Dad surprises son at podium during South Carolina high school graduation

CHARLESTON, SC (KTRK) -- It was a touching reunion at a South Carolina graduation Friday.

Goose Creek high school senior Nicholas Schott was addressing his fellow graduates about the importance of military families. His father, Staff Sgt. Jamie Schott, had been serving in Afghanistan and as far as Nicholas knew, he was still there.

What Nicholas didn't realize, however, was that his father had come in for the big day and was waiting backstage at the North Charleston Coliseum. He walked out to a huge ovation...and a shocked son.

"I had no idea," said Nicholas. "They kept it so much a secret from me."

Staff Sergeant Schott has done 5 tours of duty overseas. He's missed a lot, but Nicholas says he's still with him wherever he goes.

"He's never seen me wrestle in person," said Nicholas. "That was a big thing for me because I'm the captain. He's never seen me play football. It's fine because of the fact it's the thing he does."

You can watch the surprise reunion in the video window above.