A man forced to take a job cleaning up after students during the recession has now graduated with a degree from the same college.

After losing his business and his home, Michael Vaudreuil took a temporary job as a janitor at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), Massachusetts, in 2008.

Spending his nights cleaning toilets and classrooms, he eventually took up free classes offered to employees and last weekend the 54-year-old graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering.

When the married father-of-three went to get his diploma, the crowd erupted in cheers.

"I had no idea I would receive the applause that I did," he said. "It really, really touched me."

Mr Vaudreuil ran his own plastering business until the recession, which forced him to close his firm within six months.

In addition to losing his job, home and car, his mother had also recently died.

"I was a shell," Mr Vaudreuil said. "I didn't really feel any pain, but I didn't really feel anything good, either."

He got the temp job at WPI, soon becoming a full-time employee, giving him the chance to take courses for free.

He eventually took up mechanical engineering, although being in his late 40s at the time admits he was "questioning whether I had the aptitude to pursue it".

Still working as a janitor, he took classes alongside students 30 years younger than him.

"At no time was I made to feel like an outsider, like I didn't belong," Mr Vaudreuil said. "And the faculty, as well, treated me like any student, challenged me like the rest of the students, motivated me, inspired me."

His wife and children were there to watch him collect his diploma at the weekend, where the words "old dog has new tricks" were written on his mortarboard.

Mr Vaudreuil thanked his wife for supporting him during his studies, saying: "She has been my cheerleader, my greatest counsel, my shoulder to cry on - she's also given me the kick in the pants I've needed at times."

Now Mr Vaudreuil has begun the hunt for a new career in mechanical engineering. In the meantime, he is continuing to sweep the floors at WPI.