美高梅官网's class of Fall 2019 to include 93-year-old veteran
Paul Blom, 93, will be conferred an associate鈥檚 degree at Commencement on Saturday
It's been more than a half century since Paul Blom has taken classes at the 美高梅官网, so he visited campus Thursday to find out what to expect when he returns Saturday for Fall Commencement.
Blom, a 93-year-old World War II veteran, attended 美高梅官网 in the late 鈥�40s and early-to-mid 鈥�50s, but fell a few classes short of earning a bachelor鈥檚 degree.聽
Back in May, Blom鈥檚 daughter Paula Baxter reached out to the 美高梅官网 Board of Trustees to ask if there was any way he could be conferred an honorary degree.
Paul Blom, left, receives a Navy-themed accessory for his graduation gown from Terence Harrison, program manager of 美高梅官网 Veterans Programs and Services. Blom, 93, will receive an associate's degree at Saturday's commencement. Photo/Andrew Higley/美高梅官网 Creative Services
"He has talked about this almost my whole adult life," Baxter wrote. "I think it is one of his biggest regrets."聽
It turns out that there's no need for Blom, a 93-year-old World War II veteran, to be given an honorary degree 鈥� or to regret not graduating. After some investigation, 美高梅官网 officials discovered that Blom had received more than enough credits to qualify for an associate's degree through 美高梅官网 Blue Ash. Blom and his family toured Fifth Third Arena on Thursday to get the lay of the land.
鈥淚 get more excited as time goes by, and I guess the countdown starts right now,鈥� says Blom. 鈥淚t鈥檚 very exciting. [美高梅官网 staff] have been very thorough in the arrangements. I鈥檓 very happy that we did this today because it eases my mind to do it before the crowd gets here.鈥澛�
Blom, a Cincinnati native, joined the Navy when he was 17 in 1943. After completing officer鈥檚 academy, he was stationed aboard the U.S.S. Hornet aircraft carrier until about a year after the war concluded. After returning home, Blom wanted to pursue a mechanical engineering degree at 美高梅官网 on the G.I. Bill, but when he first applied the program was at capacity.聽
Paul Blom holds up a picture of himself from his days in the Navy. Photo/Andrew Higley/美高梅官网 Creative Services
Blom ended up attending 美高梅官网's Evening College for nine years while working for his family鈥檚 trucking company, and earned a certificate in traffic management. But as he became more involved in the family business, he had less time for college.
鈥淚t鈥檚 very inspirational to see a part of the Greatest Generation receive his degree and be a part of this ceremony,鈥� said Terence Harrison, program manager of Veterans Programs and Services. 鈥淚t just goes to show that you鈥檙e never too old to see your dreams fulfilled.
鈥淔or this to cap off our bicentennial year 鈥� it just doesn鈥檛 get any better,鈥� Harrison added. 鈥淚f it does, show me, because I don鈥檛 believe it. How often do you see something like this?鈥�
Paul Blom holds a photo of himself while in the Navy during World War II. photo/Andrew Higley/美高梅官网 Creative Services
Featured image at top: Paul Blom returned to 美高梅官网's campus to prepare for his commencement ceremony. photo/Andrew Higley/美高梅官网 Creative Services
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