At 75, Linda Young Achieves a Lifelong Dream: Becoming an LSU Graduate

Linda Young, 75, has redefined the phrase “young at heart” by achieving a lifelong dream of earning her master’s degree from LSU. Born and raised in Louisiana, her path to LSU began as a child attending football games at just five years old.

“When I graduated from Zachary High School in 1967, it never occurred to me to go anywhere but LSU,” Young says.

However, life had other plans. During her junior year at LSU, Linda and her husband, Ron, moved to Texas, where she completed a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from the University of Texas at Arlington, which was near his first Army assignment. Despite this detour, her dream of earning an LSU degree never faded.

“After cheering through LSU graduations for my husband, both of our children and several other family members, I decided it was my turn,” she says. “I told my husband, ‘Before I die, I want a degree from LSU.’ He laughed and said, ‘You’d better hurry…time is running out!’”

She decided to pursue a master’s degree in Higher Education Administration through LSU Online — what she calls a natural extension of her volunteer work in student recruitment and alumni relations.

“The curriculum described work in alumni relations and enrollment management, which was right up my alley,” she says. “I believe this degree will better equip me to assist the LSU Admissions Office in recruiting the best and brightest students in the DFW (Dallas/Fort Worth) area.”

Together with her husband, she has spent more than 35 years as an alumni volunteer in the DFW area, recruiting students to LSU and raising scholarship funds. Their efforts have significantly increased the number of DFW students attending LSU, from an entering freshmen class of just 14 in 1990 to 240 in recent years.

“LSU has continued to rise in academic excellence with President William F. Tate’s Scholarship First Agenda,” Linda says. “The opportunities for students to receive great scholarships, do research with renowned experts, travel abroad, and be part of a great student atmosphere motivate me to help students see LSU as an option.”

The Scholarship First Agenda, set forth by President Tate, is the university’s commitment to the pursuit of excellence and strategic investments in five key areas: agriculture, biomedicine, coast, defense, and energy, to transform research capabilities and improve the lives of all Louisianans.

Linda credits the LSU Online program with making her own LSU educational dream a reality.

“Having been out of the classroom for more than 50 years, my professors were very helpful and encouraging,” she says. “Interaction between students was promoted, and I was able to meet several classmates who have become good friends.”

Linda’s passion for student success is reflected in her and Ron’s endowment of scholarships in the E. J. Ourso College of Business and the College of Engineering.

“We observed that sometimes students entering LSU are not awarded a scholarship, but they prove themselves to be solid students with great GPAs,” Linda says. “We hope our scholarships inspire students to pay it forward after they graduate.”

Her journey to graduation culminated in an emotional moment in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

“My heart has always been at LSU, but now it’s official,” she says. “I’ve been singing the LSU Alma Mater in Tiger Stadium for years, but singing it in the PMAC at graduation brought tears of joy to my eyes.”

Looking ahead, Linda plans to continue her work with the LSU Admissions Office and the DFW LSU Alumni Association. The Dallas chapter hosts send-off parties for incoming freshmen and their parents, fostering a sense of community before students even step foot on campus.

“I plan to continue organizing this and encouraging alumni volunteers to welcome new students to the LSU Tiger Family,” she says.

Linda’s advice for prospective students and alumni is simple yet profound: “Join and stay connected to the LSU Alumni Association, and volunteer. Visit campus, and participate in LSU Giving Day. Every contribution matters, and it’s a way to give back to the best university in the world.”

Her story proves it’s never too late to pursue a dream.

“You’re never too old, and never stop learning,” she says. “I definitely had a technology curve to mount, but it kept my brain working. My husband said I was probably the only 75-year-old grandmother of four getting her master’s, and I’m so glad I did!”

Linda Young’s love for LSU, her tireless dedication to its community, and her inspiring journey to graduation exemplify what it means to be a Tiger for life, “It means I support LSU with my time, talent, and treasure.”

Next Steps

Let LSU put you on a path to success! With 330+ undergraduate programs, 70 master's programs, and over 50 doctoral programs, we have a degree for you.

Experience LSUFind Your MajorBecome a Tiger