A North Carolina graduate has more than just her scholastic achievements to celebrate.

Dolly Wilson was just about to accept her masters degree in nursing at Gardner-Webb University.

The single mom of five was overcome with emotion when she stepped up to receive her diploma and got the surprise of her life.

Her two grown sons, both serving thousands of miles away in the military, were there to help her celebrate.

"Our mother, she has been a very hardworking mother and has raised four children," her son Jeremiah Wilson said.

"We wanted to show up and present her with something as she was coming off the stage as some kind of surprise," he other son said.

University officials helped Wilson's sons orchestrate the surprise. It's been more than three years since the entire family has been together in one place.