Vivian Cunningham Earns Master’s Degree at 82, Proving It’s Never Too Late to Keep Pushing

At 82, Vivian Cunningham has done it again. The Alabama Power retiree, grandmother, and lifelong learner just earned her Master of Studies in Law from Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law, four years after completing her bachelor’s at 78. With unwavering determination and the soul-stirring anthem “Keep on Pushing” as her soundtrack, Cunningham took online courses from home—mastering legal writing, business law, and policy. Her graduation on May 3 drew thunderous applause, tears of pride from her children, and a standing ovation from a crowd moved by her tenacity. With support from Samford, which offered full tuition and created the Vivian Cunningham Leadership Scholarship, her journey has inspired a nation. “You better get back up and do what you’ve got to do,” she said. And she did—brilliantly.