An elementary school boy from Florida who was bullied for wearing a DIY T-shirt with the University of Tennessee logo has been offered a scholarship that will cover his tuition and fees at the school nine years from now.
The admission and scholarship offer was announced by the university officials on Thursday after a post by his teacher Laura Snyder went viral on social media.
“In recognition of the fourth-grader’s Volunteer spirit, the university has extended an offer of honorary admission for him to join the Class of 2032,” the university said. “In addition, he has been awarded a four-year scholarship covering his tuition and fees beginning fall 2028 should he decide to attend UT and meet admission requirements.”
Vol Nation, you united around a #FutureVol who created his own UT shirt. And now we are thrilled to offer him a spot in the Class of 2032 and a four-year scholarship.🍊🎓 https://t.co/TjviKrMtLF
— UT Knoxville (@UTKnoxville) September 12, 2019
During school’s college colors day in August, the fourth-grader boy who wanted to show his support for the University of Tennessee volunteers hand drew the logo and attached it to an orange shirt, the Fox News reported.
“After lunch, he came back to my room, put his head [on] his desk and was crying. Some girls at the lunch table next to his [who didn’t even participate in college colors day] had made fun of his sign that he had attached to his shirt. He was DEVASTATED,” Synder wrote.
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The story inspired the university to print t-shirts featuring the boy’s design and 50,000 shirts have been pre-sold by the VolShop. All the profits from the sale of shirts will go directly to the Stomp Out Bullying charity.
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