Intentional 82-year-old mother bags university degree in Business Management, finishes with honours

An intentional 82-year-old mother, Mae Beale, has turned heads after completing a university degree at the University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC).

Beale returned to the classroom to acquire the Bachelor in Business Management after an associate degree in Business Management at Howard Community College.

Before her university degree, Beale spent several years working as a licensed practical nurse (LPN) in Washington D.C with “government agencies in the area, including Children’s National Hospital, the National Naval Center (now Walter Reed National Military Medical Center), the Washington VA Medical Center Hospital, and later joined the Department of Health and Human Services.”

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Her adventure into business started while at the Department of Health and Human Services’ Centers for Medicare and Medicaid where she organized some large events to the admiration of many.

Speaking Beale said “When I was working at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, I organized some large events and everybody was impressed with it, so I started coordinating their IT information conferences. My supervisors thought I had something special.”

She established an event planning business in 1994 before enrolling for an associate degree in Business Management at Howard Community College, after which she commence studies for a Bachelor’s at UMGC.

The university in a statement on its website said “At UMGC, Beale devoted much of her time to helping others. For four years while she pursued her degree, she served on the UMGC Student Advisory Council. Even after she finished her coursework, she continued as an ex-officio member until her term ended in December 2020. In January 2021, Beale was honored as Volunteer of the Month.”

Asides making the Dean’s List over and again at the school, she also finished strong, graduating with honors.

On how she made the achievement, Beale said, “I discovered that I had to be intentional about it and make it my priority.”

She also encourages others to “Expose yourself to as many possibilities as you can because you never know what life will present.”

Beale enjoyed the support of her husband and son, although she lost her husband several years ago.

“I tell everyone my husband allowed me to be me,” she said. “Whatever ambition or whatever I was doing, he was always my biggest, encourager and my biggest motivators,” she said.

12-year-old JSS1 girl gains admission into Nigerian university

Meanwhile, an exceptionally brilliant 12-year-old girl has gained admission into the university even before completing her post-primary school studies.

The 12-year-old, Jessica Okonye, has been offered admission into the Admiralty University of Nigeria (ADUN), Delta State as an auditor student.

The JSS1 girl’s intelligence and brilliance captured the hearts of professors at the university, and they rewarded her with admission.

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Retired American university Don, Professor John Alizor, discovered Jessica Okonye and became her mentor.