A surprise commencement
May 11—When Gladeville Middle School Principal Bethany Wilson heard that educational assistant Kippy Hawkins wouldn't be able to go to her college graduation commencement ceremony, she decided to ensure that her colleague would still have that experience.
"I was thinking about how having a graduation party isn't the same as getting to wear a cap and gown and getting to have that moment," Wilson said.
Alongside other members of the Gladeville Middle School team, Wilson conspired with Hawkins' husband to throw her a surprise graduation during a faculty meeting. She borrowed a cap and gown from Wilson Central High School, while Hawkins' husband took care of getting the diploma.
"While we were in the meeting, they pulled me out and were like, 'Hey, can you come help me with something really quick?' " Hawkins said. "That's when the surprise began."
Hawkins was tucked away with her family in the teachers' lounge until it was time to go to the auditorium, where people who had seen her through her journey with the school system were waiting.
"Then I came out," Hawkins said. "They had 'Pomp and Circumstance' playing. I walked into the auditorium and there were all my people. It was absolutely amazing."
Hawkins will be beginning her time as a Gladeville Middle School math teacher in August.
Since she was 16 years old, Hawkins has been involved in education.
"At 16, I started my first day in childcare as a two-year-old classroom teacher," Hawkins said. "I did that until my early 20s."
After working with the Wilson County Learning Center for five years and taking a break from education to go into sales, Hawkins applied to an education assistant position at Gladeville Middle School.
As a special education EA, Hawkins went into classrooms with teachers.
"The more I was in there, the more passionate I got about seeing those lightbulb moments in kids," Hawkins said. "My middle school years were kind of rough growing up and my teachers and the school I was in were very vital in making a difference, building my confidence and helping me figure out who I was. It was laid on my heart that this is where I'm supposed to be."
Alongside Wilson, Hawkins looked at colleges before enrolling in Western Governors University and completing her degree in 18 months.
"With WGU being online, they offer around six commencement ceremonies a year," Hawkins said. "The closest one to me was in Orlando and it's not until August. I knew I didn't want to take off work, pull my kids out (of school). I have three kids of my own and just the expense of doing that, to go sit in a ceremony for an hour or two, I was like, 'I just want to celebrate with my people.' "
The plan was for Hawkins to have a party locally with friends and family.
"It was extremely overwhelming but very joyful," Hawkins said. "I was in awe, for sure. I walked in and a former student who happens to be a friend of my son's was the first set of eyes that I locked with. It was kind of that moment that I was like, 'My other people are here. Not just my school family.' It's hard to even explain the amount of love and joy and support that I felt through all of this and in that particular moment."
Wilson felt happy for Hawkins as the surprise was revealed.
"Not everyone would have loved that moment, but I have known her for a long time," Wilson said. "She had my child in daycare when he was three, so I knew she would like it."
