99-Year-Old Geneseo Grad Visits Campus for Reunion
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Helen Rice graduated from SUNY Geneseo with a teaching degree in 1935.
"No dorms, no cafeteria. It's all different. There's only one building here that was here," Helen said.
Helen came to Geneseo from a small town farm near the Mohawk River between Syracuse and Albany.
Going to college was a big deal. She said it was a big step up and a challenge.
She has come back to campus a few times since.
"I have a great niece who graduated May 17th summa cum laude,” she said. “I have a great nephew who will be a senior this coming year."
What Helen learned during her time at Geneseo, she went on to make a career of for almost four decades.
She retired from teaching in 1973, but that hasn't stopped her one bit.
"I've always been a great birder and I have friends who take me birding,” Helen said. "I have been on so many trips around the world for birding and on birding expeditions. I counted them the other day...63 out of the country. The last one was Bhutan."
And if you ask this 99-year-old college graduate and educator the key to a long and happy life she'll tell you... stay busy.
"I see so many people who settle down in retirement and watch TV and play bridge, puh... that's not for me," she said.