Emily Hawley finished her valedictorian speech focusing on fond memories at Centenary College with something even more personal, turning to her long-time boyfriend who was on stage with her.
"Will you marry me?"
More than 400 graduates, along with their friends and family, stood up and cheered, so many of them didn't hear Josh Walker's answer. He said "yes."
'I think I saw one of my aunts leap out of her chair, so I'm assuming they (his relatives) were surprised," Walker said after the graduation ceremony.
Centenary College's 135th commencement, held on the lawn of Smith Hall, featured talk radio host John Gambling, who in his keynote speech urged students to "take chances."
Hawley, who had a perfect 4.0 grade point average, talked about moving in during freshman year during her valedictorian speech, memories of Olympic-style dorm wars, college dances and balls, and the inauguration of Dr. Barbara-Jayne Lewthwaite, who was named the college's president last year.
Then Hawley called Walker up to the stage to say a final farewell to their classmates. They have been going out for seven years, since their sophomore year of high school in Maine.
Walker, with a 3.999 GPA, had just received the Welsh Prize, given to the graduating student with the highest GPA after the valedictorian. Hawley had said in her speech that a single A-minus had kept Walker from giving the valedictory speech.
"He was surprised," Hawley said of her proposal, adding that her parents were "shocked."
She said she didn't have a ring, and didn't get down on one knee, because her proposal was "nontraditional enough."
'We had talked about marriage, and I had asked him if it was OK if I proposed," Hawley said.
Hawley graduated with a B.S. in equine studies and plans to train horses for equestrian events. Walker majored in history and has a teaching certificate, and plans to teach. He said they plan to live in New Jersey.
"It's been a big day," Walker said.
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