A 5-year-old boy’s entire kindergarten class flooded a Michigan courtroom to root for him at his tear-jerking adoption hearing this week.
There was “not a dry eye” in Judge Patricia Gardner’s Kent County courtroom as little Michael Clark Jr. was officially adopted by new parents David Eaton and Andrea Melvin on Thursday, the county said on Facebook.
The child’s classmates celebrated by bursting into applause and waving homemade red paper hearts on sticks. The heartfelt post had been shared more than 100,000 times Friday.
The adorable boy, who is dressed to the nines, is shown in a photo playfully twirling in his seat in front of the judge.
Clark Jr.’s teacher, Kerry McKee of Wealthy Elementary School in East Grand Rapids, invited the class to court to teach the kids about adoption, according to USA Today.
“Michael’s adoption was one of many very special celebrations!” caseworker Holly Hernandez told the outlet.
Clark Jr. was one of 36 adoptions finalized during the county’s Annual Adoption Day on Thursday. Nationwide, more than 125,000 children are waiting to be adopted from foster care.
Michael Clark Jr. (left) was officially welcomed into his new family to a round of applause from his kindergarten classmates.Kent County Court