Sharona Wilson is a mom-of-four in Michigan. She recently achieved a major milestone: she graduated with her bachelor’s degree from Ferris State University.
But Sharona couldn’t attend her ceremony because it was on the same day as her son Stephan’s. He graduated from a different school, Central Michigan University. Out of pride for her son, Sharona chose to attend her son’s ceremony.
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When the president of CMU, Robert Davies, heard about Sharona’s situation, he decided to pull some strings to help. There were just hours left before the ceremony, but David contacted the president of Ferris, David Eisler, and the two made arrangements for Davies to confer the mom’s degree on behalf of Ferris.
It was an incredibly special moment for both mom and son, neither of whom had any idea that it was going to happen.
“I had no clue,” Stephan told Good Morning America. “My mom is a selfless person. She didn’t give [missing her graduation] a second thought and I didn’t either.”
Both Sharona and Stephan got to receive their diplomas at the same time, and they shared a hug in front of thousands of cheering spectators.
To attend her son Stephan’s commencement ceremony, Sharonda Wilson was unable to attend her own from Ferris State University. Learning this, @cmichprez contacted FSU President Eisler and was able to confer her degree on behalf of FSU's president and trustees. #cmichgraduation pic.twitter.com/anCSTHDCdC
— Central Michigan U. (@CMUniversity) May 4, 2019
“I wouldn’t have been [at graduation] without her,” Stephan said. “That is the honest truth… She has definitely been my biggest support, biggest cheerleader and to see her be recognized along with myself was priceless.”
CMU captured the moment on video and shared it to Twitter, where it has been liked over 25,000 times.
Sharona earned a bachelor’s of science in business administration, while her son Stephan earned a bachelor’s of fine arts in music theater.