Nationwide — Wanda and Tony Reynolds, an African American couple from Chesterfield County, Virginia, recently graduated together from Virginia Commonwealth University in their 60s. They completed years of study while working full-time and supporting each other through school and family life.
The couple spent more than 30 years building their lives side by side. Wanda wanted to go to college earlier in life, but put her plans on hold to raise their children. Tony attended Virginia Commonwealth University on a wrestling scholarship but left when the program ended and moved into full-time work.
In 2015, Tony decided to surprise Wanda by gifting her classes at John Tyler, now Brightpoint Community College. While he was helping her enroll, he chose to sign up for the same classes so they could go through them together. “While I was enrolling her, it was like I can’t let her grow and I don’t grow too, so I enrolled myself with the same classes,” he told WTVR.
They both worked full-time while taking classes part-time over several years. By 2020, they each earned associate degrees after staying consistent with coursework each semester.
After reaching that milestone, Wanda wanted to continue her education at a university. Tony agreed, but asked that they return to Virginia Commonwealth University, the same school he had left decades earlier. That decision set them on another long academic path together.
For the next six years, they studied psychology at VCU while continuing to work. They supported each other through assignments and exams and often treated grades as a friendly competition. Wanda said, “It was hard, but because we had each other pushing each other, you know, we were able to do it. We always competed to see who would get the highest GPA.”
They eventually graduated together at the Siegel Center, walking across the stage hand in hand. The crowd gave them a standing ovation, and the ceremony briefly paused as cheers filled the arena. Tony later said the moment stood out because of the audience reaction, and VCU’s president also shared their story on social media.
Today, the couple focuses on their private counseling service, where they work with couples using lessons from their own relationship. They chose psychology to support that work and to turn their shared experience into something practical.
They plan to take a short break, but Wanda is already considering further studies. Tony has said he would likely join her again if she decides to continue.
Wanda summed up their journey simply, saying, “It’s never too late, whether it’s education, whether it’s you want to find your person, or whatever it is that you want to do, it’s never too late.”