Photo courtesy of Montclair State University/Mike Peters
After four years of hard work and dedication, what better way to close out your academic career than receiving a marriage proposal? One college student was left speechless after her boyfriend proposed to her during her graduation ceremony.
Kathy Fevrius, a graduate of Montclair State University in New Jersey, was surprised when her boyfriend, Hendy Joseph, got down on one knee and asked for her hand in marriage as she took the stage on Thursday.
“I didn’t know he was going to do a surprise like that,” Fevrius, a Newark native, told NJ Advance Media. “He said he wanted to make me happy.”
The college graduate told the outlet that having a public proposal was her idea. However, she indirectly suggested it to one of her friends some time ago. After explaining the concept of having a graduation proposal to her friend, she seemingly passed on the information to Joseph, who coordinated the proposal with Montclair administrators.
While Fevrius had no idea what Joseph was up to, she recalled her boyfriend being unusually busy Thursday morning before the ceremony.
“I was like, ‘What’s going on?’ He said, ‘I don’t want to tell you now. I’ll tell you later,’” she said.
The convocation ceremony for the University’s College of Education and Human Services started at 1 p.m., with more than 350 students graduating that day.
During the ceremony, Fevrius was told to take the stage and share her experiences as a student at Montclair State. She was informed of the idea in advance but had no idea her boyfriend was waiting backstage.
Joseph appeared from behind the stage holding flowers while Fevrius addressed her fellow students and guests in the crowd. Moments later, she turned around and saw her boyfriend and immediately started to look away with a smile on her face.
“Kathy, no words can express my love for you. I love you,” Joseph said to Fevrius.
Joseph got down on one knee, as fellow graduates, family and friends went up for the couple. He faced Fevrius. Her beau slipped the ring on his soon-to-be wife’s finger, and the couple stood and embraced for several seconds.
As the ceremony continued, Fevrius graduated with a degree in public health.
The couple had initially scheduled a “planned engagement” ceremony for June 25 at their church. However, Fevrious confirmed that their prior arrangements would resume as planned.
“My family will come, and his family will come,” she said.
Fevrious and Joseph met at the Church of God Tabernacle of the Lord and started dating seven months ago. Joseph, who lives in Irvington, did not attend Montclair State.
“He’s so caring. Oh my goodness. He doesn’t want me to suffer anytime. I love him,” Fevrius said as she gushed at her relationship with Joseph.
The couple has already discussed their honeymoon plans while mentioning a few ideal destination spots.
“I would love to have my honeymoon in Paris. Then when switched to Hawaii. We’re still trying to figure it out,” she said
Fevrius, who works as a security guard, hopes to launch her career in public health administration.
“I’m desperately looking for a job,” she said, adding, “I have a wedding coming up, so I need to start saving for the wedding.”
Watch the full graduation proposal below.