A homemade outfit during “college colors” day at a Florida elementary school became an unlikely catalyst in the fight against bullying.
Last week, a fourth-grade class in Altamonte Springs showed up to school donning the colors of their favorite college. One student, opted for an orange tee shirt repping his favorite — the University of Tennessee.
Of the UT fan, teacher Laura Snyder shared to Facebook, “He was SO EXCITED to show me his shirt. I was impressed that he took it one step further to make his own label.”
Unfortunately, the young student’s classmates didn’t share their teacher’s opinion.
After lunch, he returned to the classroom crying after some classmates — who didn’t even participate in college colors day — made fun of his sign.
Wanting to cheer her student up, Laura told the young man that she would personally buy him a University of Tennessee shirt, then turned to Facebook to ask if any of her friends had contacts at the school to make the gift “a little extra special” for him.
Here’s where it gets even better . . .
The FB post went viral, reaching UT fans and the university!
Not only did the University of Tennessee respond by sending the young man (and his classmates) a bunch of UT swag . . . they also put his DIY design on actual shirts to be sold as part of the university’s official shop!
Plus, some of the proceeds will be donated to an anti-bulling organization.
I was touched to learn of a young Florida school student’s heart for the University of Tennessee, and I LOVED his imagination behind designing his own shirt. So many of us admire his love for UT and it’s awesome to see everyone step up to send him some UT gear!#EverywhereUT pic.twitter.com/83YqjzBxag
— UT System President Randy Boyd (@UT_President) September 5, 2019
