89-Year-Old Woman With 12 Children Graduates College

Ella Washington is an 89-year-old mother of 12 from North Carolina and over the weekend she received an associates degree in interdisciplinary studies from American University.

When Washington was only in the sixth grade the scholar dropped out of school to tend to her family’s farm and make sure her 12 kids had a good upbringing. At the age of 49, Washington earned her GED diploma, but it wasn’t until her children grew up and out of the house that she pursued her college career.

“She has always been a lifelong learner,” Washington’s daughter Ellen told Liberty News. “Her desire for learning and for pursuing an education became a family tradition. She taught all of her children how to read, write and do math prior to their beginning school, just as her grandmother taught her and her siblings.”

The new grad said, “To me, history is a great subject. Everybody should know their history and learn more about it. A lot of people don’t know much about history. There’s nothing wrong with learning more. Education will help you make the best life for yourselves and those who come after you.”