On Thursday, December 11, Jay and Joyce traveled to the University of Central Florida, which is on the other side of Orlando, and stayed that night in a nice hotel located on campus property. That enabled us to rise early on the 12th, check out, and gather together with Joyce's grandson, Conner Kernohan; Conner's father, Michael; and Conner's girlfriend Melanie: at a well known campus photo site where we met one of the photographers that Joyce had hired to record the day's activities. A number of photos were taking at three campus locations and then we gathered at a campus snack shop where we waited for Conner's graduation ceremony to begin. Conner graduated from the UCF School of Business Administration with a Bachelor of Science degree and a major in Accounting. He also earned academic honors that were displayed on his graduation gown. The graduation ceremony was nice, beginning and ending almost exactly on the stated start and finish times. Following the graduation was the Celebration Dinner was held at Morton's The Steakhouse in Orlando, certainly an upper class restaurant with outstanding service and it is a truly exceptional venue for a fine dining experience. Joyce had worked very hard to find this great place for the dinner; and then to select menu items, to order and send out invitations, to purchase table flowers, and to buy and accumulate items to decorate the dining area. It was a great event, especially the Roast of Conner by his MiMi, Joyce. More on that later. Joyce arranged for a private dining room, complete with three dedicated servers who graciously attended to every detail throughout the evening. Because there was a gap between the conclusion of the graduation ceremony on the UCF campus and the scheduled dinner at Morton's, Jay, Joyce and Michael arrived early and were joined by Michelle Wooden who arrived from her home in Valrico. This allowed them time to meet with the servers, visit with them personally, and coordinate the evening, adding a warm and welcoming touch to the experience. Those joining in the celebration included Michael's wife Karri; and Melanie, along with her mother, Maria, her brother, Nicholas, and her sister, Sol. Also in attendance were Conner's brother, Tyler, and Tyler's girlfriend, Bri; Cathy and Karen Braden; Brett and Sherri Goldston; and John and Vicky Sellers. It was a joyful gathering of family and friends, all coming together to honor Conner's significant achievement. Morton's offered an impressive variety of menu selections, and Joyce had thoughtfully spent time choosing the items best suited for this special occasion. The evening began with a medley of hors d'oeuvres delivered to each table, followed by classic French onion soup starter and a choice of green salads. Guests then enjoyed a choice of a premium steak, fish, or chicken meal for their entrée, ensuring everyone found something perfectly suited to their taste. The meal concluded with a decadent array desserts for those who still had room. A variety of beverages accompanied the meal, and Joyce also arranged for adult beverages to be available to guests as desired. With full stomachs, everyone wondered how they would be able to handle what MiMi Joyce announced as a roast. It turned out not to be something edible at all, but rather a playful banquet of affectionate humor. She treated Conner to a series of lighthearted, witty anecdotes at his expense - always making it clear that her teasing was a tribute to who he is, and meaning to honor him through laughter. Altogether, it was a wonderful celebration honoring Conner's accomplishment and a thoroughly enjoyable evening for everyone who attended.

Joyce Roasts Conner during the Celebration Dinner Joyce's December 12 Facebook Post reflecting on Conner and his accomplishments Return to the December 2025 Calendar Return to the BradenClan Home Page