When contacted to talk about her experiences as a student as a college student, Carol Hicks was busy with a traditional Southern rite of spring: putting fresh strawberry preserves into jars.
One might call that a suitable tradition for grandmothers but stand by. Carol Hicks strays from the traditional. At age 75, she graduates from Northeast State Community College this spring with a technical certificate in Accounting.
“This was a challenge beyond a challenge,” said Hicks. “I did not know if I could do it or not.”
Carol Hicks receives her graduate cap and gown from Northeast State President Bethany Bullock.
The oldest of six children, Hicks attended Kingsley Elementary School and the former Ketron High School now served by Sullivan North High School. She ultimately graduated from Blountville High School in 1962. She went to work as a bookkeeper after graduating. She and her husband Clyde left the area when his active-duty service in the U.S. Marine Corps took them Quantico, Va., for a time.
After a professional career, Carol decided to retire three years ago. She enjoyed a long association as employee and volunteer with Junior Achievement in Kingsport. Her husband Clyde had already retired from the United Parcel Service. Her thoughts turned to what else might be out there.
“I’d thought off and on what opportunities I had not availed myself of or missed out on,” said Hicks.
Not being the sit still type, she knew Northeast State offered technical certificates and associate degrees. She also learned of a new program called Tennessee Reconnect giving adults a second chance at college degree. So, she made a big decision; she enrolled at Northeast State in January of 2018.
“I was scared to death to begin with because it takes me a little longer to do things now,” she recalled. “I didn’t know how to approach the professors.”
The first class challenge facing the first-time freshman was the bugbear for college students young and mature – mathematics. Hicks enrolled in the Learning Support course Principles of Applied Math 0010 to satisfy certificate requirements. It was a learning experience to say the least.
“It introduced me to things I no experience with at all,” she said. “I lost 10 pounds taking that class.”
When Hicks informed her family of her decision to return to college, reactions were mostly positive. Clyde supported his wife’s decision taking up cooking, laundry service, and other household responsibilities. Of course, the decision did puzzle one sibling.
“My sister said, ‘Are you crazy?!’ ” she said. “But, they are all very pleased to see I did it.”
Carol Hicks is a nontraditional student in many ways.
Hicks said because nontraditional students approached learning with different perspectives, their methods of learning were also nontraditional. She credited The Learning Center tutors and personnel at Basler Library for their support. One tutor Hicks recognized as a child she taught in Sunday school class several years back.
For Hicks, the rules of success were straightforward. Knowing everything has an order, following directions, and observing order to a process. The discipline paid off as she will graduate with a 4.0 grade point average.
“You have to put time into this. It is not going to come easy,” she said. “Professors do not spoon feed you information.”
She found many shared experiences with students from long study sessions to the often fruitless search for convenient parking. When the Coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic moved courses online this spring, Hicks adjusted with the help of faculty and staff. Professors who stood out were now-retired Accounting Professor Lynn Anderson and adjunct faculty instructor Linda Wyatt. The encouragement and availability of those professors kept her focused.
“Since we’ve been doing online classes this spring Professor Wyatt always stayed accessible,” said Hicks. “She was always there every day. If I sent an email I got answer within a couple hours at the longest.”
She had an opportunity to go to Washington, D.C., following high school for a career. However, she turned it down. Pursuing the megabusiness life did not appeal to Hicks as much as the smaller, more intimate surroundings, she said.
While the big city rat race held little appeal, Hicks stayed in the fast lane with a different passion. Since 2001, she has competed in the Tennessee Senior Olympics as a sprinter in the 50-, 100-, and 200-meter events. She has been a state Senior Games gold medalist in her age group for over 10 years. Her sprinting prowess qualified her to compete multiple times at the national Senior Olympic games. Those competitions have taken her across the country. In the 2017 national Senior Olympics held in Minnesota she placed third in the nation in her age group for the 50, 100 and 200 meter races.
“This past summer I competed in New Mexico and came in third in the 100 and 200 meters and tied for third in the 50 meters,” she said. “I was also part of the 4 x 100 relay team that won the gold medal and set a new national record for our age group.”
Like the rest of her graduating class, Hicks was saddened to learn the spring commencement ceremony was postponed. Still, picking up her graduate cap and gown and diploma mark an incredible milestone.
What’s next? Maybe slowing down but certainly not shutting down. Probably more time with her two children and six grandchildren. She and Clyde spent five weeks exploring Alaska last year with relatives. The couple drove the Alaskan Highway seeing the majestic scenery of the 49th state.
Whatever the future holds, Hicks clicked off another accomplishment through determination and applying her talent. Her advice to others crosses demographics and datelines.
