Township Man Completes Graduation Walk 48 Years Later

Township resident Willie Sanders, left, was surprised Sept. 9 when he was given a cap and gown to walk the Edison Job Corps graduation processional 48 years after his graduation. Also pictured is Mayor Brian Levine and state Administrative Law Judge Tiffany Williams.
Photo: Edison Job Corps

Willie Sanders had no idea on Sept. 9 that he’d finally be donning his cap and gown and listening to “Pomp and Circumstance” playing for him.

After all, he graduated from high school in 1966.

Sanders, a township resident, was on hand for the Edison Job Corps’ 50th anniversary celebration at its headquarters in Edison when students walked up to him with a cap and gown. Sanders could not attend his own graduation because he’d already started working, according to a release about the event.

Sanders spoke to the crowd, as did Mayor Brian Levine.

The event’s featured speaker was state Administrative Law Judge Tiffany Williams.

“A life of purpose begins by knowing who you are and what God wants you to accomplish during your life,” Williams told the crowd, according to the release. “My hope is that you lead on fire and that you serve with purpose.”

Job Corps is a no-cost education and career technical training program administered by the U.S. Department of Labor that helps young people ages 16 through 24 improve the quality of their lives through career technical and academic training.

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