Photo: HSSU
A St. Louis teenager walked for more than two hours to make it to his 8th grade graduation ceremony.
14-year old Xavier Jones didn’t have a ride to his middle school graduation, which was all the way across town at Harris-Stowe State University. Determined to walk across the graduation stage, Xavier walked 6.5 miles for over two hours.
“I wanted to walk across the stage,” shares Xavier. “I looked up Harris-Stowe State University on Google Maps and then I saw the walking distance and then I said I could probably make it.”
Moved by his commitment, Harris-Stowe State University presented Xavier with a full ride scholarship to continue his education at the university. President of HSSU, Dr. LaTonia Collins Smith shares, "Many of our students come with a story and many of our students come with environmental barriers they have overcome or that they are currently overcoming." The scholarship will cover the costs of tuition, books, and other fees.
Xavier received a personal tour of the campus on Wednesday.
Leaving middle school with a 4.0 gpa, Xavier plans to attend HSSU after graduating high school in four years. He also has aspirations to be a NASCAR driver.