Last Sunday, Gac Filipaj, a 52-year-old janitor, donned a cap and gown to graduate with a bachelor's degree in classics from Columbia University where he worked, AP reported.

Filipaj, a Yugoslavian refugee, didn't have to pay for his classes. It took him twelve years of studying to graduate with honors, with his study program including readings in ancient Latin and Greek.

For years, he studied late into the night in his Bronx apartment, where he'd open his books after a 2:30-11 p.m. shift. Before exam time or in order to finish a paper, he'd pull all-nighters, go to class in the morning and continue on to work after.

His ambition now is to get a master's degree, maybe even a Ph.D., in Roman and Greek classics.

(China.org.cn May 15, 2012)

据美联社报道，上周日，52岁的清洁工盖克·菲利帕奇在他工作的哥伦比亚大学身着学士帽、学士袍，接受了古典学学士学位。

菲利帕奇是来自南斯拉夫的难民。他不必为他所上的课付费。他学了12年，最终以优等成绩毕业。他的研究课程包括研读古拉丁语和希腊语。

数年间，他在布朗克斯的公寓里学习到深夜，通常在上完下午2:30至11时的轮班过后才打开书本。考试前或为完成论文，他通常通宵达旦学习，然后早上去上课，接下来工作。

他的理想是读取罗马希腊古典文学的硕士或博士学位。