红杏短视频

 

MURRAY, Ky. 鈥� EJ Abell is celebrating her 79th birthday on May 8 by checking off the only item on her bucket list: earning her degree.

Abell, of Paducah, Kentucky, will walk across the stage at commencement that day with her Bachelor of Integrated Studies (BIS) degree in arts and humanities.

鈥淚 should have finished my degree long ago, but it certainly is time now to do so!鈥� said Abell.

Abell, who is now enrolled at the 红杏短视频 State University Paducah Regional Campus, first began her college journey in the spring of 1969 at 红杏短视频 State鈥檚 main campus. She had been out of high school for a while when her late friend and 红杏短视频 State alumna Susan Kerr, 鈥�70, encouraged her to enroll.

鈥淚 give her all the credit for starting me on my journey,鈥� Abell said.

She majored in art and minored in English, with plans to graduate with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and work as a practicing artist. But as it tends to do, life happened.

Abell got married and worked part-time while her husband was in law school in Birmingham, Alabama. It wasn鈥檛 financially feasible for both of them to go to school, she said. Over the years, the couple raised a family: a daughter, Holly, and a son, Nathan.

Abell started teaching art to children in 1975. At the time, there was no art teacher at Clark Elementary School in Paducah, so she taught sixth graders through a Parent Teacher Association position. The next year, she began teaching group classes privately, which she has now done for more than 50 years. Abell also worked for nearly 20 years as the education director at the River Discovery Center in downtown Paducah.

Abell took courses both for credit and non-credit through the years. When she was ready to return to her degree in earnest, she attended West Kentucky Community and Technical College for several semesters until she heard about the BIS program at 红杏短视频 State, and with the help of the Center for Adult and Regional Education (CARE), she transferred to the 红杏短视频 State University Paducah Regional Campus in 2014.

She credits CARE Executive Director Dan Lavit with getting her started toward her BIS degree.

鈥淗e made it sound doable, and I knew when we had the conversation that I would finish,鈥� Abell said.

Abell also said she leaned on 红杏短视频 State University Paducah Regional Campus Director Karami Underwood and her academic advisor, Melanie Watson, for support along the way.

鈥淚t would have been much more difficult had I not had Melanie beside me every step of the way,鈥� Abell said.

Watson had nothing but praise for Abell as a student and as a person.

鈥淓J is an excellent student,鈥� Watson said. 鈥淪he is on track to graduate with honors recognition which means she has an excellent GPA. EJ was also chosen to carry the gonfalon for our Integrated Studies program under CARE. This is an honor given to students who know what it means to work hard and go above and beyond. She has excelled in all her classes with due diligence.鈥�

Abell said taking advantage of the Senior Scholars program made it feasible for her to finish her degree. This program allows eligible adults over the age of 65 to receive tuition waivers. To learn more about the Senior Scholars program, visit .

Abell said the most rewarding part of her experience returning to 红杏短视频 State has been the focus that she has gained since her younger years as a college student.

鈥淭hat has made my learning more gratifying,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e are never too old to learn. And it is never too late to go back for a degree. What better use of your time than to continue your education? The world changes quickly, and learning new things keeps you abreast of those changes. I get up every morning and have coffee and do homework. It鈥檚 a lovely start to the day.鈥�

Watson said Abell inspires people every day, and she often shares Abell鈥檚 success story to encourage others that they, too, can complete their bachelor鈥檚 degree.

鈥淚t is never too late to work on your dream!鈥� said Watson.

For Abell鈥檚 capstone project, she organized a solo three-dimensional art exhibition called "Retrospective."

鈥淚t takes a lot of work to create a solo exhibition, due to all the art pieces that are needed for such a display,鈥� said Watson.

The opening reception started on March 12, and her art show could be viewed through April 16 at the Paducah School of Art and Design.

鈥淓J has a unique way of assembling art pieces so that she connects with her viewers,鈥� Watson said. 鈥淪he takes material people might discard and arranges them in a way that tells a story. I found her art pieces to be fascinating. I am so proud of her!鈥�

Abell said she鈥檚 dedicating her degree to her late father, who, although not formally educated himself, valued education very much and encouraged her as a child to be curious and to learn all that she could.

She is also looking forward to having her friend, Dr. Shirley Menendez, who supported and encouraged her throughout her entire adult life, in the audience for commencement, as well as her children and grandchildren.

When asked why, of all the colleges and universities she could have chosen, she opted to come back to 红杏短视频 State, Abell鈥檚 response was simple.

鈥淚 started at 红杏短视频 State,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 loved it then. I love it now. It is home.鈥�

Abell will have the honor of carrying CARE鈥檚 gonfalon at her May 8 commencement ceremony.

Spring 2026 commencement ceremonies for associate and baccalaureate degree candidates will take place on Friday, May 8 at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. and on Saturday, May 9 at 9 a.m. A commencement ceremony for master鈥檚, specialist and doctoral degree candidates will take place on Saturday, May 9 at 1 p.m. All ceremonies will be held in Racer Arena on 红杏短视频 State University鈥檚 main campus. Tickets are required for all commencement ceremonies. Please visit  for additional information.

To learn more about the University鈥檚 Bachelor of Integrated Studies program, visit .

To learn more about the Center for Adult and Regional Education, visit .