Xavier grad's father builds stage, holds commencement ceremony in driveway

A Xavier graduate's father was determined to see his daughter have a commencement ceremony.

So Torrence Burson, of Memphis, built a stage for her to walk across in front of their home and planned one for her.

Gabrielle Pierce was upset she didn’t get to have a traditional graduation ceremony after spending four years at Xavier University...so her dad built her a stage in their driveway. ----❤️ [via Jones Tiffany / FB>

A post shared by COMPLEX (@complex) on May 13, 2020 at 9:27am PDT

“After all those years, you’re going to walk across somebody’s stage if I have to build you one myself,” Burson told Memphis television station Fox 13.

His daughter Gabrielle Pierce walked accross the stage he built and decorated with Xavier University colors and logo's as the family's neighbors lined the street to cheer her on. Pierce's family even had presenters and made a program for the ceremony.

“I was amazed. I couldn’t believe a lot of people showed up. People were driving by yelling congratulations,” said Pierce told the station. “It was just amazing. Better than the actual graduation, because it was more personal.”

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