There was a special surprise at the Central Michigan University commencement ceremony on May 4, 2019. Sharonda Wilson was excited to see her son Stephan graduate that day. While her son was working hard towards earning his bachelor's degree for the past five years, Wilson was doing the same. Mother and son accomplished their academic pursuits at the same time but unfortunately, their graduations ceremonies were scheduled at the same time also.
Of course, mothers often put their children's needs before their own, which is why Wilson decided to miss her own commencement to attend Stephan's. Little did either of them know, Wilson's efforts weren't about to go unrecognized that day. In a video shared by Central Michigan University, Wilson and her son are seen standing before CMU president Bob Davies.
Davies tells them that he contacted Ferris State president David Eisler about the situation. In that moment, Davies conferred Wilson's degree on behalf of the FSU president and trustees. "Please move your tassel from your right to your left," Davies can be heard saying to Wilson in the video. Everyone in attendance responded with a standing ovation.
Stephan Wilson, who earned his bachelor's degree in music theater, didn't see this coming. "Dr. Davies really shocked me. I told a friend of mine that [my] mom was skipping her graduation to be with me, and she used her magic to help Dr. Davies orchestrate that moment... When I heard [she] was getting her degree with me I was speechless. My mother is truly the strongest and most compassionate woman I know. That moment tops [any] other moment I have ever shared with my mother," he told Detroit Free Press.
