[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 7442]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



   HONORING WESTERN STATE COLLEGE GRADUATES, RICHARD AND GRACE NUGENT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. SCOTT McINNIS

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 8, 2001

  Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to 
congratulate two Western State College graduates. Richard and Grace 
Nugent will graduate in May with degrees in art and English. But they 
are not your typical grads. Richard is going on 69 and Grace will soon 
turn 64 years old.
  Richard and Grace have been students at WSC since 1998. Grace 
attended college for the first time, while Richard is finishing his 
education, which was cut short in the 1950's. ``We've always had some 
kind of goal--some kind of plan we were working towards,'' Grace said 
in a recent Denver Post article. ``A lot of people our age figure 
they're done. We continually have something to look forward to.''
  Richard and Grace had been operating a bed and breakfast in Crawford, 
Colorado when they decided they needed a new challenge. They were not 
your ordinary nontraditional students. Instead of just attending 
classes, Richard and Grace decided to immerse themselves in the college 
experience. They moved into the dorms, ate college food and hit the hot 
college hang outs on Friday nights. ``They blend in well. They seem to 
belong,'' said Robert Sewell, a student who works out with Richard.
  ``This is so great,'' Richard said. ``Have you ever been in nursing 
homes? They're just sitting there. But look around here, there is life 
here.'' After graduation, Richard and Grace will start their new 
careers as English teachers in China.
  Mr. Speaker, it is great to see two people so far along in life 
return to their youth. I want to congratulate Richard and Grace Nugent 
on their graduation and wish them all the best teaching English in 
China. I know they will put forth the same effort and enthusiasm with 
their new career as they did in college.
  Richard and Grace, job well done!

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