U.S. Army Staff Sergeant surprises daughter after more than a year overseas

VILLE PLATTE, La. — A Louisiana high school senior received the surprise of a lifetime when her father, who had been deployed overseas for more than a year, presented her with her diploma at graduation.

Brannavon Ardoin, a Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Army, coordinated with his daughter Jazlyn Ardoin’s school, Ville Platte High School, and the military to return early from his deployment in Kosovo. After months of careful planning, he stayed hidden in a neighboring town until the big moment.

During the commencement ceremony, when Jazlyn’s name was called, the announcer revealed she would receive her diploma from her father. Overcome with emotion, Jazlyn ran toward him, even losing her shoes in excitement, before the two shared a long, heartfelt hug.

“It was a lot to process at first — I was just shocked, I was happy,” Jazlyn told ABC News.

Ardoin described the surprise as one of the most meaningful efforts of his life, saying it was worth all the planning to be there for his daughter’s milestone.

Jazlyn credited her father’s strength and perseverance as a major inspiration in her life. “His whole life basically inspired me,” she said. “All the things my dad went through, he still pushed through.”

The touching moment, captured on video by the school, quickly went viral, warming hearts across the country.