NYT: "Bridge Hero Gets Offer: Paid Tuition"

[Hand]

Among the dozens of wrenching accounts to come out of the collapse of the Interstate 35W bridge in Minneapolis, the actions of 20-year-old Jeremy Hernandez were a bright spot: Trapped in a tipping school bus with 50 children, he kicked open the back door and began helping them one by one to safety.

Within a day, news outlets across the country were repeating the story of the school bus, along with a sad footnote — that Mr. Hernandez had recently been forced to drop out of an automotive repair program because he could not afford the $15,000 tuition.

That has changed. On Saturday, Mr. Hernandez learned that Dunwoody College of Technology had offered him a full scholarship toward a degree in applied science. He has also received offers of help from dozens of strangers across the country, said Molly Schwartz, communications director for Pillsbury United Communities, which employed him as a gym coordinator for one of its summer programs...

And the best part...

Mr. Hernandez was not available to comment on the offer; Ms. Schwartz said he left town for northern Minnesota late on Friday, overwhelmed by the attention and concerned that his co-workers were being overlooked. He spent the weekend fishing. When President Bush’s staff contacted him to request a photo opportunity, “He was just, like, ‘Nope,’ ” she said.

:toast: :patriot: :applause: :yourock:

link

[notadmblnd]

1. Good on him!

and he snubbed the little pretzledent too.

[Gormy Cuss]

2. He sounds like a level-headed, caring guy

unlike the guy who wanted a photo op.

[rubberducky]

3. This is one of those feel-good stories that restores my faith in people.

[MasonJar]

4. A true hero!

[PDJane]

5. I needed that small bright spot today........

There are still good and honest and real people out there...it's just finding them.

This is a man who deserves the good things, including the tuition!

[Sequoia]

6. What a great guy!

On the news last week with that jerk Larry King you could tell he was uncomfortable at the attention. Larry said something like, So why are you alive? (WTF!). The young man didn't miss a beat though...I did what I had to do, anyone in my place would've done the same thing (something like that). The children were quick to say he was the one who got them out along with other people who had seen the bridge fall.

So why in the hell haven't any cars been moved...what's going on over there...those people are still under the bridge. This is taking way too long.

[caligirl]

7. Gone Fishin' !

:toast:

[kestrel91316]

8. All our local heroes need to start telling Bush to go pound sand

when he wants a photo-op.

[mimitabby]

9. good for him!

this kid's got class. And I hope he succeeds.