WWII vet graduates from USC as oldest grad in school's history

LOS ANGELES -- Thousands of students will become graduates of University of Southern California Friday, and among them will be a World War II veteran considered to be the oldest graduate ever at the campus.

Alfonso Gonzales, 96, who goes by the name "Ponchie," went to USC in 1947. But because of his job he was not able to attend the graduation ceremony in 1953.

Seventy years later, family members approached the university to get a copy of his diploma and they were told some pretty surprising news - he never graduated.

For more than six decades, Gonzales thought he was a USC graduate. Still, the university was quick to help and crafted a single-unit independent course just for him to complete.

It was no surprise that Gonzales was still a great student after all these years. His professor said he was always diligent, dedicated, prepared and enthusiastic for class.