A Missouri teen’s six-mile trek to attend his eighth-grade graduation ended with a major payoff after his determination earned more than accolades for both him and his family.

(Video: CBS News)

On May 22nd, 14-year-old Xavier Jones of St. Louis, Missouri was expected to be at Harris-Stowe State University where his graduation from Yeatman-Liddell Preparatory Middle School was being held.

KMOV reported that Jones, who has sickle cell anemia, along with his six siblings have been cared for by their grandfather since their mother passed several years ago. The morning of his graduation, the family car was out of commission and, unable to get a ride, the determined teen set off on foot with his brother and a friend for a two-hour journey.

“If you like really want to get something, then you have to work hard for it,” Jones told CBS News of his motivation that also maintained a reported 4.0-grade point average.

“That kid, that day, it was something that resonated with my spirit,” university president LaTonia Collins Smith recounted of meeting the boy that day before offering him a full-ride scholarship to Harris-Stowe State University on the spot. “He wanted to be present. Speaks volumes…Half the battle is showing up.”

Covering his tuition, housing, books and fees, the president recalled with amusement what Jones believed he was being offered before he understood what the scholarship entailed, “He thought that full-ride meant he would get a ride to college, like that he wouldn’t have to walk here again.”

Hers was not the only gift bestowed as Miami Dolphins player Terron Armstead, who grew up in Cahokia, Illinois across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, caught wind of the teen’s story and surprised him during a celebrity basketball game at his own alma mater.

“Thanks to my partnership with @pritchardco_ev,” Armstead posted on Instagram of his electric bike manufacturer Ryan Pritchard, “we were able to give Xavier an electric bike to make his commute a lot easier.”

 

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However, awarding Jones with a $5,000 bike wasn’t the only surprise in store as the grandfather also walked away with a prize. Armstead wrote, “And that’s not all — we also surprised his family with a brand new van…I’m so grateful to these two sponsors for their generous donations and for helping us make a difference in Xavier’s life. Let’s keep spreading love and positivity!”

“This means a whole lot,” Jones’ grandfather told KMOV. “I don’t know what to say. I’m so thankful.”

Armstead added to the outlet, “We hear a story like Xavier. It’s only right. Follow Xavier’s example. He’s a leader whether he wanted to be or not. His story is inspiring. It’s motivating. That’s what leaders do.”

As Collins Smith told CBS News, “You know, oftentimes in colleges we spend a lot of time on standardized test scores because that’s who you are, right? It’s not true.”

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Kevin Haggerty

Staff Writer

Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.

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