Local

Big Brothers Big Sisters, Comcast surprise 'Littles' with new iPads

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Dozens of new students now have new technology to help work toward their education.

Action News Jax anchor Courtney Cole got to see the big plans to help local high school students prepare for the next steps in their lives.

"I did not expect any of this!" Micah Williams said.

Williams was just one of the 27 students who thought Tuesday's visit to the Comcast facility in Tinseltown was just one of their regular visits with Beyond the Walls.

TRENDING STORIES:

13-year-old girl shot, killed by 16-year-old boyfriend, police say 

Four dead, including St. Marys parents, 4-year-old son in head-on crash 

It's a program with Big Brothers Big Sisters that links Duval County students with local businesses to give them work place experience.

Tuesday morning, the "Littles" were told to solve a puzzle.

And after some time and team work, they realized the answer to the riddle was "iPads."

It turns out, they were each getting one of their very own.

It's something many of them may not have been able to afford, otherwise.

"When they walked in with all those iPads, I was just surprised!" Williams said.

Williams, a junior at Frank H. Peterson High School, said it leaves him feeling better equipped to do school work.

The "Littles" won't only use their iPads for homework. They'll use them with their "Bigs" when they bring them to Comcast every month to learn more about digital literacy.

Williams tells Cole the iPad will also help him start building toward his dreams of real estate and making comics.

"Instead of going to a publishing agency, I want to get a job, so I can fund myself and be able to sustain independently," Williams said.

Steven Greene, Williams' big brother, drives more than 2 hours to spend time with them.

He told Cole moments like this make it well worth it.

"These are things you commit to being in this type of program for," Greene said.

Click

to learn more about the Beyond the Walls program.

Download WJAX Apps