Texas
A 23-year-old student and her 87-year-old terminally ill grandfather are graduating from university together
Melanie Salazar (left) and Rene Neira celebrate their graduation together
© University of Texas at San Antonio
A holiday for the whole family: In Texas, a student and her grandfather received their university certificates together.
At the University of Texas in San Antonio there was a big party even before Christmas: The graduates were happy about their successful university degree. A very special duo was also there. The 23-year-old Melanie Salazar celebrated her degree in communication science together with her 87-year-old grandfather Rene Neira – who had studied economics.
Now both celebrated their bachelor’s degree together, albeit under corona conditions. But that couldn’t spoil the joy of this special moment for them. Salazar pushed her grandfather in a wheelchair onto the stage, where they both received their certificates. “When we were on stage, I was overwhelmed by the emotions,” she told ABC News. “Everything was quiet. I didn’t hear any applause, but I was told later that the whole stadium was cheering.”
Studying was his lifelong dream
What made the moment even more emotional: Rene Neira, who celebrated his 88th birthday shortly after the ceremony, is terminally ill and is already in a hospice. He can barely hear and speak. Although he still lacks a few credit points, the university agreed to give Neira a degree at the request of the family. “It’s nice that he has this memory before he dies,” said his granddaughter.
Studying has always been Rene Neira’s lifelong dream. But other obligations were more important at first: He had to support a family and therefore concentrated on his job in a bank and on his five children. Only in old age did he devote himself to studying – at the same university as his granddaughter.
Although the two did not attend lectures or seminars together, they often drove to university together or studied together. “We ate together or sat quietly next to each other in the library for hours,” reports Melanie Salazar. “I also often drove him to university when he didn’t have a car.” She is very proud that she was able to share the moment at her graduation ceremony with him.
Sources: University of Texas at San Antonio / ABC News