80-year-old Veronica Smith was rummaging around the house looking for something not long ago when she stumbled on her old Delta College transcripts.
Curious, she thumbed through them. It had been more than 40 years since she'd been in college; she had accumulated 67 units but never quite earned a degree.
With three kids and a career, life had gotten in the way.
But she'd always thought: "Someday I'll go back."
This week, Veronica will finally cross the stage at Delta College's 91st annual Commencement ceremony. She is the oldest member of the Class of 2026.
And the best part: Her daughter, Virginia Ordaz, will graduate alongside her.
"I want to motivate my grandkids," Veronica told KCRA. "All I want to do is encourage my family to get a college degree."
After Veronica found her transcripts, she visited with a counselor who researched her case and realized she only needed three more classes to earn an associate degree.
So she enrolled in Fall 2025. What she didn't know is that her daughter, who retired after a 25-year career in public safety, was also planning to enroll. They didn't find out they were both at Delta until the semester had already started.
How's it feel to finish what she started?
"Wonderful," Veronica said. "I am exited. It’s not every day an 80-year-old can get a degree."
To which her daughter smiled and said, "Education has no expiration."
