A Center Point, Alabama Waffle House employee, who was a high school senior, got a pleasant surprise from his work family and patrons on graduation day.
Timothy Harrison had planned to attend his graduation ceremony and had cleared it with his work to take the day off, but when the time came, he didn’t have a ride to the event held an hour from his home.
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His manager, Cedric Hampton, was surprised when he showed up for his regular shift at 7 a.m.
“I could see in his eyes that he really wanted to go, and I was going to get him there no matter what,” Hampton told The Washington Post. “No kid should miss their high school graduation.”
His co-workers and some generous patrons pitched in to pay for his cap and gown.
“We decided we were going to step in and take care of everything for him so he could really celebrate this day. A couple customers contributed as well,” Hampton told the Post. “Within a few hours, we were able to get everything taken care of.”
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Harrison’s manager and mentor got him to the ceremony just in time.
“When I sat down in that auditorium it was the best moment of my life,” Harrison told WBRC News. “This is a memory I will cherish forever… I’m going to tell my kids about this.”
After his story aired on the local news, Birmingham’s Lawson State Community College offered him a full-ride scholarship.
And the graduate also knows his community has his back.
Caleb Parke is a senior correspondent for the ‘Todd Starnes Show.’ Follow him on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and connect with him at calebparke.com.
