(11 May 2012) 1. Wide of Columbia University
2. Wide of Columbia University
3. Gac Filipaj pushing his cart down a ramp
4. Filipaj moving chairs
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Gac Filipaj, Columbia University janitor who has earned his college degree:
"Some of them (students) were surprised. And it happened to me: 'Wait, didn't I see you in my class?' - 'Yes.' 'So you work here?' 'Yes. Good.' It happened couple of times."
6. Pan from bathroom sign to Filipaj cleaning
7. Close up of Filipaj mopping the floor
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Gac Filipaj, Columbia University janitor who has earned his college degree:
"I was mostly with half of my mind thinking about my classes and about maybe one day it's going to be something better."
9. Mid of Filipaj going through doorway
10. Wide of Filipaj putting garbage bags in bin
11. Wide of Dean of the college of General Studies at Columbia University Peter Awn
12. Close up of Awn
13. SOUNDBITE (English) Peter Awn, Dean of the college of General Studies at Columbia University:
"This is a man with great pride in what he does. Whether it's his work as a custodian or his academic work, it is really quite extraordinary that he always you know really held his head high because he knew he had multiple goals and he was going to achieve them."
14. Mid of Filipaj cleaning
15. SOUNDBITE (English) Gac Filipaj, Columbia University janitor who has earned his college degree:
"I never looked for you know to show off, to have expensive cars or this and that. So I look for basic things. To live a simple life, and so far I have it. Now if I could manage, let's say, to continue go to school and accomplish something in my life, I would be you know pleased, I would be even more happy, but even the way I am so far, I don't think I have a reason to complain."
16. Mid of Filipaj putting items in garbage bin
17. Mid of Filipaj taking out garbage bag and walking past camera
STORYLINE:
A Columbia University janitor who took the job nearly 20 years ago so he could take tuition-free courses at the Ivy League school is about to get his bachelor's degree in the classics.
Gac Filipaj, 52-year-old immigrant from the former Yugoslavia, said he hopes he is not finished with his education.
He wants to earn a master's degree or maybe even a PhD.
Filipaj fled the former Yugoslavia to avoid being drafted into the Serbian military.
He came to the US in 1992, barely speaking English and took the cleaning job at Columbia at the suggestion of a language tutor.
After he completed a 10-level English language programme he applied to Columbia and was admitted to the college of General Studies in 2000.
After 12 years of taking classes in the morning and then working till close to midnight, Filipaj will get his diploma on Sunday.
Students still come up to Filipaj while he is sweeping the hallways and ask him if he is in their class.
"Some of them (students) were surprised. And it happened to me: 'Wait, didn't I see you in my class?' - 'Yes'. 'So you work here?' 'Yes'," said Filipaj.
He said that while he works he is constantly thinking about his classes.
"I was mostly with half of my mind thinking about my classes and about maybe one day it's going to be something better," said Filipaj.
The Dean of Filipaj's college said Filipaj is a man of "great pride."
"Whether it's his work as a custodian or his academic work, it is really quite extraordinary that he always really held his head high because he knew he had multiple goals and he was going to achieve them," said Peter Awn, Dean of the college of General Studies at Columbia University.
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