Sarah Cooper, American University Graduate, Receives Marriage Proposal At Commencement (VIDEO)

May 13 will always be a memorable date for Sarah Cooper.

On Sunday, the American University graduate walked across the stage to receive her diploma, but what she didn't expect was the diamond ring and marriage proposal that awaited her on the other end.

As Cooper prepared to exit the platform, Sam Miller, her boyfriend of four years, got down on one knee and popped the question in front of family, friends, professors and peers.

The very shocked graduate nodded a confident "Yes" and ran into her fiance's arms, causing the crowd to erupt in applause as the couple kissed and Miller slipped the engagement ring onto Cooper's finger.

According to WPRI, the college sweethearts promised their parents they'd walk across the stage before they walked down the aisle.

And Miller, who also graduated from AU, took that statement to heart as he prepared to make his big move.

"I knew that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with Sarah about three months into our relationship," Miller told NBC Washington in an email. "I chose to propose on stage at her graduation because I don’t want to wait another minute for her to be my fiancee."

A video of the proposal was posted to YouTube by American University later that day.

Watch the surprise proposal in the video above.

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Comments

[Anthony Garnett]

09:28 AM on 05/15/2012

Why is this news worthy?

[Kate Lynn]

09:46 PM on 05/15/2012

I'll take this news over the Kardashian Clan

[EarDrummer]

08:50 PM on 05/14/2012

Free internet porn has made marriage obsolete.

[mochalovegirlxx]

10:17 PM on 05/14/2012

People still get married because they love each other and want to raise a family. Not for sex. Wow. Just wow.

[johnb123]

08:17 PM on 05/14/2012

Good, now they can combine their student loan debts. :)

[jessikins]

08:28 PM on 05/14/2012

Those pieces of paper will keep them warm. If they can afford a Bic.

[rbarry647]

07:54 PM on 05/14/2012

I don't really care for public proposals - it puts pressure on the other party to say yes.

[jessikins]

08:28 PM on 05/14/2012

Not to mention the self-serving attention-whoring.

[peithecelt]

07:34 PM on 05/14/2012

Awwww, congratulations to them.. :) May they remain the best of friends even at the worst of times.. :)

[maid3marian]

08:05 PM on 05/14/2012

I agree, that is the true meaning of commitment. Life is a series of events, pulling together to reach goals and overcome obstacles makes the journey so much more pleasant!

[peithecelt]

08:17 PM on 05/14/2012

And on those days when the car is dying and the dog is sick and the child is being obnoxious? If you're not the best of friends? You have no chance of getting through it with the respect and humor required to stay spouses... lol

[Schneb]

07:21 PM on 05/14/2012

See--if you get a degree, you'll be much more, uh, marketable?

[euromarkusx]

07:17 PM on 05/14/2012

Fail

This was a special day for MANY people who worked hard, and this guy decided to make it all about him.

[judgematty]

07:19 PM on 05/14/2012

I agree. It is quite selfish.

[johnb123]

08:17 PM on 05/14/2012

I agree with you there.

[JavaManiac]

06:58 PM on 05/14/2012

Sweet

[GypsyRobin]

06:52 PM on 05/14/2012

Nice way to make it all about them and not about the fact that it was a graduation ceremony.
Not to mention the fact that the guy shouldn't have been up there on the stage to begin with.
Did he clear this with the administration and the graduating class that he took the focus away from?

Such selfishness always prevails for lucky heterosexual couples who get to show their love and kissing up on the public stage.
That proposal had no business being done the way it was and to take away the focus from the graduating class which is what the grads and their parents/family members were there for.
A graduation ceremony, and not some guy's marriage proposal to his girlfriend that could have been done anywhere else at any other time.

[Schneb]

07:24 PM on 05/14/2012

Yeah, it is kind of a 'I'mma let you all graduate, but I just gotta say . . .'. For me it's just this side of crossing the line into the 'not cool' zone--but the way the crowd responded, seems like maybe it was okay with the folks on the scene, so . . .

[GypsyRobin]

09:31 PM on 05/14/2012

So. Of course I had no doubt my reflection wouldn't go over to well with some in the crowd but I'd say from the sounds of glee, that it was mostly the female students up front. As a parent who has been there, I was in attendance for one thing only, to see my child's graduation ceremony and not be distracted by a man who is too selfish to think about that and reflect how ALL in attendance are/were not there for his benefit.

[rbarry647]

06:39 PM on 05/14/2012

Cute and all but do they constantly have to shove their heterosexuality in our face

[cgautz]

06:37 PM on 05/14/2012

Maybe I'm a stick in the mud, but I don't believe you should hijack public events that involve other peoples' special day for your marriage proposals. Yeah I am that stick in the mud.

[euromarkusx]

07:18 PM on 05/14/2012

totally agree

[jessikins]

08:29 PM on 05/14/2012

It's a stick that belongs in the mud.

[DogDancer]

05:58 PM on 05/14/2012

Very nice. Congratulations and best wishes to this young couple.

[Comicoffee]

05:51 PM on 05/14/2012

Aww... double congratulations to Sarah! Not sure if it means the same thing at AU, but at my school, the yellow tassel and cord indicates Valedictorian status, in which case...triple congratulations!

[Sexyjade05]

05:48 PM on 05/14/2012

That's sweet!

[filiusj]

05:39 PM on 05/14/2012

Ca-----ute!!