College student finds out her ancestor was the first graduate of her school

Many students across Central New York will be graduating this weekend.

This year, it will be a significant day for Hamilton College students as they are celebrating their bicentennial year.

And for one student, honoring the 200 years of the college has a whole new meaning.

22-year-old Josephine Jones will be one of the 460 some students graduating this Sunday at Hamilton College. But, for her she says her commencement will be that much more special knowing about her family history.

"It's just amazing that we found out my senior year four or five months before I graduate. It's pretty exciting about 200 years I had an ancestor graduate from my school," said Jones.

It was an accidental discovery as the Missouri native puts it.

The graduating senior says she had no idea she is the great-great-great-great granddaughter of the first graduate of Hamilton College.

"My mom is very into genealogy so she decided to look into my dad's ancestry.  And she came across George Albion Calhoun," said Jones.

And her mother couldn't believe what she saw.

"It's my sister's middle name and my nephews middle name. Its six generations strong," said Jones.

George Ablion Calhoun graduated Hamilton in 1814, almost two hundred years before Josie will officially be graduating.

Josie says she didn't even hear of Hamilton College until women's lacrosse coach reached out to her.

But, she says the spontaneous decision to come to Central New York was meant to be.

"Everything happens for a reason. I was supposed to end up at Hamilton. My mom and I have always been a firm believer that everything happens for a reason and it has just been reiterated by this discovery," said Jones.

Josie will be graduating this Sunday with a degree in psychology and a minor in communications.