GEORGETOWN, Del.- A former state representative can add another line to his resume: college graduate.
In June, 80-year-old Harvey Kenton graduated from Delaware Technical Community College, with a degree in Production Agriculture. Before serving as a state representative for the Milford area for eight years, Kenton worked for decades in agriculture. He also served in the Navy right out of high school. But Kenton says going back to school to get his degree proved to be one of the bigger challenges of his life.
"It's like a kid going to the first day of first grade I think, Kenton tells WRDE. "I was quite nervous. I got there at 7:30 in the morning and waited for the security guard to open up the building [...] I had a dozen donuts there for the kids when they came in. I was eo excited and I sat in the front row and I did so in every class. it was an exciting experience for me at a much older age."
Kenton says the technology aspect of school was the hardest part. But with the help of his teachers and fellow students, he aced the tech side and aced his classes--graduating Summa Cum Laude with a 4.0.
Classmate David Miller says "Mr. Harvey" taught him about professionalism, and exemplified the power of teamwork--especially during the pandemic.
"It's kind of a life lesson especially for people our age," says Miller. "I think if we come together just as me and Mr. Harvey did on our project we can work together and get through this."
Kenton's teachers say his age added a lot to the class at large.
"I was happy that he came in because he brought that generation to the classroom," says Adjunct Instructor David Mancuso. "That was my parents, and for the students, it's the grandparents. So he brought that ethics to the classroom."
Adds Academic Advisor and Instructor Dr. Daniele Kidd, "Many of our younger students are working and have family or children and it can be really difficult. Because of Mr. Harvey's experience [...] he was able to say 'Look, you're going to get through this. We are all in this together. We are taking this class together. We can do it,' He really was a huge motivator for many of our students."
Kenton says when he was discouraged, his teachers, classmates, and family lifted him up. He says he wanted to set an example for his two-year-old grandson, showing him the value of a degree at any age in life.
"Any of you seniors out there who are saying,' I always wanted to do that,' Go do it. It's there. Just reach out for it."
Vice President and Campus Director Dr. Bobbi Barends says stories like Kenton's are exactly what Delaware Tech aims to do.
"We want to provide opportunity and hope for all of those in our community," she says. "He's just persevered and showed grit the whole way through. That's what we love about our Delaware Tech students; they juggle a lot of things, they have a lot going on but they persevere and they cross that finish line and graduate."
Kenton was a member of the Honor Society and a recipient of the Outstanding Graduate Award. Now that his college classes are over, he plans to spend his days with family and friends.