Spring graduate Pat Northrop earned a bachelor’s degree at age 73

At 73 years old, Pat Northrup isn’t the stereotypical college student.

It may have taken her a bit longer to achieve her goal of a college education. But with hard work and tenacity, she got the job done – inspiring many in the process.    

“There are so many ways Pat has inspired others while finishing her degree at UWS, including me,” said Lynn Goerdt, social work professor and chair of the Human Behavior, Justice and Diversity Department at the University of Wisconsin-Superior, who also served as Northrup’s academic advisor.

“She never gave up on her ‘formal’ education while clearly valuing Indigenous ways of knowing and the importance of language learning and sharing.  

“While enrolled at UWS, she would also talk about doing homework with her grandkids and asking them to help her with some of the technology barriers while she assisted them in some of the aspects of learning and studying that she was more comfortable with.  

“I learned so much from working with Pat,” Goerdt added. “We read and discussed some of the same books, discussed difficult and tragic events impacting the Dakota people, and she shared the stories of her family members and how they navigated generations of trauma and challenge. We also laughed a lot – she has a wonderful sense of humor.

Working with Pat has been a highlight of my teaching experience.”

Childhood Life

Northrup was born and raised on the Lower Sioux Indian Community in southern Minnesota, near Redwood Falls. She is an enrolled member of the Mdewakanton Dakota Tribe and one of seven children.

After dropping out of high school in 11th grade, Northrup worked a few odd jobs, including as a hotel maid and in a potato chip factory. She ultimately found her niche in the field of chemical dependency, where she spent most of her career. But returning to school was always on her mind.

“When my kids were young, we attended a pow wow with my grandmother,” Northrup said. “I was talking to my kids about education and how important it is. And my grandmother was listening. After the kids went off to play, my grandma said, ‘If you’re going to tell your kids they need to have an education, you need to have an education.’”

Full Circle

Although she did things in her own time, Northrup ultimately listened to her grandmother’s advice. But she also lived a lot of life along the way.

She met and married her husband, Jim, and together, they created a large, blended family with seven children. She became a grandmother, and eventually, a great-grandmother. She also became a widow when Jim passed away in 2016.

The wisdom gained from such a full life has served Northrup well. She eventually earned her GED, and then enrolled in college.

After earning an AA degree from Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College, Northrup enrolled at UW-Superior. She will graduate in May with an interdisciplinary studies major with focus areas in art, business and First Nations Studies.

On the topic of seniors going back to school, Northrup said, “I’d recommend it. It doesn’t hurt anything. My only obstacle was financial.

“If I were younger, I’d definitely continue on with a master’s degree and beyond,” she added. “I feel like I don’t have that luxury now, but I’d encourage it for others.”

Future Goals

While Northrup retired from the workaday world back in 2012, she has plenty of goals and dreams yet to accomplish. “I want to be an advocate to support other people to return to school – particularly Indigenous people,” she said.

“I also want to encourage people to learn their Indigenous language. Mine is Dakota. I also want to get back into birchbark basket making.”

Recently, Northrup had the privilege of speaking to students at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, about the importance of an education.  

UWS Experience

Northrup, who studied remotely, has had a positive experience at UWS, and would recommend the university to others.

“Initially, the online program was just classwork and assignments,” she said. “But now it has changed – there is Zoom, so you can see your professors and other students.

“All of my professors, but particularly Dr. Goerdt, were wonderful,” she added. “When I’d get discouraged, she was always available. She always got right back to me, which is crucial when you’re juggling other things like a home life and family.”