How Michael Berry’s Silent Pursuit of an MBA Became a Commencement Day His Daughter Will Never Forget
Graduation day is always special, but for Cecily Berry, it became unforgettable when her father, Michael, stepped into her big moment wearing his own cap and gown. What Cecily thought was her solo celebration of earning a Master of Business Administration degree from Union University turned into a powerful father-daughter milestone — and one of the most heartwarming surprises of 2025.
Michael Berry, senior plant director for Corelle Brands in the Memphis area, had quietly been pursuing his own MBA while his daughter worked toward hers. A mechanical engineering graduate with years of professional experience, Michael had long considered returning to school. In the fall of 2023, with the house finally quiet and his wife, Niki, thriving in her real estate career, the timing finally seemed right. That’s when a bold idea struck him:
“What if I keep it secret from Cecily and try to graduate with her?”
He reached out to Union University with his plan. Graduate admissions counselor Naomi Van Nes became his behind-the-scenes ally. She helped him select courses that wouldn’t overlap with Cecily’s, preserving the surprise. In a tight-knit online MBA program, even this required careful navigation to prevent his name from popping up on class rosters Cecily might see.
“It’s been a little challenging,” Michael admitted. “Naomi Van Nes has been hugely instrumental in helping me plan my classes, so that’s really where it started.”
The trickiest part came during summer 2024 when Cecily interned in their hometown and lived at home. Michael had to stealthily complete assignments late at the office or on weekends, pretending it was just part of the job.
“I would stay late in my office, or I’d come to work on Saturday and just tell her I was working on a project or whatever,” he said. “I knew if I could make it through the summer that I was home free.”
His gamble paid off. On May 3, 2025, Cecily was already lined up for commencement when Michael strolled up, fully robed and beaming. The look on Cecily’s face said it all — shock, pride, and overwhelming emotion.
“And you somehow missed all of my classes, too,” she told her dad. “We could have had a group project together.”
The reveal brought tears to Cecily’s eyes.
“It makes me so proud. I cried when I saw him in his robe,” she said. “He’s been my example in everything that I do.”
Cecily’s journey was no less impressive. After earning her bachelor’s in economics from Union in December 2024, she raced through the MBA program in just one semester thanks to the university’s accelerated track. Now she’s setting her sights on a career in financial advising.
Michael and Niki’s other daughter, Gabrielle, is also a Union graduate, now studying at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. For the Berry family, Union University has clearly been more than an academic institution — it’s been a faith-rooted launchpad for their future.
“Both of my daughters really appreciate the biblical worldview of an education, of preparing themselves to step out into the real world,” Michael said.
In a world that often celebrates personal achievement, Michael Berry’s story reminds us that the most meaningful accomplishments are often shared. His quiet sacrifice and strategic planning weren’t for a promotion or a resume line — they were for a moment, a memory, and a message to his daughter: “I believe in you so much, I walked your path right beside you.”
This is the kind of story that captures the essence of fatherhood, family, and the values that truly define success.
Source:
- https://youtu.be/LQfV1kqf1z8?si=LDf5-ksC8wtmSBu5
- https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/father-daughter-duo-graduate-together-a-surprise-mba-journey/
- https://chatgpt.com/
- https://app.pictory.ai/
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