Graduation photos of a Texas A&M student from Abilene with a 14 foot alligator has received worldwide attention.
A video from the Daily Mail on the Facebook page of Makenzie Alexis Noland topped 1.6 million views 24 hours after it was initially posted.
Noland posted a thank you earlier this week that in part stated “I am overwhelmed with how viral my post has gotten and to see everyone from my hometown pushing me to move forward and supporting me is truly incredible! Y’all are the ones who made this happen and I couldn’t be more thankful! I’m hoping to make y’all proud!”
More from The Associated Press:
BEAUMONT, Texas (AP) – A soon-to-be Texas A&M University graduate has taken her senior portraits with a nearly 14-foot alligator in a swamp where both spent the summer.
Makenzie Noland of Abilene posed with the huge gator – named Big Tex – and posted photos of on her Facebook page to mark her coming graduation Friday in College Station.
Noland is a wildlife ecology major who’s been interning at Gator Country Adventure Park in Beaumont. She posted the comment “not your typical graduation picture” with the photos, with Noland wearing a Texas A&M cap and banner.
Noland, who’s seen standing in thigh-deep water , says it’s what she’s been doing all summer with Big Tex during shows at Gator Country.
One photo posted online by Noland shows her senior class ring atop the alligator’s nose.