HFC alumna’s uplifting story about getting diploma while going into labor makes national news (video)
Newly-graduated HFC alumna Kelsey Hudie will have quite a story to tell her baby girl Nylah when she gets older. The two had an adventure together before Nylah was even born.
During HFC’s afternoon commencement ceremony at Dearborn’s Ford Community & Performing Arts Center on May 6, the Taylor resident was 38 weeks pregnant and in the early stages of labor. Still, Hudie was determined to walk across the stage and get her diploma, which took her five years to earn, and nothing was going to stop her – not even the birth of her first child, who decided to arrive early instead of her predicted birthdate of May 26.
College administrators learned about Hudie’s unique situation. President Russell Kavalhuna was more than happy make a quick change to the ceremony's order, awarding the mother-to-be a diploma at the start of the ceremony. Kavalhuna invited her to sit on the stage to prevent her from making the long walk up and down multiple sets of stairs. After her name was announced and Kavalhuna conferred Hudie her associate degree, she proudly held her diploma high to a standing ovation. Following this major milestone, she went to the hospital and gave birth to her daughter on May 9.
"The crowd just went wild. I think that put a big smile on my face," said Hudie. "I didn't really realize when I was walking across the stage with her in my belly that I'd be a big inspiration to others."
Inspirational, heartwarming story goes national
And what an inspiration she has become! Hudie’s story not only made local news, but also national news. Her story has appeared in more than 100 media outlets. Some of most notable include:
"On the Tuesday (May 2) before we graduated, they said that I was dilated. But that wasn't gonna stop me from walking across the stage," recalled Hudie. "I even said if I had her before the walk, I was just going to hold her in my arms and walk across that stage."
Demonstrating a deep caring for HFC students
Kavalhuna informed the audience about this unplanned change to the ceremony’s schedule, and they were happy and willing to cheer on their classmate as she got her diploma at the beginning of the ceremony. Loud cheers and thunderous applause created a festive atmosphere, and a sweet piano lullaby by HFC Music Instructor Kevin Dewey made the moment picture-perfect.
"We care so deeply about our students that we want to meet them where they are," Kavalhuna said during the ceremony. “When we bring people through Henry Ford College, they've got grit. They've got perseverance. And this student has told me, and us, 'I'm going to walk across that stage despite the fact that I am 38 weeks pregnant. I am dilated, and I can't wait for you, Russ, and your friends to talk for an hour-and-a-half, so I need to graduate quickly.' And so, what did you think I said?”
“Don’t give up”
Now that Hudie has earned her associate degree in liberal arts, she plans to transfer to Eastern Michigan University and continue her education. It is her longtime dream to become a history teacher and teach at Edsel Ford High School.
"Just don’t give up, that's the biggest thing. Don't give up. If you have a goal, meet it," she said.
In the aftermath of a whirlwind yet joyous week, mother and baby are doing well.