Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

On Friday, the Troup County School System and Piedmont Hospital hosted a surprise graduation ceremony for a student who was unable to attend her graduation.

The special graduation ceremony was held for 17-year-old Anja McCord, a Callaway High School student at Piedmont Columbus Regional Midtown.

McCord was recently struck by a vehicle, so she missed the opportunity to walk across Callaway Stadium with her fellow Cavaliers during graduation on Thursday night. Since she missed the big night, TCSS staff and Piedmont organized a surprise graduation for her and her family at the hospital.

The night before Anja’s was able to watch and cheer her classmates as they walked across the stage via livestream. The following day, she thought she was just going to the hospital’s conference center for a video meeting with school officials to discuss her graduation situation but was surprised with her own graduation ceremony.

Pomp and Circumstance played as Anja was escorted into a room filled with family, friends and school system officials. As McCord was wheeled in and she was overcome with emotion. 

TCSS leaders hosted a makeshift graduation ceremony for her complete with her diploma and honor cords, including commencement speeches from School Superintendent Brian Shumate and Principal Jason Graham.

Following the ceremony, hospital staff hosted a reception with cake, appetizers and punch.