When his wife died eight years ago of bone marrow cancer, Ronald Owens' life changed. While he experienced tremendous grief, he also began to contemplate how he could help other people. He came to Montclair State two and a half years ago to study counseling. "My wish is that I can bring hope to other people the way hope was brought to me," said Owens.

"It was frightening coming back to school but it was very exciting. It really energized me," he said. "Going back to school charged my batteries."

For the 61-year-old Owens, who earned a B.A. in music education from MSU 40 years ago, coming back was a learning experience on many levels. "What was neat was working with the technology and the computers. If I wasn't the oldest one of my classmates I was sure up there. Back in my day, you had to use a typewriter," he said with a laugh.

Even the changes to the campus were exciting to Owens, who volunteered his time trying to institute a bereavement support group last semester at the Drop-In Center. "When I went to MSU that little building was the end of campus. It's amazing to see how much it's grown."

As Owens embarks on his new career to help others, he says he has one important message. "What I want people to know is, if you suffer a tragedy you can either be a victim or a victor. I chose to take what was a horrible situation and made something good out of it. I believe this is where I'm supposed to be. If nothing else, I hope the things I've done will be an inspiration for those contemplating going back to school."

When Christine Garland was in the fourth grade, little did she know her fascination with Egyptian pyramids would lead her toward fulfillment of a bachelor's degree in classics at MSU—and earn her the distinction of being the oldest undergraduate (not that she's letting us reveal her age). Garland, a Cedar Grove resident, worked as an administrative assistant to the director of medicine at Mountainside Hospital until her retirement in 1998, when she decided to pursue her lifelong dream of studying ancient structures and artifacts. "My ultimate goal is to make a contribution to the field of archaeology," said Garland.

Her role as an older student was a challenge at first, but her perseverance and dedication to her studies soon gave her the ability to adapt to her classroom environment, mostly comprised of younger students. "It was somewhat of a challenge to keep up with the younger students, and in the beginning I felt a bit out of place. The students at MSU were very supportive and welcomed me into their circle of friends, which made me feel quite comfortable," she said.

Garland, who graduated summa cum laude and plans to pursue volunteer work in archaeology, reflected on the experience that brought her one step closer to her goal. "I had a wonderful time at Montclair State. The campus is beautiful and I just felt at peace while spending my time here," she said. "My college experience was very positive, and I am most grateful to MSU for the opportunity that was given to me. I gained a solid background in Greek and Roman civilization, and my professors were very supportive of my endeavors, guiding me to think 'outside the box.' "