Rudy Nevarez is proof that you're never too old to achieve a lifelong dream. He is 78 years old and as of Friday afternoon, Nevarez can say he's the oldest person to graduate from the University of Washington-Tacoma.

It's hard to pick out a face in the crowd at a graduation; there are so many students among the UW Tacoma 2007 graduating class.

But one student sticks out. Maybe it's the pony tail or his popularity. Or maybe it's his age.

"78. 78 years young," Nevarez said.

It's safe to say if there was a competition to see who got the most hugs, Rudy Nevarez would be declared the winner.

Nevarez's classmates at the school's business program didn't know what to think at first. Here's a guy, who's their grandfather's age, taking classes with them.

"I've had my doubts through the four years and I'm like, 'he's here, doing it, so I can do it, you know,' " said Nick Sapp, a classmate.

"And they look at me like the old man and the sea, wondering, 'what the heck is he doing here?' " Nevarez said.

What he's doing is living a lifelong dream - getting that college degree he always wanted.

Nevarez left high school in 9th grade, joined the Navy and later earned his high school-equivalency diploma. But it was after he retired from the Navy in 1999 that he decided it's now or never.

"Driving to class from Bremerton to UW Tacoma for his first day of class, he almost made a U-turn at the Narrows Bridge," said Chancellor Patricia Spakes.

But he kept going, showing his classmates and everyone else. That's the kind of guy he is.

"Never too old or too young to go back to school. I'm very proud of him," a student said.

"I did it. I did it finally," Nevarez said.

At 78, Nevarez is the first in his family to graduate from college.