San Jose State Film Grad, 58, Started College In 1982

SAN JOSE, CA — It's been a long, productive road for San Jose State University graduate and broadcast-film major Lisa Rezowalli.

At age 58, Rezowalli joined three generations of alumni in her extended family in gaining that valued bachelor's degree this week as the university wraps up three days of commencement ceremonies at Avaya Stadium Friday.

Her 90-year-old mother, another alumnus, attended, after seeing her daughter start college in the Silicon Valley in 1982 — the year pop artist Michael Jackson released his "Thriller" album, the first compact disc player was sold in Japan and the first issue of USA Today was published.

"I had four strong years, then I started working," she told Patch.

Unlike some students, Rezowalli was forced to maintain a job while she whittled away at slivers of units. Lucky for her, her job involved the field she was majoring in — television. The San Jose resident ended up getting nominated for an Emmy award between working and caring for her mother.

"It's a miracle. I can't believe it," she said of her "bucket list" achievement.

That said, she's taking the degree and shoving it to the side to move on to other ventures.

Rezowalli is no ordinary graduate. She has an inventive mind and likes to be challenged.

"It's all good. I like learning. I just want to try something new," she said.

Graduation means several things to many who can say they crossed that stage. For most, it means change and transformation.

As articulated in Transformation 2030, San Jose State is set to move into another endeavor itself — with a future strategic plan to boot. The campus of change in a community that thrives on challenges will enter into a new era, it recently announced.

For this end of the school year, the university has tallied 46 doctoral degrees, including 35 doctorates of nursing and 11 in educational leadership. These graduates could be future university faculty members as well as educators and clinicians. Along those lines, the university made a milestone of graduating more than 400 new education professionals, 1,400 health and human sciences professionals as well as 640 engineers.

With more than 35,000 students and nearly 4,370 employees, San Jose State has pledged to continue in being an essential partner in the economic, cultural and social development of the Silicon Valley and the state. With that, the academic institution has added to the more than 260,000 alumni — 60 percent of whom live and work in the Bay Area.

More on the ceremonies may be found here.