Over 180 non-traditional students at Western have graduated so far this year, with the help of a program called, "Finish WKU."

This program allows students with 90 or more credit hours to come back and finish their degree.

Senile is the last thing Jessie Varner would call himself.

The 64-year-old hasn't step foot inside a classroom since 1979, and wanted a college degree. So a friend suggest, he become a teacher.

"One of the ladies at my office said, we'll you're always trying to teach us something, you will be better off trying to teach those kids."

Jessie enrolled in a program called, "Finish" at WKU. But he wasn't too thrilled about it at first.

"No I was not gung-ho about finish or the non-traditional student program. I came back to school to "quote" get my degree in education and I was going to be just jumping gray guns. But my grades were not the best."

So in efforts to achieve that degree, Varner needed to look for an alternative way to help his GPA, but he didn't have to look very far.

"Our service motto is to meet them where ever they are and some students just need very little assistance. They made need some assistance in applying for financial, and reapplying for the university." "We see them across the board in terms of what their needs are," says Adult Learner Counselor, Todd Noffsinger.

Varner says he's glad he went back to school and looks forward to what the future has for him.

"I'm looking at walking the line, May 14th, 15th or whatever day we walk, with a bachelor's degree and if Western will have me, I might try to talk somebody into a master's degree."

He's working to show others that it's never too late to go back to school.

For more information on "Finish WKU," call 270-745-3573 or 1-800-WKU-GRAD.