Hazel Soares '10

Fueled by a natural curiosity, a passion for learning, and an excitement for what she might do next, Hazel Soares is similar to most graduating seniors at Mills College—except for one small difference. Hazel is 94 years old.

While she just missed the world record for being the oldest college graduate (the current record-holder was 95 when she graduated), Hazel is indeed the oldest student that's ever attended Mills. How does she feel about this distinction? "Beyond raising my children, I am most proud of the fact that I finally finished school and got my degree," says Hazel. "There was part of me all my life that wanted to go to college." Read more »

Alice Hallaman '10

To say that Mills College plays an important role in Alice Hallaman's family history would be an understatement. As a Bent Twig* three times over, she represents the fourth generation to walk the Mills campus—her great-grandmother was a member of the Mills Associate Council and her grandmother, mother, and aunt were all students.

Looking at college photos of her family and talking about these incredible women is a source of pride for Alice. "I am honored to carry on this tradition. My great-grandma believed in the importance of education at a time when it was still argued whether women should go to college. I feel lucky that Mills is here for me and for women of all ages to enjoy. I had a 94-year-old woman in one of my classes! It was really inspiring." Read more »

Lilly Sahagan '10

At 54, Lilly Sahagan '10 is a prime example of a resumer student at Mills College. Over 20 percent of the undergraduate students at Mills are resumers—women aged 23 and older. According to the Department of Education, nearly 85,000 men and women over 50 are full-time students in undergraduate and graduate programs. Nearly 435,000 are part-time students, while about 120,000 are candidates for graduate degrees. In Mills speak, Lilly is also a Reverse Bent Twig—a mother of a Mills alum who also decides to attend the College. This May, she will graduate with the Class of 2010 with a BA in childhood development.

After growing up in a tough neighborhood in New York City as a child of mixed heritage—Filipino and West Indian—Lilly came to California at 18 and took a job at Sears. Within six months, she was running a department; over a period of 25 years, she managed just about every department there. Continuing her retail career, she also served as operations and sales manager for Staples. The next five years led her toward childhood development and special education—she moved up the ranks from store manager to director of sales and operations at Goodwill Industries. Read more »