83-year-old Amarillo College graduate goes viral, inspires millions

AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — A graduation photo of Rafael Aguirre, 83, has captured the hearts of more than 7 million people across social media, shining a national spotlight on a man whose lifelong passion for education has inspired people of all ages.

Aguirre, originally from Chihuahua, Mexico, immigrated to the United States, where he lived in Cactus and worked for Dish Network for 25 years. He then moved to Dumas for a couple of years and then to Amarillo to work full-time at a meat plant and part-time for Dish Network. Despite the long hours and life’s many responsibilities, Aguirre never lost sight of the need to keep learning.

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“In 1995, I got my first degree when I lived in Dumas,” Aguirre said. “From then on, I continued studying, not every year, but I earned about seven or eight certifications.

Aguirre earned his first associate degree in Applied Science and Mechanical Engineering Technology from Amarillo College in 1995. This year, nearly three decades later, he returned to AC and earned another associate degree, this time in HVAC…

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