05-06-2025
College Senior Missed Graduating with His Friends So Hospital Threw Him Impromptu Ceremony Instead
20-year-old Brady Larson had to miss his college graduation while he's being treated at the Mayo Clinic
That same day, hospital staffers decided to throw him an impromptu graduation celebration in a hospital hallway
Larson earned a degree in agricultural business from South Dakota's Mitchell Institute of TechnologyMedical staff rallied to surprise a college senior after he was forced to miss his graduation from South Dakota's Mitchell Institute of Technology.
At the time of his graduation last month, Brady Larson, a 20-year-old patient at the Mayo Clinic, was preparing to undergo a stem cell transplant from his 15-year-old sister, Brooklyn, to treat his severe aplastic anemia.
Since he had to miss the actual ceremony, hospital staffers in Minnesota decided to organize an impromptu graduation ceremony for the same day, standing shoulder-to-shoulder in a hallway and cheering for Larson.
The graduate wore a white lab coat over his grey college sweatshirt and carried a sparkly decorative 2025 graduation cap complete with a gold streamer for a tassel as 'Pomp and Circumstance' played.
Afterward, everyone enjoyed cupcakes with green frosting in a nod to Larson's school color.
Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
'He hadn't eaten a lot in the days before, so I was thrilled to see him eat two cupcakes,' Larson's mom Roxann told the Mitchell Daily Republic.
The graduate earned a degree in agricultural business, according to a statement from the Mayo Clinic.
'It wasn't a traditional way to celebrate, but it did make me feel special,' Larson told the Mitchell Daily Republic. 'I missed being able to graduate with my friends, but it was really meaningful to me that they did this.'
Read the original article on People
