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PROVO — "It's never too late to fulfill your ambitions," Utah Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson said after donning a cap and gown at Brigham Young University's graduation ceremony Friday.
Henderson, who said she had put off getting her degree to have a family three decades ago, returned to BYU and finished her bachelor's degree in history in December, and walked with the other graduates Friday, alongside her son Jimmy Henderson.
"There are a lot of women just like me in Utah," Henderson said in a statement. "While I set aside college to raise my kids, the fire in me that wanted to finish school never died out. It was humbling, exciting, fulfilling — and frankly really, really hard — to return to BYU."
Gov. Spencer Cox and first lady Abby Cox attended the convocation on Friday to show their support.
"Abby and I admire Lt. Gov. Henderson for many reasons, but her return to college shows her tenacity and love of learning," Cox said in a statement. "Her educational journey is an inspiration to so many and we congratulate her on completing this lifelong goal."
Henderson, 47, put her education at BYU on hold at age 18 after she married her husband, Gabe Henderson. By the age of 28, she and her husband had five children. The couple has since added three sons-in-law and two grandsons.
"I feel lucky to work for someone who is committed to this grand idea of lifelong learning," Jen Robison, the lieutenant governor's chief of staff, said in a statement. "The lieutenant governor's passion for education and history carry into her work. It's a courageous act to return to school as a nontraditional student, but she has inspired her whole team in the process."
"I hope other Utahns can see that it's never too late to fulfill your ambitions," Henderson said. " In fact, today is a great day to start."
