78-year-old Barton Grad Earns Four-year Degree
By Clara Kilbourn
The Hutchinson News

ckilbourn@hutchnews.com

GREAT BEND - She may stop short of tossing her mortarboard in the air to celebrate her newest college degree, but she will heave a sigh of satisfaction.

For graduating senior Marge Kite, 78, today's commencement ceremony at Sterling College means she met her goal of earning a Bachelor of Arts degree, with a major in art, before she turned 80.

"I wanted to do it, and I beat it," she said.

Kite admits to being a perpetual student. She earned her first college hours as a traditional freshman. With time off to raise a family, she holds degrees from Barton County Community College and the former St. Mary's College, Dodge City. She also attended one year at Fort Hays State University. The Sterling degree brings her to a total of 255 college hours with a grade point average of 3.53.

The 2.58 GPA she earned in her freshman year in college has been difficult to overcome, she jokes.

Kite's interest in art came after she retired from her job in the business office of Central Kansas Medical Center. She was 67 years old.

Out of work and with "time on her hands," she joined a Tuesday night art class at Barton County Community College and discovered how much she enjoyed creating pictures, especially with oils. She continued in the class for 15 years.

The plan to earn an art degree came after she learned that seniors 65 and over can attend Sterling College tuition-free.

"I had enjoyed painting for so many years," Kite said. "I wanted to continue and learn about different art forms."

Sterling College art professor David Koch remembers his initial encounter with Kite three years ago.

"She was a little difficult," he said, adding a smile. "When she came in, she had already been through years of study at Barton County."

She challenged him with her first question: "Are you going to do a good job? "

"After the first week of painting classes, she looked just like a kid, with her eyes as big as saucers," Cook said. " 'No one ever told me how to do this," she said.

"I think she got a kick out of what she was doing."

Beyond art studies such as art history, photography, print-making, painting and drawing, Kite treasures the knowledge she's gained from other classes - Bible studies, Christian doctrine, general education, environmental biology - along with other requirements for the BA degree.

"I've enjoyed all the studying and the learning," she said.

Beyond the class work, it's been a joy to be "with the kids," Kite said.

"When I'm going into the library to work on the computer, they say 'Wait a minute' and open the door," she said.

Her decades younger classmates have carried her books up and down the stairs, joined her on the front row seats where she sat so she could see and hear, and walked with her to chapel.

Classmate Ann Morrow, of Inman, appreciated the life experiences Kite added to class discussions.

"She's right up there, a sweetheart," Morrow said. "She liked to share her wealth of knowledge, her faith in life."

Morrow admired Kite's enthusiasm and "ready to go" attitude, even after her commute for a 7:30 a.m. class.

When she marches across the platform that faces the football stadium to receive her diploma, Kite will hear the applause from her own cheering section - four of her five children, along with grandchildren, great-grandchildren and extended family members, 18 in all, have promised they'll be present.

As for her after-school plans, she'll volunteer, combining her love of art with her love for young children and she'll continue being a senior "Ears Volunteer" for fourth-grade readers.
And in her spare time?

She'll head for her art studio in the basement of her home and test what she's learned through her most recent degree.