Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback D.J. Hayden rewarded a group of local students for their hard work in the classroom.
Tuesday 30 kids from Ramona Boulevard Elementary school spent the morning shopping with the Jaguars player.
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Each student, who met their reading goal, received a $100 Academy Sports gift card to buy shoes and anything else they wanted.
Nehemiah Rhome, a 4th grader said, “I can wear them to school if I don’t have other shoes and we all match for football.”
A group of local students is receiving a special surprise from @Jaguars cornerback D.J. Hayden. How he’s motivating them to apply themselves in the classroom — at NOON on CBS47 @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/PYkOWo0RAG
— Beth Rousseau (@BethANJax) December 18, 2018
Hayden told Action News Jax the trip was about building self-esteem.
He described, “When your confidence is strong and you believe in yourself you can achieve anything. Even though you go through some bumps, and some trials and tribulations – you can overcome that.”
Students said they’re grateful.
“We can play football and we can get our education and be in high school,” Rhome said.
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