Timothy Harrison’s high school graduation was being held across town when he showed up for his shift at the Waffle House in Center Point, Alabama. His manager and coworkers were surprised to see him.
”Why aren’t you going to graduation?” his manager, Cedric Hampton, asked.
The young man didn’t think he could afford to make it to graduation, according to WVTM 13. Harrison didn’t have a cap and gown, any graduation tickets or even a ride to the ceremony at Birmingham CrossPlex.
The Waffle House employees, including Hampton and an assistant manager who was off that day, then put everything on hold to save the big day.
“I had people want to see me succeed, so it kind of made me excited."
They bought Harrison new clothes and headed over to Woodlawn High School to make sure he could get his cap and gown.
“I had people want to see me succeed, so it kind of made me excited,” Harrison told WVTM 13. “When I put on the clothes, that was a different feeling,” Harrison said. “I don’t even know the words. A million dollars? It was the best feeling.”
Coworker Shantana Blevins drove Harrison 20 miles across town just in time for his graduation ceremony.
“To see his face when he came out, that was priceless,” she told WVTM 13.
After Harrison’s story was shared on Facebook, Lawson State Community College offered him a full scholarship, including books.
“I really didn’t expect that to happen,” said Harrison, who now plans to attend college this fall.
“Now he can go to college and figure out what do in his life, and we’re gonna help guide him,” Hampton told WVTM 13.
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