Section B · Page 12
The University Daily Kansan
Monday, May 8, 2000
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Oldest,youngest graduates helped by family support
Rv Kritie Tatke
Special to the Kansan
Reaigan Fisher and Lucinda White do not consider themselves unusual graduates. Fisher likes to dance and travel. White enjoys playing golf, reading murder mysteries and bowling. But they are different.
On May 21, Fisher, 20, and White, 58, will walk down the hill as the youngest and oldest members of the graduating class of 2000.
Fisher, Wichita senior, has been ahead of the game since elementary school when she skipped fifth grade. After graduating from Andover High School at age 17, she attended Oklahoma Christian University in Oklahoma City for one semester. Then she transferred to the University of Kansas to concentrate on broadcast journalism.
Fisher said that she never planned to graduate early.
"I just took classes during high school and always took classes over the summer," she said. "I always did better with more hours and I never dropped a class."
White, like Fisher, attended other colleges before coming to the University—six, actually—including Johnson County Community College, Georgia State University, Avila College in Kansas City, Mo., and the University of Minnesota.
White also had been a KU student. She took one semester of classes at the University before she met and married her husband when she was 18 years old. Because they moved a lot, White took classes part-time for her elementary and middle school education degree.
Five years ago, White and her family returned to Lenexa. A semester later she resumed classes at the University.
Lucinda White, the oldest KU graduate this year, said it was always a dream to finish school. She is 58 years old. Photo by Brad Dreier/KANSAN
"Most of my experiences have been very good," White said. "Most of the teachers in education really encourage the students."
White and Fisher said they enjoyed their time at Kansas.
White said that even though she was older than most of the other students, her teachers helped to make her feel comfortable.
Fisher credited Adrienne Rivers, associate professor of journalism and her adviser, with helping to make her time worthwhile.
"She just helped keep me focused and kept me informed of my options," Fisher said. "She has not only been a professor and mentor but also a good friend."
Fisher also said her mother, who graduated from college in three years, and her father helped her.
Fisher and a group of students went to Ghana with Rivers last summer for a study-abroad program.
"Mom helped me stay on track and stay organized," Fisher said. "She was a pretty big influence on my education. Mom and Dad both have given me a lot of encouragement, love and support."
But Nicole Edwards, Wichita junior and Fisher's friend, said Fisher didn't need much help.
"I've never met anyone with such determination," Edwards said. "She always stays on task. When I'm ready to quit, she keeps going."
White said that her family also helped
Raeagain Fisher is the youngest graduate this year. Although she is not the only 20 year old graduating, she is the youngest accord to University records. Photo by Brad Dreier/KANSAN
her through college. She said that she came from a long line of KU alumni, including her husband, father, brother, sister and daughter.
"My husband has been very supportive and encouraging, and Mom always encouraged me to finish," White said. "She was a great KU fan and supporter. It has been kind of a life-long dream for the family that I would finish at KU."
After graduation, Fisher has an internship in Los Angeles at a Good Morning America bureau.
Fisher said she also planned to pursue acting in Los Angeles and eventually hoped to end up at a news station.
White said she might study computer science.
Korean War veteran gets second chance to walk down the Hill
By Adriane Roberts
Special to the Kansan
It was 50 years ago when Herbert Cohen graduated from the University of Kansas, but something was missing in his life.
"It just didn't feel right." Cohen said. "But I thought I could graduate in 1951."
He didn't take the traditional walk down the Hill in 1950. Cohen, who lives in Springfield, Mo., was an accounting major and graduated from the School of Business. He could have walked down the Hill, but he had to finish summer school.
When the Korean War began in 1950, he was drafted into the Army Reserves for active duty. This caused him to miss the graduation ceremony. Once the war ended in 1953, Cohen didn't think about returning for graduation.
Cohen said he thought now was the time to return to the University.
"I came back home to Kansas City and got with my wife." John said.
"I felt that something was missing," he said. "This is my 50th anniversary."
Cohen has arranged to join the graduates in the University's 128th annual commencement May 21.
"KU has meant a lot to me," Cohen said. "Whatever I got out of life, I owe to KU."
Cohen will not walk down the Hill alone. He asked his roommate from college to walk down with him. Portor Mitchell, who lives in Denver, agreed to join him because he always wished to
Cohen: Graduated 50 years ago but couldn't participate in ceremony
because he also missed walking down the Hill.
"I thought it was important to Herbert that I go," said Mitchell, who also went to high school with Cohen. "Most of us have a soft spot in our hearts for the school we received our degree from."
"Two former 1950 graduates coming back shows that the walk down the Hill is important," said Jeff Weinberg, assistant to the chancellor. "Walking down the Hill has been here at KU over many generations."
Cohen has been a part of the University for many years. He has season tickets to football games and tries to make it to the basketball games.
Cohen was not the only one who never got to walk down the Hill.
"I was a rain-out grad in 1981," said Jennifer Sanner, senior vice president for communications and editor of Kansas Alumni magazine. "We had to have commencement in Allen Fieldhouse."
Cohen said walking down the Hill would be very emotional for him.
"I can't describe the emotions," he said. "I expect to be choked up once she start the Rock Chank chant."
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