Centenarian Gets Honorary High School Diploma

 AP Mary Moniz holds her honorary high school diploma at her home in East Providence, R.I., awarded by the Fall River, Mass., school department. On Monday she celebrated her 100th birthday. Moniz attended high school in Fall River for two years until her family moved back to the Azores amid the Great Depression. She moved back to the United States in 1949, but never completed school.

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — A Rhode Island centenarian has received something she'd wanted for more than eight decades: her high school diploma.

East Providence resident Mary Moniz (MOH'-neez) received the honorary diploma from the Fall River, Massachusetts, school department on Saturday. She turned 100 on Monday. Moniz attended high school in Fall River. But she went for only two years because her family moved back to the Azores amid the Great Depression.

In 1949, she moved back to the United States. But she never completed high school. Her son says she always regretted not finishing. She says she had wanted to be a history teacher. She worked for a metal products company for 16 years. She says she's honored to get her degree.

Her family arranged the honorary diploma by contacting the education commissioner in Massachusetts.