Richard Sherman keeps promise, provides scholarship to high schooler
It’s not really a surprise when an NFL superstar like Richard Sherman does something good for someone. We just need to be reminded sometimes.
Seattle Seahawks perennial Pro Bowl cornerback Richard Sherman has made a lot of headlines this year. That is hardly surprising. But this is a story that certainly bears attention.
In 2010, now-former Seahawks fullback Michael Robinson started the Excel to Excellence Foundation. One of the highlights is an event dubbed the Celebrity Waiter Dinner and Football Camp. Sherman was in attendance a year ago and met Varina High School senior Hershai James. He challenged the young lady and put up quite the prize: Become an honor roll student as a senior and get a “personally-funded scholarship.”
Game, set and match. James came through. And now Sherman will honor his promise. Johnathan Mayo, the executive director of TEAM EXCEL, spoke glowingly of the student (“James took the bulls by the horns with this situation and impressed us all.”). He also spoke highly of Sherman as well (as documented by Wes McElroy of the Richmond Times-Dispatch):
"It’s an awesome feeling to see Richard Sherman do something like this behind the scenes to support Michael and his work with our TEAM EXCEL students. His offer to provide a scholarship shows that he has witnessed the growth and impact of the program over the past four years that he has been coming to Richmond to support Michael and Excel to Excellence. These are the types of acts that the public doesn’t see where pro athletes like Michael and Richard are working to impact the next generation of leaders. It also demonstrates the desire of our kids to excel and further their education."
More fansided.com: Each NFL team’s biggest question mark
It’s quite the gesture by a player that has earned a reputation for being one of the more outspoken performers in the NFL. But it’s hardly a surprise considering what Sherman does for a living. You see, he had Hershai James covered all the way.