76-year-old graduates from YSU, re-enrolled after 50 years

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) – This weekend Youngstown State University will have its graduation commencement to celebrate years of hard work, but for one student, the journey took longer than expected.

Diane Lederle Dull re-enrolled to finish her college degree after nearly 50 years and Sunday the 76-year-old will finally get to walk at commencement.

“I thought it was impossible because back in the 60s, there was no hope,” said Dull.

Dull graduated from Lisbon David Anderson High School in the spring of 1966 and that fall enrolled at Youngstown State, where she was recognized as the 12,000th student.

“I had to go meet President Pugsley for lunch because they never had enrollment that high,” she said.

She began as a speech major and then pursued a degree in elementary education. At the end of her third year, she accepted a full-time, second grade teaching position at Beaver Local School District teaching on a temporary certificate.

While teaching, she attended summer classes at YSU but by 1974, she not only left teaching — but left school.

“My father was so disappointed when I came home and said there’s no way I’m going to be able to do that because it was really cut and dry.”

Despite intentions to return to school, events in her life prevented that.

“I raised my kids — my father died young — I helped with my mother who was sick for 15 years — Lee had a heart attack and I took care of him.”

However, after a conversation with a YSU professor, Diane decided to re-enroll to finish her college degree over 50 years later.

“I’m pretty excited. I never thought this would happen. I wanted to do this for years — I just want my father to know,” said Dull.

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