LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Among those collecting a diploma from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln this weekend will be 87-year-old Jean Kops.

She’s has been waiting for that diploma for a while, having started her college career in 1945 at Nebraska’s Teacher’s College as Jean Mavie. She got two years under her belt before leaving to marry Lyle Kops in her hometown of Bassett.

There, they raised five daughters. Both talked about going back to college and finishing their degrees. When Lyle died in 2011, Jean began to seriously contemplate finishing her studies, and her family was supportive. After getting As in a couple of online classes, Jean moved to Lincoln to get her degree.

On Saturday she’ll walk across the stage at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln and receive her bachelor’s degree.