Local "Non-Traditional" Student Continues Lifelong Learning at Old Dominion University

In Recognition of National Non-Traditional Student Week, Nov. 4 - 10, 2007

Buchanan County, Va. native and Tazewell County resident, Alice Mullins began her journey as an Old Dominion University (ODU) junior this fall, taking classes at ODU's distance learning site at Southwest Virginia Community College (SwVCC).

Like many ODU distance learning students, Alice is a Virginia Community College System graduate, having completed an associates degree in general studies, as well as two certificate programs from SwVCC. She also attended Wytheville Community College, completing courses in health care. And, like many other ODU distance learning students, Alice has professional experience: she has worked as a Licensed Practical Nurse and currently provides in-home elder care.

What sets Alice apart from other students, even in the non-traditional realm of distance learning, is her "life experience" - all 82 years of it.

"Alice shows tremendous fortitude and is the perfect example of what 'lifelong learning' is all about," said Elaine Ward, ODU site director at SwVCC. "I am honored to be her on-site advisor and my staff and I look forward to working with her as she completes her degree in human services."

"I was fortunate to spend some time with Ms. Mullins on my recent trip to the SwVCC campus, said Jill Jurgens, Ed.D., associate professor in Old Dominion University's Department of Educational Leadership and Counseling. "She has a wonderful sense of humor coupled with a tenacious spirit, which I admire. She is extremely enthusiastic about the human services program and I am just as excited to have her as one of our most recent admits."

A resident of Southwest Virginia area for 58 years, Alice has been married to husband Carl for 56 years and has six children, 13 grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. Her children are her biggest supporters, urging her to go back to school after they saw an article in May 2007 about Nola Ochs, a 95-year old graduate of Fort Hays State University in Kansas.

Donna Hagy, who is in her first semester at ODU's SwVCC site in pursuit of a second degree, takes a class with Alice on Thursday evenings and is inspired by her eagerness to learn. "She works hard at getting things finished and done right," said Hagy. "She is the type of student who sits at the front of the class."

A wearer of many hats in her lifetime, Alice has also worked as a cab driver and a mail carrier in addition to her work as a nurse. And, while living in Brooklyn, New York, she worked as a "tack welder" on ships in the naval yard during WWII, and remembers working on the Coral Sea, now known as the USS Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Now, the 82-year-old great-grandmother can add an ODU hat to her collection as she pursues her bachelor's degree.

National Non Traditional Student Week, November 4 - 10, 2007
Established in 2000, National Non-Traditional Student Week is an annual nationwide celebration of nontraditional students in higher education. Several organizations designed the initial plans and obtained national designation for the first full week in November to be Non-Traditional Student Week The founding organizations include American College Personnel Association, Association for Non-Traditional Students in Higher Education, Council for Adult & Experiential Learning, National Academic Advising Association and the National Orientation Directors Association.