Sleeping Student ‘Surprised’ to Find University President in Her Dorm Room After Roommate Coordinates Viral Prank
UVM President Marlene Tromp; Sophomore Hannah Lapier.Credit: Serena LoScalzo/TikTok (2)
On Oct. 14, 2026, University of Vermont President Marlene Tromp surprised a sophomore student by waking her up for class
Organized by her roommate, the prank included a UVM-themed alarm clock and bagels
The moment went viral on TikTok and has gained over 600,000 views
Getting out of bed for early morning classes was becoming a problem for University of Vermont sophomore Hannah Lapier, and her roommate, Serena LoScalzo, was running out of ways to help.
After repeated failed attempts, LoScalzo decided an ordinary alarm clock was not going to cut it and reached out to someone who could deliver a truly memorable wake-up call.
Her unexpected choice? The university’s president, Marlene Tromp, who agreed to step in and deliver a surprise Lapier would never forget.
“We had sort of been joking before, like, how are you going to wake me up? You can be as crazy as you want. I need to get out of bed,” Lapier told NBC 5. “And I was like, ‘Oh, what if you brought Marlene Tromp?’ ”
Never did Lapier think, however, that her joke would become a reality.
After their conversation, LoScalzo quickly emailed President Tromp, and within 12 hours, she received a response.
As seen in a video posted to TikTok on Oct. 14, Tromp enters the students’ dorm room, waking up a “surprised” Lapier from bed with a cheerful greeting: “Good morning! Wake up, sleepyhead.”
Tromp’s visit came with more than a little encouragement. She even brought Lapier a University of Vermont-themed alarm clock and bagels for the suitemates, giving the “prank” a thoughtful touch.
It wasn’t long before the clip started going viral, amassing over 600,000 views.
Hannah Lapier and her new clock.Credit: Courtesy of Serena LoScalzo
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Tromp tells NBC 5 that the video’s popularity took her by surprise, explaining that she had learned about it while at a doctor’s appointment earlier in the week.
“I walked into the exam room, the nurse turned to me and said, ‘Did you know you’re going viral on TikTok?’” Tromp recalled, adding that even her son had contacted her about the clip.
UVM President Marlene Tromp and her students.Credit: Courtesy of Serena LoScalzo
“I think it actually captures our community so profoundly,” Tromp told NBC 5. “We’re such a community where the students look out for each other; I think students get something really special here.”
Lapier shared that appreciation, saying the president’s willingness to help reflected the campus culture. “I think UVM cares a lot, and having a president that would do that for you is sort of a reflection of our culture,” Lapier told the outlet.
Source: Entertainment