Huntsville, AL — At 60 years old, Allen Brooks has made history as the oldest graduate at Alabama A&M University’s December 2024 Commencement, fulfilling a long-held promise to his mother, Sarah Pearl Brooks. His journey, shared by his daughter Brionna on TikTok, has garnered over 52 million views.

Brooks first enrolled at Alabama A&M, an HBCU located in Huntsville, Alabama, back in 1982 on a band scholarship but left in 1986 due to poor grades. Over the years, his mother urged him to return. “She always said, ‘I wish you would go back to school,’ and I’d tell her, ‘One day, I’ll do it,’” he told Good Morning America.

Determined to keep his word, Brooks re-enrolled in 2020 while working full-time. After his mother passed away in July 2024, his resolve strengthened. “Mom is still with me. There’s no way I was going to stop,” he said.

He earned a degree in liberal arts with a business management focus. His wife, Ursula, and their children cheered him on at the ceremony. “This meant so much to him. We’re all so proud,” Ursula shared.

Brooks’ achievement also inspired his children. His son, Evan Brooks, a freshman at AAMU, performed with the university band during the ceremony. Brionna, who also left AAMU, is now considering going back to school.