I remember just before I retired, Senior Reserve Officer Atlantic (Rear Admiral Richard Schneider) was also the President of Norwich. He said in an interview for the CG Reservist magazine that during sporting events against the USCG Academy, he'd change uniforms during halftime so he could support both schools.
President Schneider has been a guardian angel for me.
I learned too much outside the class and did not graduate in May 1979 with the rest of my class. I earned the 1.88 GPA I had after 9 semesters. On the other hand, my wife graduated with high honors, BS in Electrical Engineering (4 year AFROTC scholarship).
After Anita got the job offer here in February 2012, I thought to pick up the pieces of my delayed life. She had been, until starting the job at NAVAIR in August 2012, been out of work 15 years dealing with PTSD and other effects of her service connected disabilities.
I contacted one of my old professors who was still there (this school years makes 44 for him) to see if I could come back as a non-traditional completion student. I got back in, took and got A's in the classes I needed, and was awarded my degree on 24 August 2013, 38 years to the day that I first set foot on campus.
We went up the following May for Commencement, so my mom could see me finally walk across that stage and get my degree.
I later found out, that Adm Schneider went to bat for me to the University's Board of Trustees. They were very skeptical that someone coming back after so long could do it. It explained why he gave me a bear hug on stage after the Dean handed me my diploma.