“It is never too late,” said Hicks. “We are capable of more than we know!”
When contacted to talk about her experiences as a student as a college student, Carol Hicks was busy with a traditional Southern rite of spring: putting fresh strawberry preserves into jars.
One might call that a suitable tradition for grandmothers but stand by. Carol Hicks strays from the traditional. At age 75, she graduates from Northeast State Community College this spring with a technical certificate in Accounting.
“This was a challenge beyond a challenge,” said Hicks. “I did not know if I could do it or not.”
The oldest of six children, Hicks attended Kingsley Elementary School and the former Ketron High School now served by Sullivan North High School. She ultimately graduated from Blountville High School in 1962. She went to work as a bookkeeper after graduating. She and her husband Clyde left the area when his active-duty service in the U.S. Marine Corps took them Quantico, Va., for a time.
After a professional career, Carol decided to retire three years ago. She enjoyed a long association as employee and volunteer with Junior Achievement in Kingsport. Her husband Clyde had already retired from the United Parcel Service. Her thoughts turned to what else might be out there.
“I’d thought off and on what opportunities I had not availed myself of or missed out on,” said Hicks.
Not being the sit still type, she knew Northeast State offered technical certificates and associate degrees. She also learned of a new program called Tennessee Reconnect giving adults a second chance at college degree. So, she made a big decision; she enrolled at Northeast State in January of 2018.
“I was scared to death to begin with because it takes me a little longer to do things now,” she recalled. “I didn’t know how to approach the professors.”
The first class challenge facing the first-time freshman was the bugbear for college students young and mature – mathematics. Hicks enrolled in the Learning Support course Principles of Applied Math 0010 to satisfy certificate requirements. It was a learning experience to say the least.
“It introduced me to things I no experience with at all,” she said. “I lost 10 pounds taking that class.”
When Hicks informed her family of her decision to return to college, reactions were mostly positive. Clyde supported his wife’s decision taking up cooking, laundry service, and other household responsibilities. Of course, the decision did puzzle one sibling.
“My sister said, ‘Are you crazy?!’ ” she said. “But, they are all very pleased to see I did it.”
Hicks said because nontraditional students approached learning with different perspectives, their methods of learning were also nontraditional. She credited The Learning Center tutors and personnel at Basler Library for their support. One tutor Hicks recognized as a child she taught in Sunday school class several years back.
For Hicks, the rules of success were straightforward. Knowing everything has an order, following directions, and observing order to a process. The discipline paid off as she will graduate with a 4.0 grade point average.
“You have to put time into this. It is not going to come easy,” she said. “Professors do not spoon feed you information.”
She found many shared experiences with students from long study sessions to the often fruitless search for convenient parking. When the Coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic moved courses online this spring, Hicks adjusted with the help of faculty and staff. Professors who stood out were now-retired Accounting Professor Lynn Anderson and adjunct faculty instructor Linda Wyatt. The encouragement and availability of those professors kept her focused.
“Since we’ve been doing online classes this spring Professor Wyatt always stayed accessible,” said Hicks. “She was always there every day. If I sent an email I got answer within a couple hours at the longest.”
She had an opportunity to go to Washington, D.C., following high school for a career. However, she turned it down. Pursuing the megabusiness life did not appeal to Hicks as much as the smaller, more intimate surroundings, she said.
While the big city rat race held little appeal, Hicks stayed in the fast lane with a different passion. Since 2001, she has competed in the Tennessee Senior Olympics as a sprinter in the 50-, 100-, and 200-meter events. She has been a state Senior Games gold medalist in her age group for over 10 years. Her sprinting prowess qualified her to compete multiple times at the national Senior Olympic games. Those competitions have taken her across the country. In the 2017 national Senior Olympics held in Minnesota she placed third in the nation in her age group for the 50, 100 and 200 meter races.
“This past summer I competed in New Mexico and came in third in the 100 and 200 meters and tied for third in the 50 meters,” she said. “I was also part of the 4 x 100 relay team that won the gold medal and set a new national record for our age group.”
Like the rest of her graduating class, Hicks was saddened to learn the spring commencement ceremony was postponed. Still, picking up her graduate cap and gown and diploma mark an incredible milestone.
What’s next? Maybe slowing down but certainly not shutting down. Probably more time with her two children and six grandchildren. She and Clyde spent five weeks exploring Alaska last year with relatives. The couple drove the Alaskan Highway seeing the majestic scenery of the 49th state.
Whatever the future holds, Hicks clicked off another accomplishment through determination and applying her talent. Her advice to others crosses demographics and datelines.
“It is never too late,” said Hicks. “We are capable of more than we know!”
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