\u201cThe business school (now, The Peter J. Tobin College of Business<\/a>) was conveniently located in downtown Brooklyn\u2014only a few subway stations away from my job at Chase in lower Manhattan,\u201d he explained. \u201cIt was just a short ride\u00a0 home after school late at night.\u201d<\/p>\n However, after two years of juggling two jobs while attending St. John\u2019s\u2014and welcoming two more children into the family\u2014he ultimately had to step away from his accounting studies, as his schedule and finances were no longer sustainable.\u00a0<\/p>\n Over the next five decades, Mr. Horstman built a long and steady career spanning finance, construction, real estate development, and retail operations, quickly advancing through senior roles. He retired in 2015 and moved to Manchester, NJ, so he and his wife could be closer to their family, which now includes 12 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.\u00a0<\/p>\n Throughout the years, he attended numerous college graduations honoring the achievements of both his children and grandchildren, and it was at one such celebration that he had an epiphany. \u201cI was sitting in the bleachers at a hooding ceremony in Rhode Island, and I suddenly relived a deep regret and cavity in my own life,\u201d he explained. \u201cI had never completed my quest for a college degree.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n At 82\u2014more than 60 years since leaving St. John\u2019s\u2014he wrote the University with a recap of his academic and work experiences in the hope of finding a path to filling this gap in his r\u00e9sum\u00e9. That message found its way to the desk of Maciek Nowak, Ph.D.<\/a>, Dean, and Joseph H. and Maria C. Schwartz Distinguished Chair, at\u00a0The Peter J. Tobin College of Business.<\/p>\n Dr. Nowak reviewed his transcript and offered him a path to navigate to complete his degree. \u201cKenneth\u2019s story is truly inspirational,\u201d said Dr. Novak. \u201cWatching him return to the classroom, reorient himself to college life, and successfully complete the final course required for his undergraduate degree has been deeply meaningful to me. His determination and perseverance are a powerful reminder that it is never too late to finish what you started.\u201d \u00a0<\/p>\n While Mr. Horstman would have preferred to return to in-person classes at the college, a commute of more than two hours from central New Jersey made it necessary for him to attend class online.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cAlthough that might sound like the easier avenue, it was not necessarily the case for an octogenarian\u2014at least, not for this 82-year-old,\u201d he said. \u201cI am certain that the IT teams had to work over and above the norm to guide and direct me during this technical journey.\u201d<\/p>\n He continued, \u201cThe entire administration\u2014the dean\u2019s office, Office of the Provost<\/a>, St. John\u2019s Information Technology (IT) Service Desk<\/a>, and IT team\u2014virtually held my hand while I enrolled in my class.\u201d<\/p>\n Mr. Horstman admits that completing the course Principles of Risk Management was not an easy journey. \u201cMuch to my chagrin, it was a struggle to retain some of the course material\u2014determination and prayer certainly helped,\u201d he said. \u201cI was also fortunate enough to have been blessed with an amazing professor, Basil I. Thompson Sr.<\/a> In all my classroom experiences, I have never encountered a more patient and caring teacher.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n That respect was clearly mutual\u2014and it wasn\u2019t long before Mr. Horstman\u2019s perseverance began to stand out beyond his own reflections, earning the admiration of the professor who helped guide him through the challenge. \u201cKenneth is an exceptional individual, and it astounded me that an 82-year-old would take on the huge challenge of completing a University-level course to achieve his degree,\u201d said Mr. Thompson. \u201cHe did it with flying colors. He was a great contributor to the class dynamic, and it was my distinct honor and privilege to have him in my class.\u201d<\/p>\n While he was more than 60 years older than most of his classmates, he praised them for their work ethic. \u201cFrom my observation, college students work just as hard today as we did 60 years ago,\u201d he said. \u201cThey just work differently\u2014and with greater academic success.\u201d\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n Despite the age gap, Mr. Horstman\u2019s dedication and enthusiasm left a strong impression on everyone around him. \u201cI hope Kenneth\u2019s journey inspires others who may be only a few classes away from completing their degree,\u201d Dr. Nowak added. \u201cIf Kenneth can achieve this at age 82, it is a testament to what is possible at any stage of life.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Kenneth](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/k_horstman.remini-enhanced_960x640.jpg\")
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