Graduate receives diploma during surprise ceremony at Virginia military base

When recent Liberty University graduate Vicki Russ attended the retirement ceremony of her husband, Lt. Col. Micheal Russ, at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., on Saturday, surrounded by her family, she noticed one person in the room who she didn’t recognize.

That person was School of Education Dean Dr. Heather Schoffstall, who drove from Lynchburg to surprise Vicki by presenting her with her degree, a Master of Education in Teaching and Learning: Elementary Education.

Between Vicki’s job as a third-grade teacher and a busy schedule for her husband and their three children, the Russes were unable to attend Liberty’s Commencement last month. They held an impromptu “ceremony” in their living room on Mother’s Day, when they watched the video of Commencement from the day before.

“I thought that was it — that it would be one little thing to celebrate graduation,” Vicki Russ said. “I’m still at a loss for words. To have someone who is not just a representative of Liberty, but the dean of my program, come to honor you is very humbling. It was a blessed day.”

Saturday’s surprise was her husband’s idea. He said many family members had already planned to be in town last weekend for their oldest son’s high school graduation and for his retirement ceremony. It was a perfect plan. He sent an email to Liberty’s Office of the Provost, suggesting that perhaps there was a Liberty adjunct professor in the Washington, D.C., area who could present the degree in person. When Schoffstall learned of the request, she jumped at the chance to do something for this graduate.

“It was such an honor to be there for Vicki, who represents Liberty so well,” she said. “She had a 4.0 GPA while raising three kids and teaching full time. I would do something like this again in a heartbeat.”

At the end of the retirement ceremony, Micheal asked his wife to join him at the podium, where he handed her her graduation regalia. He then introduced Schoffstall, who also started putting on her Commencement regalia. Schoffstall said Vicki started to cry when she realized what was happening.

Schoffstall presented the degree, a medal of high distinction, gifts from the School of Education, and a challenge coin from Liberty’s Office of Military Affairs.

This isn’t the first time representatives of the university have traveled to participate in special graduation ceremonies held for service members and their families who are unable to attend the university’s Commencement ceremony in May.

Earlier this month, a Liberty representative traveled to North Carolina to attend graduation ceremonies at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point and Camp Lejeune and Fort Campbell, Ky, and celebrated the academic accomplishments of military graduates.

In November, Co-Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Ben Gutierrez was one of the featured speakers at the annual Collegiate Graduation & Recognition Ceremony at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, where he helped to celebrate 20 Liberty military students there.

“Liberty University has long valued the contribution our service members and veteran students make on a daily basis,” said Emily Foutz, director of the Office of Military Affairs. “We are privileged to serve some of the most devoted and hard-working people on the planet who consistently demonstrate integrity and tenacity both in their service and on their educational journey.”

Liberty’s support of military students and spouses was one of the reasons Vicki Russ chose to enroll in Liberty’s online education program, along with the flexibility of the classes.

“I loved how the schedule was set up so I could focus on a class every eight weeks,” she said. “I had always taught in the public school system, and my Liberty education was able to bring my faith and teaching experience together.”

Vicki said her classes showed her how to be a godly example to her students.

“I’m not able to openly witness and talk about my faith (at work), but with the knowledge I learned, I now know there are other ways to point my students back to Christ,” she said.

Vicki teaches at Crossroads Elementary School on the Quantico base.

“I’m a military kid myself,” she said. “Sometimes, we only have these students for a year because of how much they move around. But I’m able to share my own experiences with them.”

Editor’s Note: Since this story was published, seven more military graduates were honored at a ceremony at Wings Chapel on Fort Rucker, Ala. on June 16.