At East Sac County High School’s graduation on Sunday, 107-year-old Orville Von Ehwegen received an honorary high school diploma. The World War II Army veteran left school after 8th grade during the Great Depression to work on his family’s farm. Principal Tony Tedesco presented the diploma in recognition of his decades of service and contributions to the community.
Von Ehwegen served in the U.S. Army from 1942 to 1945 and later opened a successful appliance store with his wife. Looking back on his full life, he credits kindness and a positive attitude as key to his success, saying, “It pays to be kind, it pays to have a smile.” Friends and family collaborated with the school in Lake View, Iowa, to make sure he was honored for his life’s work.
During the ceremony, Von Ehwegen shared his appreciation for the gesture. He also offered advice to graduates about working hard and enjoying life, saying that even though he missed high school as a teen, receiving the diploma now was “just beautiful.”
Source: KTIV
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