A proud dad got knocked off his feet during a graduation ceremony by his excited daughter who had a very special reason to celebrate.
It’s a special kind of joy when parents get to witness their child reach a goal they’ve worked so hard for. For one father, that moment came with a little surprise and a lot of laughter.
On May 8, 2025, students from the ClemsonLIFE program at Clemson University walked across the stage to receive their diplomas. This program supports students with intellectual disabilities by teaching job skills and helping them prepare for independent living.
As one student made her way to the stage, the crowd didn’t know they were about to witness something special.
The student was Grace, the youngest daughter of Clemson University President Jim Clements. When she spotted her father waiting to greet her, she ran toward him and jumped into his arms.
The leap caught him off guard, and the two fell to the ground laughing. Grace joked, “You missed me!” Her dad laughed and replied, “I did miss you, I missed you, but then when we fell, we helped each other up.”
He said later, “Then, I wanted to give her a big huge hug to let her know how much I love her.”
The video was shared online through President Clements’ Instagram with a caption that read, “ClemsonLIFE teaches independence, job skills… and apparently, how to sack a university president.”
The video quickly gained attention and warm comments. One person wrote, “THE BESTEST! Grace was utterly fueled with excitement to love on her Dad to celebrate the moment! So worth it and REAL! ❤️ Congrats!”.
Another person wrote, “This was a daddy/daughter moment not her and the president. Such a sweet moment. I love how he went with it and how proud he is!”
Speaking on the TODAY show, President Clements said, “She walked the stage, and I hit the turf. I wouldn’t change a thing. It was pure joy.”
The university also shared a message, saying that Grace’s moment with her dad showed the same excitement felt by all 5,270 new Clemson graduates that day.
Let’s be thankful for the milestones, big or small, and for the people who walk beside us on life’s journey.
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