Military homecoming: University of Tennessee grad surprised with brother's return from Air Force

Knoxville

Airman Jerald Linsey Jr. poses for a photo with his sister Amaya Linsey after University of Tennessee's graduation in Thompson-Boling Arena Friday, Dec. 14, 2018. Jerald, who had not seen his sister for a year, surprised Amaya after she crossed the stage to receive her diploma.

She didn’t have a clue.

Amaya Linsey, like the other nearly 2,000 University of Tennessee students who crossed the stage inside Thompson-Boling Arena Friday morning, smiled, and grabbed her diploma.

Unlike the other students, Linsey had a surprise waiting for her at the bottom of the ramp. Her brother, Airman First Class Jerald Linsey Jr., was there waiting, home on leave from his Air Force assignment at Fort Minot, North Dakota.

She didn’t see him at first; she was too busy looking down at her shoes.

“For one, I was already nervous and I’d already been in the back (in her seat) crying because, of course, it’s graduation,” Amaya said after the ceremony was over. “So, as I was walking across the stage I was mainly focused on my feet because there’s a ramp, so I was like, ‘I’m not going to fall across the stage on my graduation.’”

Amaya Linsey speaks to the media after University of Tennessee's graduation in Thompson-Boling Arena Friday, Dec. 14, 2018. Her brother, Airman Jerald Linsey Jr., whom she had not seen in a year, surprised her after she crossed the stage to receive her diploma.

Two-dozen of Linsey’s family members, cameras held out, screamed from the front row, but it didn’t matter. She didn’t look up until Jerald called her name.

Then she lost it, tears flowing.

The impromptu meeting, in front of thousands of cheering parents, aunts, cousins and friends, was the first time they’d seen each other since Christmas Eve, 2017.

“It didn’t register to me that it was him and then he called my name … I really just can’t describe it,” she said. “I’ve never cried so fast before. All of my feelings came to me at once, and I was like, 'Wow, my brother’s here.'”

A little lie, a great surprise

The Linsey family is close. Amaya 21 and Jerald, 22, growing up in Rossville, Tennessee and then Memphis, often confused for twins. They once took a class picture together.

Still, it took a little fibbing to make the surprise work. Jerald told her he wouldn’t be able to make it when she began getting plans together in May.

“I didn’t think I’d be able to come actually, but it just so happened I was already off for these days,” he said.

Airman Jerald Linsey Jr. stands in Thompson-Boling arena after surprising his sister Amaya Linsey when she received her diploma Friday, Dec. 14, 2018. The two had not seen each other in a year.

Jerald told Amaya he’d see her soon, which Amaya took to mean they’d see each other in the New Year, maybe for his birthday in February.

Time off, search for job

Amaya decorated the top of her graduation cap, “What she tackles, she conquers.” She means it.

She was the president of the National Retail Federation Student Association, worked as an office assistant in the Department of Retail, Hospitality, and Tourism Management, and was involved with the Multicultural Mentoring Program, Alpha Kappa Psi professional business fraternity, and the NAACP. She is also a Dean’s List Scholar and ME4UT Scholar.

“I make goals and I go after them,” she said.

Amaya Linsey adjusts her tassel during University of Tennessee's graduation in Thompson-Boling Arena Friday, Dec. 14, 2018. Her brother, Airman Jerald Linsey Jr., whom she had not seen in a year, surprised her after she crossed the stage to receive her diploma.

She received a bachelor’s degree in retail and consumer science with a minor in business and wants to work in corporate fashion.

First though, she’s taking the spring to travel and take it easy for a bit, thanks to her graduating a semester early.