Virtual commencement ceremonies and celebrity speeches have been the best we could come up with for the class of 2020, but a dad in Memphis, Tennessee went the extra mile to get his daughter closer to the real deal. According to Because of Them We Can and News4JAX, Gabrielle Pierce was graduating from Xavier University and her father felt like the school's virtual ceremony just wasn't enough. He ordered a stage, a podium, and Xavier University banners to set up his own commencement ceremony in the driveway. Gabrielle's dad went all out...her aunt and the family pastor gave speeches, neighbors stood on the lawn to watch, and even strangers driving by stopped to see her walk across the stage.
Gabrielle has big plans. She received a Bachelors of Public Health Science with a Minor in Biology and plans to join the Army National Guard before pursuing her Masters Degree in Epidemiology. She says her ultimate career goal is to work for the Centers for Disease Control.
Check out the photos below.
Photo: YouTube/News4JAX