Getting invited to attend university doesn’t usually happen to an elementary school kid. But here is one such story of a Tennessee kid who designed his own University logo and pinned it to his T-shirt. He didn’t have a real jersey to show his support for volunteers at his school so he made one. He got bullied for that, but the University authorities decided he deserved an honorary admission to the Class of 2032.
The invitation was in honor of the fourth grader’s spirit as a volunteer. Even more important, he has been assured a 4-year scholarship that covers his fees and tuition starting from the Fall of 2028 if he meets the University’s admission requirements and decides to join.
The invitation was in honor of the fourth grader’s spirit as a volunteer. Even more important, he has been assured a 4-year scholarship that covers his fees and tuition starting from the Fall of 2028 if he meets the University’s admission requirements and decides to join.
Read: Teen Bullied For Her Incredibly Dark Skin Color Becomes A Model, Takes Internet By Storm
This student of Altamonte Elementary School in Florida was eager to be a volunteer for college colors day. But he didn’t have any official T-shirt of the University, his teacher Laura Snyder shared. So he designed the logo of UT on a piece of paper and pinned it to his T-shirt. He showed his creation to his teacher. She was impressed at his dedication and enthusiasm.
His teacher saw him in tears after lunch. Things soured for the kid when his classmates made fun of his T-shirt with its homemade design. They weren’t even a part of the college colors day celebrations. He was shattered.
Snyder took to Facebook and requested her friends to get the Tennessee kid something special for the special day. The post went viral and the University authorities and the UT community rallied together for the kid. They sent a personalized care package for the boy and also his classmates. They included school supplies, bracelets, water bottles, hats, and other UT paraphernalia. This thoughtfulness of the university united the class as everyone was overjoyed to receive the package.
The University even decided to honor the bullied kid and turn his hand made design for the T-shirt into the official design of the University. Part of the proceeds from the sale of the T-shirt will be donated to STOMP Out Bullying, which is an organization working to prevent bullying.
The school has said that the scholarship for the boy will be paid from some other sources.
The news that his design was being made into a T-shirt has boosted the confidence of the kid and he was all smiles later on.
The campus website could not keep up with the orders pouring in and their website even crashed. The mother of the kid was overwhelmed by the support of the community. She even wrote a letter expressing her gratitude to all who stood by her kid when he needed them the most.
The kid’s story drew worldwide recognition and the University of Tennessee has already pre-sold more than 50,000 shirts that were inspired by the kid’s design. Even Smokey the University’s mascot wore a homemade paper logo over his shirt.
The mother of the kid was grateful to the University and said that the family was deeply touched by the support pouring in from across the world. The life of the bullied Tennessee kid has changed forever after the gesture of the University.
Feature Image Credit: Facebook/Volshop
Video: ABC7
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The post This Tennessee Kid Was Bullied For His T-Shirt: Now He Has A Scholarship From The University Of Tennessee appeared first on Educate Inspire Change.