This 75-year-old CCC grad is older than his college. How he earned degree, 57 years later

Few roads to a college degree are longer than Sam McCune's.

McCune completed his two-year degree at SUNY Corning Community College in 2023, more than half a century after he enrolled at the school in 1966.

McCune was recognized Saturday as CCC's oldest graduate during the college’s 2024 Commencement Ceremony.

McCune, now 75, has a decade on the Steuben County institution, which was hosting its 65th commencement.

“I have grandnieces and nephews who are going to college,” McCune said. “I have family members that havemaster’s degrees, some are doctors, so now I can finally say that I have a college degree too.”

McCune enjoyed active time at CCC in 1960s

McCune was an active member of the campus community between 1966 and 1969, according to a release from CCC spokesperson Don Sherman. He was a writer at the college newspaper, The Crier, and even interviewed Grammy winner John Denver while he was performing at the college as part of a vocal group, the Mitchell Trio.

McCune was also a member of the yearbook club and served as the scorekeeper for the basketball team during his time on Spencer Hill.

“Corning was a great out-of-the-box learning experience,” said McCune.

McCune decided to leave CCC in 1969 without a degree after failing a math class. He went on to take a number of courses between 1969 and 2022, but never got around to that pesky math class that derailed his academic career, Sherman said.

More: Corning City Council considers new spending plan. Here's how much taxes, fees are going up

McCune's long road back to Corning Community College

McCune joined the Air Force and served four years. He then moved back to his hometown of Orchard Park and started working for the local police department in 1974. McCune was eventually promoted to lieutenant and became Orchard Park's Chief of Police for a decade before retiring from law enforcement.

One day on a beach with family and friends, his niece issued a bet that if McCune finished his college degree, she would do the same.

McCune didn't back away from the challenge and called his old college in 2023 to learn what was necessary to earn that associate's degree.

Sherman said the Registrar’s Office tracked down McCune's transcript from the archives, determined what credit for prior learning would still count, double-checked the college’s new degree requirements, and determined that all that was left was one math class.

McCune was missing a prerequisite class to enroll in that final math course, but CCC issued a waiver that allowed him to enroll in a condensed summer math course online. He passed with an A to earn his degree, more than 20,000 days since he first stepped on campus.

“Knowledge is grand, experience is useful,” said McCune. “You need both, that’s how I’ve always looked at things.”

This article originally appeared on The Leader: Corning CC honors its oldest graduate, 75-year-old Sam McCune