A man who calls himself the oldest African-American male to graduate from UF’s undergraduate business school will earn his degree Aug. 10.
Leslie Giscombe will receive a bachelor’s degree in marketing and a minor in entrepreneurship from the Warrington College of Business Administration at 49 years old.
He said his kids inspired him to go back to school. In 2011, he received his associate’s degree from Daytona State College. Three of his children earned their associate’s degrees that same year.
“Being able to go back to school, at my age and at a school like this, is like a kid in a candy store,” Giscombe said.
He’s also the CEO of RegroupUSA, a nonprofit organization meant to encourage nontraditional students who could get lost in the crowd or feel disconnected from other students.
Giscombe hopes his organization will help other nontraditional students get back into school.
“Nontraditional doesn’t only depend on your age — it depends on your experiences,” he said.
After graduation, Giscombe plans to get his master’s degree and expand RegroupUSA.
His son Nathaniel Giscombe, a financial analyst, said he’s proud of his dad.
“He always instilled that in us, to always go after your dreams and to challenge yourself,” he said.
Leslie Giscombe, 49, says he’s the oldest African-American to graduate from the Warrington College of Business Administration. He will receive his bachelor’s degree Aug. 10 and then plans to pursue his master’s.
