A Keuka College graduate’s emotional graduation-day reunion with her brother – an Army service member – has attracted national attention, being viewed millions of times on social media and featured on NBC’s “Today” and “Nightly News” broadcasts.
Management major Madisyn Theresa Robinson-Mayer, one of two student speakers at the College’s May 16 Commencement ceremony, was mildly surprised to be called back to the stage for a photo with College President Amy Storey, then stunned when President Storey, suggesting something was missing from the photo, asked Army Combat Medic Specialist Tyler Robinson to join them.
The siblings embraced to a standing ovation from the roughly 2,000 in attendance – a moment described as “gold” by “Today” show co-host Jenna Bush Hager, who shared video of the reunion on the popular morning program in her “Jenna’s Morning Boost” segment.
“Now you’re combining two special moments,” a co-host observed while video of the reunion aired, “a graduation and a military surprise.”
That surprise came about after Tyler Robinson flew overnight from his base in Fort Stewart, Georgia, to be on hand for his sister.
The moment was also shared on the “NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamos” and has been seen millions of times on the College’s social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram.
An exciting graduation ceremony became an unforgettable moment for Madisyn, one shared far beyond the Keuka College campus, exemplifying and extending the College’s core value of creating a strong sense of community.
