92-Year-Old Colombian Grandmother Earns University Degree, Inspiring Three Generations of Her Family to Study

Carmen Rodríguez has spent most of her 92 years in the rural hills outside Medellín, raising seven children largely on her own after her husband passed away when their youngest was three. She never had the opportunity to attend university — until four years ago, when she enrolled at the University of Antioquia and began commuting to campus three days a week.

This week, Doña Carmen graduated with a degree in social work, becoming Colombia's oldest university graduate in recorded history. The graduation ceremony at the university's main auditorium drew a standing ovation from more than 2,000 attendees, including her 23 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

“She never had the opportunity to attend university — until four years ago, when she enrolled at the University of Antioquia and began commuting to campus three days a week.”

The decision to attend university came after Carmen helped her granddaughter with a school project about community development and realized she had practical knowledge that could be formalized into a professional qualification. "I've been doing social work my whole life," she told the university newspaper. "I just didn't have the paper to prove it."

The university provided accommodations including large-print materials, a dedicated study space, and permission to record lectures. Carmen maintained a 4.2 GPA throughout her studies and completed her thesis on community-based elder care models in rural Colombia — drawing on her own experiences as both a caregiver and an aging resident of an underserved community.

The impact on her family has been profound. Since Carmen enrolled, 11 family members across three generations — including two of her children, four grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren — have started higher education programs, many of them first-generation university students. Her eldest great-grandchild, inspired by Carmen's thesis, is now pursuing a master's degree in public health.

The University of Antioquia has established a scholarship in Carmen's name for students over 65, and the Colombian Ministry of Education has cited her story in a new campaign to promote lifelong learning access for older adults.