A ceremony at Arbor Terrace Cooper City marked the end of a promise Harvey Harris made to his parents in 1958.
Harvey, a 90-year-old resident of Arbor Terrace Cooper City in Cooper City, Florida, received his University of Miami diploma on September 1, 2026. He was six credits from finishing his degree in 1958 when he was drafted into the U.S. Army and sent to Germany during the Berlin Crisis. He completed those credits while stationed overseas through a University of Maryland extension program, but the diploma never came.
The path back began with Elma Pierre, a Barry University Master of Social Work student completing an internship at the community, who learned the unfinished degree had been a longstanding regret and contacted the University on his behalf. Leonidas Bachas, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and Chantel Acevedo, senior associate dean for academic affairs, presented the degree at a ceremony held at the community. The Veterans Resource Center recognized Harris's service with an honor stole and cord, and the Veteran Students Organization presented a challenge coin.
Harris is most likely the oldest student ever to graduate from the college. "A promise is a promise," Harris said.
The ceremony was covered by the University of Miami and by WPLG Local 10 News, whose report includes video from the day.
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