2000

WEEK OF Y- 3 - OQ Decatur's 'Ageless Hero'...

Paula Merritt/The Meridian Star NEVER TOO OLD TO LEARN - Lorene Graham assists in teaching the adult basic education program at East Central Community College. Graham received her GED diploma at the age 74. 81-year-old student wins 'Love of Learning' category By Austin Bishop The Meridian Star

lege's adult basic education progratp. For her efforts and willingness tb help others, the devot ed pastor's wife was chosen as a Mississippi "Ageless Hero." Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Mississip– pi sponsored the program that honored 24 Mississippians over 6!'5 who excelled in one of six categories. Graham was the winner in the "Love of Learning," category. She earned her GED less than three months after entering the program and then, in an effort to learn to use the com– puter, began to take freshman courses at ECCC.

From ther e, her desire for academic achievement escalated. She earned her degree with honors, becoming the oldest person to receive a degree in the history of ECCC. She also became the oldest person ever to be inducted into a Missis– sippi chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year colleges. Graham first began helping in the adul t education program by teaching algebra. "I just thought it was a privilege. I See Graham, Page SA

DECATUR- The only way 81-year– old Lorene Graham knows how to han– dle a challenge is to tackle it head-on. That's what she d1d when she earned her GED diploma at the age of 74, and when she entered East Central Commu– nity College as a freshman a year later at the age of 75. It should be no surprise that she it~ now spending her time in the classroom at East Central Community College teaching students enrolled in the col-