[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/www.faulkner.edu\/news\/god-takes-center-stage-mother-son-graduate-together\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.faulkner.edu\/news\/god-takes-center-stage-mother-son-graduate-together\/","headline":"God takes center stage as mother, son graduate together","name":"God takes center stage as mother, son graduate together","description":"Hunter Wilson sat in his chair among the hundreds of other Faulkner University graduates in the Garrett Coliseum wearing his black graduation robe, blue stole, cap and tassel. Yes, he was excited to graduate, but not as excited and proud…","datePublished":"2018-05-14","dateModified":"2026-02-17","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.faulkner.edu\/author\/rburylo\/#Person","name":"Rebecca Burylo","url":"https:\/\/www.faulkner.edu\/author\/rburylo\/","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/37a0c97fbd1eda89e38697defcaf0573?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/37a0c97fbd1eda89e38697defcaf0573?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Faulkner University","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.faulkner.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/Official-Horizontal-480x128.png","url":"https:\/\/www.faulkner.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/Official-Horizontal-480x128.png","width":480,"height":128}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.faulkner.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/DSC0090-copy.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.faulkner.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/DSC0090-copy.jpg","height":"187","width":"300"},"url":"https:\/\/www.faulkner.edu\/news\/god-takes-center-stage-mother-son-graduate-together\/","about":["Adult Students","Alumni","Graduate","News","Online"],"wordCount":1259,"articleBody":"Hunter Wilson sat in his chair among the hundreds of other Faulkner University graduates in the Garrett Coliseum wearing his black graduation robe, blue stole, cap and tassel.Yes, he was excited to graduate, but not as excited and proud as he was for the person he was waiting to see cross the stage like he had – his mother, Tammy Wilson.It was a memory that both son and mother will cherish for many years to come, they said. It was also one that they never thought would happen, but Tammy attributes the special occasion to the Lord making a way.Hunter watched and cheered as his mother took the stairs one by one to the stage where she was handed her diploma. Smiling, she walked a few more steps to greet and shake hands with Faulkner President Mike Williams.It was a moment that stood still in time for Tammy. Graduating with her Bachelor\u2019s degree in Human Resource Management was a major step toward something that had been a dream of hers for a very long time – finally getting her Master\u2019s in education.After being a teacher\u2019s aide for 14 years at Holtville Elementary School and running a daycare for children for more than 20 years, she loves being around children, but always envisioned herself as a teacher.After the ceremony, mother and son embraced among other family and friends, staff and faculty who had their turn hugging and congratulating the new graduates.Tammy Wilson, left, with her son, Hunter Wilson.Hunter, who graduated with his Bachelor\u2019s in accounting and earned the Accounting Award, said he was proud of his mom for pursuing her dream after sacrificing so much to make sure he and his sister had their chance at going to college.\u201cI had never planned to walk, but when I found out that my mom and I would be walking on the same day, it was something that I couldn\u2019t pass up,\u201d Hunter said. \u201cI was so proud that she finally went back and pursued her dreams. \u201c\u201cShe had put her life on hold to make sure she was at our events and we were able to pursue our dreams. There was no one in that room who was more proud of her than I was of her accomplishments. To see her put herself first was nice. It was awesome to share the ceremony with her.\u201dTammy Wilson earned her Associate\u2019s degree years earlier, but events that surrounded her finding her way to Faulkner could only be explained as God\u2019s intervention, she said.\u201cGod can do great things, but stepping out on faith is scary,\u201d Tammy said. \u201cBut the Lord worked out all the details and it\u2019s just cool how everything worked out. It was just such a blessing to share that day with Hunter.\u201d\u201cIt was a very proud \u2018mom-moment’ to see him graduate and a very exciting blessing to be able to share in this experience with him!\u201dHer journey to Faulkner began with a simple email to her work inbox two years ago that advertised 50 percent off Faulkner tuition for all Elmore County and City employees. It was the spark that made her pick up the phone and find out more.\u201cI decided to call about Faulkner\u2019s adult education program, because I wouldn\u2019t be able to quit my jobs and would only be able to take online and evening classes,\u201d she said.She reached someone in the education department that encouraged her to major in human resource management which, after graduation, would enable her to go into an alternative master’s program in education to become certified to teach.It was something she had not thought of, but was actually the perfect plan for what she needed at the time.Tammy Wilson stands with Hunter Wilson center, after graduating.Hunter was already enrolled at Faulkner at the time and they never imagined they would walking across the same stage on graduation day.\u201cIt was a cool moment for sure,\u201d Hunter said. \u201cThey called her name and she walked across the stage and it was a good time. Especially after seeing how hard she worked and then she got honors on top of that. It was a neat experience and she definitely pushed me to work hard to the finish through her example.\u201dHunter lived with his mom and dad in Holtville while he commuted to Faulkner\u2019s campus and he and his mom would talk frequently about the classes they were taking and their professors. They agreed that their professors made their college experience enjoyable and unforgettable.\u201cI enjoyed the family atmosphere at Faulkner. I could talk with professors, drop by their office whether I needed help with class or just to chat, I really enjoyed how personal it was,\u201d Hunter said. \u201cProfessors like David Johnson and Rayla Black really cared and wanted to help.\u201dHe is now pursuing his MBA from Faulkner while deciding between pursuing a job in accounting from a public firm or private company, thanks to his internships through the College of Business.\u201cAll the instructors have been encouraging and if I had to do it all over again, I would. I really would,\u201d Tammy said.\u201cI\u2019m so proud of Hunter and I\u2019m proud of myself too, I\u2019m so glad we got to share that day.\u201d \u00a0As a mom, this is such an unexpected and incredible blessing!\u201d\u201cI\u2019ve always wanted to get my degree in education. I love to teach and I love being around children,\u201d Tammy said. \u201cThe day I called Faulkner was only six days away from when my first class would start. It was a wild and crazy ride, but the people in the admissions office were so helpful in making sure my credits transferred and getting me started.\u00a0 God worked out every detail in just six days!”Tammy Wilson graduates with her Bachelor’s in Human Resource Management.Hunter was already enrolled at Faulkner at the time and they never imagined they would walk across the same stage on graduation day.\u201cIt was a cool moment for sure,\u201d Hunter said. \u201cThey called her name and she walked across the stage and it was a good time. Especially after seeing how hard she worked and then she got honors on top of that. It was a neat experience and she definitely pushed me to work hard to the finish through her example.\u201dHunter lived with his mom and dad in Holtville while he commuted to Faulkner\u2019s campus and he and his mom would talk frequently about the classes they were taking and their professors. They agreed that their professors made their college experience enjoyable and unforgettable.\u201cI enjoyed the family atmosphere at Faulkner. I could talk with professors, drop by their office whether I needed help with class or just to chat, I really enjoyed how personal it was,\u201d Hunter said. \u201cProfessors like David Johnson and Rayla Black really cared and wanted to help.\u201dHe is now pursuing his MBA from Faulkner while deciding between pursuing a job in accounting from a public firm or private company, thanks to his internships through the College of Business.\u201cAll the instructors have been encouraging and if I had to do it all over again, I would. I really would,\u201d Tammy said.\u201cI\u2019m so proud of Hunter and I\u2019m proud of myself too, I\u2019m so glad we got to share that day.\u201d \u00a0As a mom, this is such an unexpected and incredible blessing!\u201d"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"News","item":"https:\/\/www.faulkner.edu\/news\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"God takes center stage as mother, son graduate together","item":"https:\/\/www.faulkner.edu\/news\/god-takes-center-stage-mother-son-graduate-together\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]