LEWISTON – As cameras flashed and Pomp and Circumstance played, Henry Beaudoin and Raymond Ouellette marched into the Lewiston High School gym Tuesday night wearing blue caps and gowns.

They were among Lewiston Adult Education’s Class of 2007.

Both Lewiston natives are grandfathers. Both are retired.

Neither had to go back to school.

“They exemplify what lifelong learning is all about,” said Adult Education Director Betty Gundersdorf. Students like Beaudoin and Ouellette bring to classrooms “a world of experience and useful information they gained from the work place.”

Beaudoin, 64, worked for Falcon Shoe in Lewiston for 28 years. Before that he worked for Knapp Shoes and served in the U.S. Army. He attended St. Mary’s Catholic Elementary School, and quit high school at age 16 to work to help support his family. He was one of nine children.

Ouellette, 71, retired from Bath Iron Works where he was a pipe fitter. He went to school at St. Peter’s as a boy, then to Lewiston High School. He quit school at 17 to join the U.S. Marines. He was a Marine from 1952-56, and served in Korea.

Both said they went back to school because they wanted to finish their high school education.

“I needed to go back to learn more,” said Beaudoin. He also wanted to show his granddaughter that there’s no age limit to getting a diploma.

In November 2005, Beaudoin, who lives in Auburn, was working at Falcon Shoe planning to retire. His retirement came two months early. “I got laid off,” he said Tuesday. He went to the CareerCenter. “They sent me to school. I didn’t have a high school diploma.”

He spent nearly two years taking classes. “I liked it. That’s why I stayed.” His favorite subject was math. “The teachers are very good. I made a couple of friends.” One of his closest school friends is Ouellette. They found common ground. Both have grandchildren, both are veterans.

After working at BIW for 33 years, Ouellette went back to school “just to get it done. I just wanted to. … My wife said it would keep my mind sharp.”

He said he enjoyed the challenges the classrooms brought. His two sons and four grandchildren “were tickled pink” that he decided to finish his high school education.

Beaudoin and Ouellette are two of 163 who received diplomas or General Educational Development certificates Tuesday.

The class included 101 females and 62 males. Ages ranged from the late teens to 71. Ouellette had the distinction of being the most senior. Several graduates were married couples. Some were middle-aged. Eleven were immigrants, some of whom had to learn English. They came from Togo, Somalia, Sudan, Ethiopia and Canada.

As Lewiston has become a more international community, so have the classrooms, Gundersdorf said. The diversity “has enriched our lives,” she said.

With his classes done, Ouellette is helping his sons build and improve their homes.

Beaudoin said “I’ll take the summer off.” Then he might get a part-time job.