It’s never too late to achieve a lifelong goal, and 91-year-old Helen Woodyard is proving just that.
After beginning GED classes at West Georgia Technical College on her 88th birthday, Woodyard will officially receive her diploma during the college’s 2026 Adult Education Graduation Ceremony on Tuesday, July 29. Her accomplishment makes her the oldest person to earn a GED in Georgia in the past 10 years, with the next oldest graduate being 75 years old.
Inspired by watching her children earn their own degrees, Woodyard decided it was time to pursue a diploma herself. She attended classes three days a week, drove herself to campus, rarely missed a class, studied every evening, and embraced new technology, including using a scientific calculator and completing computer-based testing.
Her remarkable dedication serves as an inspiring reminder that learning has no age limit. Woodyard will also celebrate her 91st birthday this Friday, making this milestone even more meaningful.
The West Georgia Technical College Adult Education Graduation Ceremony will take place at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, July 29, at the Murphy Campus Conference Center, located at 176 Murphy Campus Blvd. in Waco.
Community members are invited to celebrate the achievements of this year’s graduates and witness Helen Woodyard’s inspiring accomplishment.
