94-year-old veteran earns college degree

MORGANTOWN, W.Va (CNN)- Graduation ceremonies were held at the West Virginia University over the weekend.

Among the graduates, was a man who earned his degree nearly eight decades after beginning his studies.

94-year old Anthony Brutto received his Regents Bachelor of Arts degree Sunday evening.

Originally born into an Italian immigrant family, Brutto lived in Preston County, Grafton, and Morgantown growing up. He originally enrolled at WVU in 1939. Tuition was just $50.

“I started out in engineering, (and it was) a little bit too tough. I switched over to physical education and industrial arts.”

In 1942, he was close to graduating, but was drafted into World War II. He served in the Army Air Corps and was stationed in Florida where he worked on aircraft.

After the war ended, he enrolled in school again, but had to drop out to take care of his ill wife.

From this point on, he worked as a machinist in factories before retiring in the 1980s. Since his retirement, he’s stayed busy working with wood, mostly sculpting and selling objects.

In addition to his line of work, he has five grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

With a little help from his daughter, who’s a WVU employee, he never gave up on his goal of earning his degree.

“I think it’s very wonderful. He’s a very intelligent man, and I always admired him growing up. He’s very mathematically inclined, and I always felt like he didn’t have that opportunity and it’s been really great to give him this opportunity to get a degree,” said Lisa Bridges, Brutto’s daughter.

“It’s something you can always keep, and they can’t take it away from me.”