EAST STROUDSBURG -- A viral video on Facebook shows a student with Down syndrome opening her college acceptance letter to East Stroudsburg University.
We talked with university officials about their social media fame.
Rachel Grace opens a letter from East Stroudsburg University. The young woman from outside Philadelphia is anxious, just like most high school students applying for college.
“It is with great pleasure to notify you of your acceptance into the CILLS program. I got in, I'm going to college!” Grace read.
Grace, who has Down syndrome, captured millions of social media fans, going viral with her heartwarming reaction.
The response amazed the founder of ESU’s ‘CILLS’ Program
“You can't help but have tears in your eyes. I mean that's what we do. That's what we try to do,” said Department of Special Education and Rehabilitative and Human Services Domenico Cavaiuolo.
"Of course, it just melts your heart when you see a student reading the acceptance letter, but at that moment, I didn't realize that over a half a million other people had also saw the video,” said College of Education Dean Terry Barry.
Grace will join the Career Independent Living and Learning Studies Program at ESU, a program designed for students with intellectual disabilities.
She worked hard to get in, interviewing for the position in person.
“She took it very seriously and when she got accepted, I mean obviously it's what she was looking for,” said Cavaiuolo.
Rachel Grace will step foot on the ESU Campus beginning in the fall semester, getting the full college experience right from the start.
“They go to class, they cheer on the Warriors, they go to the cafeteria, they wake up for that 8 a.m. Monday class,” said Barry.
The three-year ‘CILLS’ Program graduated eight students since it began six years ago.
Rachel Grace could be one of their next Warrior success stories.
“To see the joy in their eyes and the joy in the family's eyes, that's what we do, that makes it all worthwhile,” said Cavaiuolo.
