After starting her educational journey over 50 years ago, Lonnie Webb Allen returned to Delta State University to complete the Bachelor’s degree she embarked on as a young college student from Senatobia, MS. with dreams of tfhe future.
With one semester remaining in Business Education, Lonnie met the love of her life, moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and married her soulmate. Although she thought completing her degree in Wisconsin would be easy, her dream was shattered as reality kicked in. No schools within 60 miles offered a degree in Business Education.
Shortly after she married, she began working full-time and started a family. Lonnie’s initial decision was to change her degree; however, in doing so, she would lose several credits that she earned at Delta State as those credits did not transfer. Lonnie’s family continued to grow, and she took night classes at UW-Milwaukee. It was a struggle working full time, caring for her husband and children, and attending school, which eventually caused Lonnie to withdraw from UWM.
In 2005, Lonnie suffered a brain aneurysm. Determined to beat the odds, she took Interior Design classes at Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC), which she completed with an Associate Degree. Lonnie helped put her daughters through Howard University and the University of Wisconsin Parkside.
In 2020 tragedy struck as her youngest and only son was killed in a car accident. Still, despite these setbacks, the regret of giving up on her education was eventually transformed into motivation.
After moving back to Senatobia years later, her husband encouraged her to return to Delta State. After speaking with an advisor and learning that all her previous classes would transfer, she realized she was closer than ever to completing her educational journey. Now, at 72, the great-grandmother is proof that hard work, tremendous faith in God, and relentless determination can make anything possible.
On December 9, 2022, she walked across the stage at Delta State University and received the Bachelor’s Degree in Business Education that she started over 50 years ago. Congratulations, Lonnie!
