Never too late: A degree 40 years in the making

Dee Hopkins

A first-generation college student from a military family, Deborah "Dee" Hopkins enrolled at Heidelberg in 1977. She stayed for two years and then went back home.

“When I came here, it was a lot for me to get used to, being from a large city,” she says.

Then life happened. She got married and raised three children. Along the way, she had every intention of finishing school – even taking classes from time to time when she could fit them in.

Fast forward 40 years, and Dee has returned to campus to finish her bachelor's degree at the place she started it.

It's been a long and winding road, but come May, Dee plans to walk across the stage to receive her diploma with classmates who are younger than her children. Her story is an inspiration to all non-traditional students who have never let go of their higher education dreams.

 

Latest News & Announcements

Announcements

The bookstore has several unclaimed packages in need of retrieving.

The Pepsi and Hammel Research Funds Application for 2025-2026 is now open and accepting submissio

The yearbook staff is organizing for another school year and another volume of the Aurora.

If you are new to Heidelberg or have a change in name, title or contact info, you can order busin

You will start to see an increase in activity on campus in the upcoming days and weeks.

Hoernemann Refectory will be open for the track team and graduating seniors on campus from May 7t