Jaiden Picot was determined to walk across the stage at Virginia Union long after that ability had seemingly been taken from him.
With the help of a robotic exoskeleton, Picot did just that at VUU’s commencement exercises, accepting his Master of Business Administration degree with scores of Virginia Union graduates and administrators cheering him on. His story made its way to ABC’s Good Morning America as well.
A Virginia Union University graduate, paralyzed from the chest down, walked with a robotic exoskeleton to receive his master’s degree this weekend. https://t.co/YXR4Q9PwLO pic.twitter.com/IEoXTDs7wS
— ABC News (@ABC) May 10, 2026
Picot was riding his e-scooter in 2024 when he was hit by a truck and paralyzed from the chest down.
After a lengthy rehab stint, he continued his studies, earning both his undergrad and graduate degrees from Virginia Union.
“I feel accomplished, man, really, I feel accomplished,” Picot told Richmond TV station WTVR CBS 6. “I feel like nothing can old me back now. After getting hit by a truck, I didn’t let this stop me. I didn’t let it get in the way of me achieving my goals.”
Picot was aided by an exoskeleton suit, a device he says, “gives me the ability to basically rise up like a big transformer suit, so it allows me literally to walk each step.”
Picot plans to enter real estate to help similarly disabled people find homes.
“I honestly just want to help people like me find affordable and accommodative homes that they will feel comfortable and happy to live in,” he said.
