ story is actually distinctive.
“Parkland is a neighborhood that isn’t brief on good individuals doing issues that make us all proud. However every so often, somebody emerges in an distinctive approach…somebody who makes us take into consideration our personal targets and what we need to accomplish,” the town fee stated.
Defying Generational Boundaries
Finishing a level on-line in her 90s is especially exceptional given the historic context: Edwards was born simply 11 years after Alan Turing proposed the idea of contemporary computing, and the web solely grew to become extensively accessible within the Nineteen Nineties. Her story is a testomony to resilience, dedication, and the ability of lifelong studying.
Her life continues to encourage her household, her neighborhood, and the scholars who profit from the scholarship created in her honor.
