On August 16, 1962 Mary Frances Early got her Masters degree in music education at the University of Georgia. She became the first African American to graduate from the school.

Despite her historic achievement, the university didn’t recognize the milestone until 2000.

A professor in the UGA Department of Social Work was compiling a documentary about efforts to break the color barrier at the school. He discovered Early’s involvement.

That year, the school invited her to speak at a lecture series, which has since been named after her.

On Wednesday the University held a ceremony honoring the 50th anniversary of Early's graduation.

GPB’s Ellen Reinhardt sat down with Mary Frances Early to talk to her about her experience at UGA and her historic achievement.

Tags: University of Georgia, Mary Frances Early, first African American graduate