72-year-old graduates college with his 99-year-old mom in the audience

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. -- A 72-year-old man received his Cinema and Media Arts bachelor's degree from Georgia Gwinnett College this month. 

"This is my first undergraduate degree," said Sam Kaplan. "I'm the first of my seven siblings to earn a degree."

Kaplan graduated from high school in 1969, had not considered college. Storyful reports the father of five worked a variety of jobs including running a cleaning service, a telemarketing company and a part-time taxi driver.

When he was 68, he decided to go back to school.

"I was riding down 316 and heard on the radio that Georgia Gwinnett College was offering a degree that involved script writing. Five minutes later, I was registering for the fall semester," Kaplan said.

The new graduate said the best part of his day was having his 99-year-old mother in the audience.