As a Stanford alum, Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman fully understands how important education is.
That’s why last year he told high school student Hershai James that if she pulled her grades up and made the honor roll during her senior year, he would personally fund her college education.
The Virginia teen fulfilled her end of the deal, so Sherman will be doing the same.
According to the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Sherman and James met at a charity event hosted by former Seahawks fullback Michael Robinson which benefits Excel to Excellence Foundation, an organization that helps kids who often get left behind.
“It goes back to knowledge is power, and if you have knowledge, you’re going to be as powerful as you ever want to be. Nobody stops anybody from reading and educating themselves. Mike is only trying to empower these kids to be everything that they can be, and if we can help with that with our presence, with our [autographed] jerseys [for an auction], with our words, we’ll do everything we can.”
James plans on attending Norfolk State University to earn a degree in business.
“When my senior year began, I definitely had the scholarship in my head as motivation,” James said. “With being a senior, the year is really stressful. Having something to look forward to helped. It’s like saying my hard work and dedication had paid off.”
And now, she’ll have great footing as she prepares to step into the real world.
