{"id":3051,"date":"2026-06-10T10:39:43","date_gmt":"2026-06-10T17:39:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/?p=3051"},"modified":"2026-06-10T10:39:43","modified_gmt":"2026-06-10T17:39:43","slug":"graduation-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/graduation-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Oregon State Class of 2026 features 2,553 online students, including one lifelong learner who proves age is no limitation"},"content":{"rendered":"

Judith Paul set out to earn a college degree many years ago. Then life intervened, as it often does for millions who have the same aspiration.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s the thing, though: The time away from her studies was a gift.<\/p>\n

She did everything but sit still. She helped others pursue their own education. Made her community a better place to live. Cared for farm animals. Every experience contributed to the well-rounded person that would eventually resume her education.<\/p>\n

When Paul graduates from Oregon State University this Saturday, June 13, it will be the culmination of a decades-long educational journey that coincided with a full life at home, at work and everywhere in between.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was always my goal to complete my degree, but when, where and how seemed to elude me,\u201d said Paul, who earned her Oregon State bachelor\u2019s degree online.\u00a0\u201cWork, retirement, moving to a new state, building a house \u2014 they all appeared to impede my goal.\u201d<\/p>\n

Getting to the finish line, however, was never in doubt.<\/p>\n

\u201cI knew it would someday happen,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Someday has arrived, and Paul is part of OSU\u2019s graduating Class of 2026, which features a record 8,785 students<\/a>. Of that total, 2,553 students earned their degrees online through OSU Ecampus. That is also a record and a 9% increase over last year. A total of 75 degree programs are represented by this year\u2019s Ecampus graduates.<\/p>\n

That includes the liberal studies online bachelor\u2019s program<\/a> that Paul joined in 2016. She enrolled as a junior, bringing transfer credits earned many years earlier at San Francisco State University and Hartnell Community College in the Bay Area.<\/p>\n

Returning to college later in life might have been an uncommon move, but Paul rejects the foolish notion that we are limited by age. In fact, she was so full of zeal in her early days as an Oregon State student that she felt the pull so many lifelong learners do.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had no idea what I wanted to major in, and course offerings are far more varied and exciting than when I was last in college,\u201d\u00a0she said. \u201cI was just having fun, immersed in trying out so many different subjects.\u00a0Being an Ecampus student has been a wonderful experience.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

Wisdom from 2026 Oregon State graduate Judith Paul<\/h3>\n

\u201cThe #1 takeaway I have from my 10 years at OSU is recognizing the importance of diversity and celebrating that diversity. And to live in this world with gentleness and kindness. And not to accept limitations\u2014not of age, not of ability, not of purpose, not of time, not of finances, not of resources. Always expect a good outcome!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Photo at top: Judith Paul shakes hands with Benita Blessing as she is inducted into Phi Beta Kappa academic honor society in a ceremony on Oregon State’s Corvallis campus<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

In the decades between her California college days and starting at OSU, Paul thrived in a professional career that crossed multiple industries. She worked as a proofreader for a major national publisher; a high school and community college registrar; a city planning director; and a community development analyst.<\/p>\n

She and her husband, Jerry, also owned and operated a working cattle ranch in Monterey (Calif.) County before retiring early and moving to Corvallis in 2006.<\/p>\n

The abundance of professional and life experience undoubtedly helped her succeed when she resumed her academic career at OSU a decade later.<\/p>\n

\u201cJudith\u2019s story is a powerful reminder of the extraordinary determination Oregon State\u2019s online learners demonstrate to achieve their goals, even if their studies are sometimes paused in order to manage life responsibilities,\u201d said Jessica DuPont, the interim vice provost of OSU\u2019s Division of Educational Ventures<\/a>. \u201cIt\u2019s inspiring to witness her perseverance, and I\u2019m proud to celebrate the achievements of all members of the Class of 2026 who completed their OSU degrees online.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pursuing Oregon State\u2019s liberal studies degree enabled Paul to customize her degree path and focus on the themes that interest her most: writing, history, ethnic studies and literature. Taking classes part time, she progressed toward graduation and, by spring 2023, had completed all degree requirements apart from a series of world language courses.<\/p>\n

The next month, her husband \u2014 her high school sweetheart \u2014 passed away.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy husband was my strong support who made this adventure possible for me,\u201d Paul said. \u201c\u2026 As I tried to settle into a new way of life, I was unable to focus on completing the language requirement.\u201d<\/p>\n

