Vault: She proposes to her boyfriend at their graduation

Summary

The Bert Show – Vault: She Proposes to Her Boyfriend at Their Graduation

Date: August 6, 2026
Main Theme:
This episode centers around a heartwarming and unconventional moment at a college graduation, where the valedictorian, Emily Hawley, surprises everyone (including her boyfriend Josh Walker) by proposing to him during her commencement speech. The Bert Show team discusses the proposal, shares their thoughts on public engagements, and recounts similar stories.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Scene: Emily’s Graduation Surprise

• Emily Hawley is introduced as the valedictorian at Centenary College, beating her boyfriend Josh Walker by a razor-thin margin of .001 in GPA.
• [01:57] The hosts set up the context for listeners:
  • “Emily achieved the highest grade point average, 4.0.”
  • Emphasis placed on the unique dynamic—Emily surpasses her boyfriend academically and then centers the spotlight on him during her speech.

2. The Memorable Proposal

• [02:02] During her valedictory speech, Emily thanks Josh as her "support for years" and acknowledges that his single A- made the difference in her becoming valedictorian.

  • Quote – Emily Hawley [02:07]:
    “If this person hadn’t gotten that dreaded A minus, he would probably be up here today instead of me. Most likely giving you some inspirational history quote."

• [02:36] She invites Josh Walker to join her on stage, setting up a suspenseful moment before declaring her love.

• [02:48] Emily’s proposal:

  • Quote – Emily Hawley [02:48]:
    “I’m sorry to be wasting everyone’s time today doing this, but it’s something that I think is kind of fitting. I like to consider us as Mr. and Mrs. Centenary. So here before you all, I just wanted to say, Josh, I love you more than anything. Will you marry me?”

• [03:12] The shock from both the crowd and hosts.

  • Quote – Host [03:12]:
    “Whoa.”

3. The Immediate Reactions

• [03:13] The crowd reacts, and the show hosts weigh in.

• [03:15] Tyler Redick expresses surprise:

  • Quote – Tyler Redick [03:15]:
    “Nuh.”

• [03:16 – 03:18] Emily admits to being a traditionalist and not sure if she agrees with proposal timing or women proposing.

  • Quote – Emily Hawley [03:16]:
    “I’m a traditionalist. No.”
  • Host [03:18]:
    “You don’t think you should get engaged at a graduation ceremony?”
  • Emily Hawley [03:22]:
    “Takes away from the graduation, right? No, I always think a boy should ask the girl. I don’t know.”

4. Broader Discussion: Who Should Propose?

• The team discusses traditions, gender roles, and what counts as the “right” way to propose.

  • Host jokes,
    [03:28] “Wendy, if you had to get married, I wouldn’t cling on to that philosophy.”

• [03:31 – 03:59] The Storyteller recalls a related story about friends Chris and Carrie, where she proposed because of an earlier agreement.

  • Quote – Storyteller [03:39]:
    “She literally said to him that when you’re ready to get married, you’re gonna have to propose to me. So she remembered that, and sure enough, she had. She had no alternative. So she ended up proposing to him.”
  • Emily [03:58]:
    “And he said yes.”
  • Storyteller [03:59]:
    “And he said yes.”

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Emily Hawley expresses vulnerability and love:
  • “Josh, I love you more than anything. Will you marry me?” – [02:48]
• Hosts’ authentic reactions to the public proposal:
  • “Whoa.” – Host [03:12]
  • “You don’t think you should get engaged at a graduation ceremony?” – Host [03:18]
• Gender role reflections:
  • “No, I always think a boy should ask the girl. I don’t know.” – Emily Hawley [03:22]
• Personal anecdotes add depth to the discussion:
  • “So she ended up proposing to him. And he said yes.” – Storyteller and Emily Hawley [03:39 – 03:59]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:29] – Episode discussion begins, Emily Hawley’s valedictorian context
• [02:02] – Emily’s heartfelt address to Josh in her commencement speech
• [02:36 – 02:48] – Emily calls Josh on stage, delivers her surprise proposal
• [03:12] – Host and audience reactions to the proposal
• [03:13 – 03:22] – Emily and hosts debate proposal traditions
• [03:38 – 03:59] – Story of another woman proposing to her partner

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Tone & Style

True to The Bert Show’s signature style, the segment is lively, good-natured, and conversational. Authentic reactions, honest opinions, and a touch of humor frame this exploration of love, tradition, and surprise proposals.

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This episode offers listeners both a feel-good graduation story and an open, entertaining conversation about love, tradition, and the evolving norms of proposals, all served up with The Bert Show’s trademark warmth and wit.

Transcript

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[Host]

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[Storyteller]

All right, I gotta play this for you guys. All right, here's the story that you need to know before I play this audio that Emily Hawley is the valedictorian at Centenary College. Okay. She beat out her boyfriend and his name is Josh Walker, and she beat him out by.001 to become the valedictorian at their school.001. All right.

[Host]

Doesn't matter. It could be. Could be 50.

[Storyteller]

But she addresses that and him at the end of her commencement speech. Okay.

[Narrator]

Emily achieved the highest grade point average, 4.0.

[Emily Hawley]

I'd like to thank one person in particular. This person has been my support for years, kept me focused, makes me always strive to be a better person and is the reason why I stand here today. Literally, if this person hadn't gotten that dreaded a minus, he would probably be up here today instead of me. Most likely giving you some inspirational history quote. Let's take a moment to congratulate the class of 2010's Welsh prize winner, Josh Walker. Josh, will you join me up here?

[Storyteller]

This is her boyfriend in front of the whole class.

[Emily Hawley]

I'm sorry to be wasting everyone's time today doing this, but it's something that I think is kind of fitting. I like to consider us as Mr. And Mrs. Centenary. So here before you all, I just wanted to say, Josh, I love you more than anything. Will you marry me? What?

[Host]

Whoa.

[Storyteller]

So they hug and what do you mean?

[Tyler Redick]

Nuh.

[Emily Hawley]

I'm a traditionalist. No.

[Host]

Really?

[Product Presenter 1]

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[Host]

You don't think you should get engaged at a graduation ceremony?

[Emily Hawley]

Takes away from the graduation, right? No, I always think a boy should ask the girl. I don't know.

[Product Presenter 1]

I just.

[Storyteller]

No, that's cool.

[Host]

Wendy, if you had to get married, I wouldn't cling on to that philosophy.

[Narrator]

Aw.

[Storyteller]

My friends at Chris and Carrie. She ended up proposing to him.

[Emily Hawley]

Really?

[Storyteller]

Yeah. She was so anti marriage when they first started going out. You know how you're feeling each other out about marriage and stuff. She was so anti that she literally said to him that when you're ready to get married, you're gonna have to propose to me. So she remembered that and sure enough, she had. She had no alternative. So she ended up proposing to him.

[Emily Hawley]

And he said yes.

[Storyteller]

And he said yes.

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