Alabama Radio Host Gives New Car to Student Spotted Taking the Bus To Graduation

Before he walked across the stage to get his high school diploma, an Alabama high school student took an all-too-familiar trek across town. Corey Patrick caught the bus while wearing his graduation gown to make sure he got to the school ceremony on time.

The driver of the bus posted photos of Patrick on Facebook, praising the determination of this teen running to catch the bus so he could walk in his graduation.

The driver wrote that “he didn’t have on the best but he was the best in my eyes I was so proud of this black young man.”

The photos have since gone viral with more than 40,000 shares:

It turns out this was nothing new for Patrick. For an entire school year, he would wake up by 4:30 a.m. just to catch the bus to school.

Comedian and Georgia-based radio host Rickey Smiley was one of the thousands of people impressed with Patrick’s dedication. Smiley says he was so moved by the teen’s determination to get to graduation that he decided to surprise Patrick with a car at the 95.7 Jamz studio.

Smiley has also promised to help Patrick get his driver’s license.

Patrick is now a 2018 graduate of Tarrant High School. He received a full scholarship to Jacksonville State University where he plans to study computer science.

That’s not all for this young man: A GoFundMe page was also created in his honor. The campaign has already raised more than $28,000 (far surpassing the $10,000 goal!).

Go get ’em Corey!