Human Interest Woman Welcomes Baby Just Hours Before Graduation: 'My Sweet Face Decided to Make His Way on My Big Day' “I thought I was gonna walk across the stage to get my degree, instead I got my baby,” said Dillard University graduate Jada Sayles By Maria Pasquini Maria Pasquini Maria Pasquini is the staff editor for human interest’s digital vertical at PEOPLE. She has been working at PEOPLE since 2017. People Editorial Guidelines Published on May 18, 2022 04:50PM EDT Commencement day ended up being extra special for one college graduate. After four years of hard work, Jada Sayles was getting ready to graduate from Dillard University, a historically Black university in New Orleans, on Saturday. Then, she went into labor. Around 4:30 a.m., just hours before the ceremony was scheduled to take place, Sayles was admitted to the hospital. That day, she ended up celebrating another milestone moment: the birth of her son. "I thought I was gonna walk across the stage to get my degree, instead I got my baby," she wrote on Twitter, alongside a series of smiling shots with her adorable newborn. "My sweet face decided to make his way on MY big day (now his)," she added. Jada Sayles and newborn. Courtesy Jada Sayles Twins Who Graduated High School as Valedictorian and Salutatorian Have a 'Friendly Rivalry' Since Sayles couldn't attend her ceremony, the school decided to bring the ceremony to her. "Jada went into labor on Friday evening. Texted me around 4:30 am Saturday saying she was being admitted, & the baby was born on her graduation day," Dillard University President Walter M. Kimbrough wrote on Twitter. "So we rolled up to the hospital so I could finish my tenure in the most special way." Jada Sayles and newborn. Jada Sayles and newborn. Jada Sayles and newborn. PHOTO: Courtesy Jada Sayles Jada Sayles and newborn. PHOTO: Courtesy Jada Sayles As she was presented with her degree at the hospital, Sayles wore her graduation cap and gown. In addition to her family members, who could be heard cheering her on in the background, there was another extra special guest: her newborn son, whom she held in her arms. Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Jada Sayles. Courtesy Jada Sayles After praising her "determination and commitment to excellence," Kimbrough declared the new mom an official graduate. "This really was a very sweet moment," he wrote alongside video footage of the hospital ceremony. "I'll never forget it." That day, Sayles received her bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice, according to NBC station WDSU. Dillard University President Dr. Walter M. Kimbrough and Jada Sayles. Walter M. Kimbrough/Twitter; Identical Twins Welcome First Babies on Same Day, Hours Apart: 'Just Feels Like It Was Supposed to Be' Kimbrough went on to share that although he "would have done this for anyone that asked," he was actually the one to bring up the idea of the visit. "What time can we come!" he recalled telling the new mother. "To me this is what HBCUs are all about!"