TALLAHASSEE,FL (Aug.3) - Florida A&M University held it's annual Summer commencement ceremony today in the Alfred Lawson Jr. Multipurpose Center and Teaching Gymnasium. Among the hundreds of graduates was FAMU track star Jeanette Hulse, capping an incredible journey over four years in Tallahassee, ending with a highly-unlikely outcome.

"I'm happy that I came to FAMU to run track and I'm happy that I came here to pursue and achieve my degree in criminal justice. I've met some great people and some friends for life. That is a part of the college experience," she said, surrounded by family and friends after commencement.

Hulse came to FAMU in 2008 from Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. She specialized in the 400m run, earning captain of Darlene Moore's team her junior year. After her junior season, Hulse found out she was pregnant. This was after beginning a promising career at FAMU where she was a member of the Lady Rattlers' 4x100m relay team that had recently won the event at FAMU Relays. Success in track was threatened with an abrupt ending.

While in most cases that would signal the end, Hulse turned it into yet more focus. Moore was pleased with Hulse's resolve. "I knew she had what it took to continue to focus, even with the arrival of her son," Moore said. "Jeanette is a very strong-willed young lady and that helped her stand firm on her goals and graduate at the same speed of most regular students without her obligations," Moore added. "To show how dedicated she was, she did not have to withdraw from any classes after her son was born. She had arranged for his care with her family, arranged to make up missed classes with her instructors and got back to school in just over a week," Moore added.

Hulse's son, Harry Lee Adams II, arrived last year, and she was elated to be a mother. As Moore stated, Hulse got right back in her classes and got it done. Knowing what she was up against, she was completely confident that she could achieve the initial goals she set before coming to FAMU, which was to run track and get her degree. Hulse's infectious smile donned sports publications at FAMU, so she felt there was an obligation to continue to be a leader. "It felt great and I am excited to have finished this segment of my life," she added.

After making her way back to the Lady Rattler track team, it took even more hard work to get back to performing well. In her growing process, several of the younger team members who looked up to her, got a lesson in life. Hulse took on the role of big sister and helped inspire her teammates as Moore was rebuilding the Lady Rattlers track team to championship caliber. At meets, Hulse was visibly more supportive of her teammates than ever before, pushing them to achieve all they could.

"I'm humbled at this moment. I set my mind before I came to FAMU to be productive on the track team and most of all get my degree. To stand here today with both of those goals achieved, is very satisfying. My advice to anyone trying to achieve anything is always continue to stay focused, and whatever comes along, just stay focused and keep believing," she concluded.