Mom Gets MBA Graduation Redo After Pregnancy Scare

Saint Leo, FL — Sixth months pregnant and ready to take on the world, Danielle Bunin donned full commencement regalia April 30 to receive her hard-earned MBA from Saint Leo University before her second son’s arrival.

Just like other students preparing to earn their degrees, Bunin lined up outside the Marion Bowman Activities Center, preparing to walk across the stage. The dream-come-true, however, wouldn’t happen that day.

Standing in the morning’s heat, in full cap and gown, Bunin passed out and landed on her stomach.

“She was helped to a nearby bench and then taken by ambulance to a local hospital,” the university explained in a media release. “Although her baby boy was fine, Bunin was unable to return to walk across the stage and receive her degree.”

That didn’t sit well with university officials. After all, Bunin had toiled long and hard to earn that degree, and she deserved a ceremony to mark the accomplishment.

With that in mind, the university hosted a graduation ceremony just for Bunin (plus one) on Monday, June 6. At 9 a.m. sharp, Bunin, dressed again in full regalia, was able to walk across the stage to accept her MBA in human resource management from Dr. William J. Lennox Jr., the university’s president. Bunin, a Land O’ Lakes resident, was joined by husband, Brad, and the couple’s 2-year-old son, Ashton.

“I am sad that I didn’t get to walk (on April 30), but grateful to the staff who helped me,” Bunin said after the ceremony.

The decision to put on the special commencement was an easy one, Saint Leo staff members say. Bunin, after all, has deep ties to the school in northern Pasco County. She earned her bachelor’s in psychology from the school while pregnant with Ashton. During her May 2014 commencement with that degree, she was joined by her mother, Lorene Mervis of Brooksville, who earned her sociology degree at the same time.

Mervis is currently working on the same MBA her daughter received Monday.

Brad Bunin has also announced plans to study at Saint Leo, the school said.

“Saint Leo is family,” Danielle said after receiving her degree. 

It is unclear whether Ashton or his soon-to-arrive baby brother are Lions in the making, but odds are in favor of Saint Leo gaining at least another member of the Bunin family on its class roster down the road. Danielle also has plans to return to school in January to earn additional credits that will enable her to accept an adjunct faculty position.

“I wasn’t expecting this,” Danielle said of the ceremony. “But this is Saint Leo.”

Photos by Benjamin Watters/Saint Leo University 

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