She makes her way about campus with the aid of a walker accessorized like a kid’s bicycle: the curved aluminum adorned with a plastic doodad basket and a bugle-style squeeze horn for comic effect. Wearing the semblance of a silver-haired pixie, she employs easy, mincing steps to guide her along. 

Those who know the 91-year-old Rita Kitts show her the gentle deference entitled to the oldest student at Georgia’s oldest private college. And now, the lady who picked up her first undergraduate degree at 75 has earned a little more respect.

“To the best of our knowledge, Rita became our oldest graduate when she received her B.A. in English in 1992, and today at age 91, she has achieved another milestone, earning enough credits to be awarded a second major in history,” said Dr. Jay Simmons, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean.

Rita’s scholastic journey on the Hill began at 68, an age at which most people retrench and relax. She had retired from a rewarding 38-year career as a secretary in the physical therapy department of Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute, but she carried a strong desire to fortify herself intellectually and spiritually.

“I just wanted to learn,” she said. “I think learning is one of the most exciting things in life, and the reason I think it’s so is because it’s a search for truth, and God is truth.

“When I first started, gradually I developed the idea that what I wanted to do was to learn more about my creator, about creation, about other people and about myself.”

Initially, choosing what to major in was a dilemma. She had keen interests in both English and history.

“Looking back, I’m glad I did English first because being able to write has been invaluable in all my courses,” she said.

Though it wasn’t easy being a 68-year-old freshman, Rita adapted well. She worked hard, made good grades, and by the age of 75, she was ready to walk at Commencement – a memory she still hold precious.

“I felt like Cinderella,” she said. “It was sort of fairy tale when I graduated … I just felt like Cinderella.”

As the May 17 Commencement date approaches, the time has come once more to pull out the glass slippers. Although she technically won’t graduate again, Rita will attend Commencement and will be honored for earning her second major under her existing B.A. degree.

While the third Saturday in May will be a triumph for Rita, it also will bring a tinge of melancholy to the College family because Rita has decided that receiving her history major will close the chapter on her academic career.

After May 17, she will no longer be a ubiquitous presence on campus – will no longer be in a classroom inspiring students, demonstrating what’s possible at any age.

However, Rita said she does plan to visit often, especially the new library. She said she’ll do some independent research on several topics.

And even though her daily presence on the Hill will be missed, she will always be remembered here. Her longtime history professor, Dr. Joe Cafaro, said, “She is just the most caring, nicest woman you could ever run into. She lives the Christian ideal and has made a positive impact on everybody she’s interacted with.”

One of those people Rita’s had an impact on is Library Circulation Manager Lisa Morgan, who said, “She’s such a special person. She’ll call me and leave an inspirational message, and it just gets my day started right.”

There’s no doubt Rita has left her mark on LaGrange College … and the College has made a life-changing impression on her as well.

“My time here has broadened my perspective immeasurably,” she said. “I can’t tell you how valuable it’s been to me because my outlook on life at one time was very narrow. But here, I’ve just learned so much from so many people. It’s just unbelievable really – and everyone has just been so kind and responsive.”