Illinois Dad, 47, Graduates College with Daughter and Shocked the Entire Family — How He Did It

Mike Loven recently earned his bachelor's degree in Finance and Economics from Grand Canyon University. He had been working on it without his family, knowing he did.

Mike Loven, 47, did it in honor of his daughter Taleigh, who graduated from GCU with a psychology degree. He was also inspired by his wife Carrie and son Austin.

Loven already had 17 credits from his previous college experience. He had two toddlers at that time and was working full-time. Sadly, the doting father couldn't handle it.

GCU's state-of-the-art online platform would change the game this time. Despite this, Loven still had to conceal his secret when he joined the program in July 2016.

Once it got so unbearable, Loven would tell strangers about it when he traveled for work. There was another problem: Taleigh lived on campus and occasionally took online classes.

During breaks, Taleigh would use his laptop, making him delete all of his recent files so she could not view his GCU work. Even completing his classwork required some creative reasoning.

Loven said he did most of his homework at work, so his family assumed he was still working. Upon graduation, he had to figure out how to participate in the online ceremony.

Taleigh was overcome with emotion at that moment.

Loven still had to wait more than two months for his family to hear the good news. Finally, the big reveal came recently. His daughter, Taleigh, graduated with a bachelor's degree in psychology.

While Taleigh celebrated at home, Loven walked into the room in an alumni GCU shirt, later in a GCU cap and gown to match hers. Taleigh was overcome with emotion at that moment.

"I knew it was going to be a surprise, and I don't know why," Loven told GMA. "It was a four-and-a-half-year secret, but now we all get to celebrate that commonality."

Meanwhile, Taleigh said her dad's selfless act reflects his character, adding that she is truly proud of him. Her dad's choice of the same school made it even more special, she continued.

In related news, 75-year-old Pat Ormond and her granddaughter, Melody Ormond, went to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and graduated together amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pat told CBS News that she went to college before but had only a few credits. She retired in 2017 and admittedly found herself bored. That's when Melody encouraged her to go back to school.