After waiting more than 80 years, Merrill Pittman Cooper finally received his high school diploma, at the age of 101.

Mr. Cooper attended Storer College in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, from 1934 to 1938, but dropped out during his senior year when his family relocated to Philadelphia for financial reasons.

During a visit to his old school in 2018, Mr. Cooper mentioned his regrets at never getting his diploma.  So his family reached out to local and state authorities to make it happen.

To help him realize his dream, his family reached out to park staff, who worked with local, regional and state partners to honor the centenarian with a ceremony and diploma.

On March 19th, Mr. Cooper was finally honored with a diploma and a graduation ceremony.

“Jefferson County Schools is committed to helping every student, young or old, fulfill their dreams,” Bondy Shay Gibson-Learn, the school system’s superintendent, said in the JCS statement.

“For Mr. Cooper, that meant receiving a high school diploma. We are honored to help make that dream a reality.”

Congratulations Mr. Cooper!

3-28-22