Eventually, she moved forward. In the academic sense, that meant taking a series of American Sign Language courses online and putting the final touches on a lengthy, worthwhile journey. Now she joins the more than 19,000 OSU students who have completed a degree online.<\/p>\n

And as a bonus, last month Paul was inducted as a member of Phi Beta Kappa<\/a>, the nation\u2019s oldest academic honor society.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlthough this has been somewhat of a bittersweet experience, I do feel completely fulfilled with the accomplishment of completing a long-awaited goal,\u201d she said. \u201cNow I\u2019ll wait to see what unfolds for me next. I won\u2019t be idle!\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

<\/span> 3<\/span> minute read<\/span><\/span>\u201cIt was always my goal to complete my degree, but when, where and how seemed to elude me,\u201d Judith Paul said.\u00a0\u201cWork, retirement, moving to a new state, building a house \u2014 they all appeared to impede my goal. But I knew it would someday happen.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3052,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1,677,8],"tags":[75,688,641,77],"class_list":["post-3051","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all","category-students-and-alumni","category-students","tag-college-of-liberal-arts","tag-commencement","tag-languages-and-liberal-arts","tag-liberal-studies"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/PBK-Induction-Ceremony-5-21-26-800x450-1.jpg?fit=800%2C450&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7BNSE-Nd","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":546,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/ecampus-ranked-1-liberal-arts\/","url_meta":{"origin":3051,"position":0},"title":"Ecampus ranked #1 in U.S. for online liberal arts education","author":"Tyler Hansen","date":"July 13, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Oregon State is the best university in the nation when it comes to delivering a high-quality liberal arts education online, according to a new ranking released last month. Oregon State's College of Liberal Arts offers 11 bachelor\u2019s degrees and two master\u2019s programs online through OSU Ecampus, the university\u2019s distance education\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Archives"","block_context":{"text":"Archives","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/archives\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"A black entrance sign reads Oregon State University in gold lettering surrounded by a brick ledge","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/osu-sign.jpg?fit=638%2C319&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/osu-sign.jpg?fit=638%2C319&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/osu-sign.jpg?fit=638%2C319&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1762,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/best-online-liberal-arts-colleges\/","url_meta":{"origin":3051,"position":1},"title":"Oregon State University ranked #1 for Best Online Liberal Arts Colleges","author":"Tyler Hansen","date":"January 12, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Oregon State is the best university in the nation when it comes to delivering a high-quality liberal arts education online, according to a newly published ranking. 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So she enrolled with Oregon State University Ecampus, determined to finish her bachelor\u2019s degree online and discover new ways to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "All Stories"","block_context":{"text":"All Stories","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/all\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"A woman works on a laptop computer while sitting at an outdoor table.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Rebecca-Ramsey-800x450-1.jpg?fit=800%2C450&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Rebecca-Ramsey-800x450-1.jpg?fit=800%2C450&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Rebecca-Ramsey-800x450-1.jpg?fit=800%2C450&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Rebecca-Ramsey-800x450-1.jpg?fit=800%2C450&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1716,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/best-online-psychology-degree\/","url_meta":{"origin":3051,"position":4},"title":"Oregon State online psychology bachelor\u2019s degree ranked #1 in the U.S.","author":"Ecampus News","date":"January 27, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Oregon State University\u2019s expertise in delivering a liberal arts education online is well-documented, and now that reputation has been bolstered even further \u2014 thanks to U.S. News & World Report ranking OSU No. 2 on its list of Best Online Bachelor\u2019s in Psychology Programs for the second straight year.","rel":"","context":"In "All Stories"","block_context":{"text":"All Stories","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/all\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Woman taking notes on clipboard while talking to a young child.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/ug-psychology-800x450-1.jpg?fit=800%2C450&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/ug-psychology-800x450-1.jpg?fit=800%2C450&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/ug-psychology-800x450-1.jpg?fit=800%2C450&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/ug-psychology-800x450-1.jpg?fit=800%2C450&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1326,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/faculty-spotlight-bob-santelli\/","url_meta":{"origin":3051,"position":5},"title":"Oregon State popular music director and soon-to-be Ecampus instructor wins Grammy Award","author":"Carly Fredericks","date":"January 27, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Oregon State University\u2019s Director of Popular Music and Performing Arts, Bob Santelli, won a Grammy Award on Sunday night. 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