Delay at sea means Navy sailor misses college graduation — or did he?
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Francis Oladipo’s parents traveled from Nigeria to see their U.S. Navy sailor son receive his master’s degree from National University on Saturday.
But, as always in Navy life, fate and the seas get a vote.
Oladipo serves on the Anchorage, a San Diego amphibious transport dock ship. It was off shore last week for training.
The ship was delayed. There were no helicopters available to deliver Oladipo in time. The Anchorage got back home on Saturday — missing graduation by just hours.
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Then, National University got a call from the naval base.
“His captain called us and said, ‘Is there any way we can get this guy’s degree?’” said National University President David Andrews yesterday. “We said, ‘Absolutely.’”
So Oladipo donned a new uniform — the traditional cap and grown of a master’s candidate — and walked in front of his parents, wife and son to receive his diploma on Tuesday.
Instead of the 20,000-person event held at Petco Park on Saturday, it was a small ceremony in the National University president’s office.
But university officials wore their full regalia. Andrews read a portion of the commencement speech that was delivered on Saturday. And a half dozen of Oladipo’s shipmates turned out in dress white uniforms.
“I’d say excited is an understatement right now,” Oladipo said. “I’m so delighted. I’m short of words. I’m so grateful.”
Present were the sailor’s parents, Michael and Kikie; his wife, Mary, and their toddler son, Emmanuel.
Oladipo has served in the Navy for three years and is a petty officer 3rd class. He received a master’s degree in public health through the National University School of Health and Human Services.
“I do this for my son, my family. I believe this is going to be motivating factor for him,” the sailor said, holding the toddler. “If I can get a master’s, he should be able to get some thing way better.”
National University, a private nonprofit college based in San Diego, estimates that about 25 percent of students are active or former military personnel. The school was founded in 1971 by a Navy retiree.
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