Post by Blaque on Oct 27, 2006 11:33:00 GMT -5
Two Hampton University students make good on their pledge to Bill Cosby
Two years ago, we told you about how comedian Bill Cosby was planning to pay for two young men to attend Hampton University.
Well, Cosby made good on his word, even sending them to H-U in his private jet.
We first met Jimmy Hester and Loren Wilder when they arrived on campus for the start of their freshmen year.
With two years now behind them, Wilder and Hester are on track for making Bill Cosby proud.
When Jimmy Hester and Loren Wilder stepped onto Hampton University's campus in August 2004, they were already big men on campus.
A single phone call from legendary comedian Bill Cosby, transformed Hester and Wilder into national celebrities.
They even appeared on the NBC Today.
Cosby found out about Hester and Wilder after reading an article in a Springfield Massachusetts newspaper, profiling gifted students.
Inspired by this article, Cosby decided to pay for their education at H-U.
"From the beginning, it felt like too much pressure to succeed," Hester told us.
Wilder and Hester are now at the halfway point of pumping out college degrees.
"Were there dark moments for you when you thought maybe this is not for me, but you felt pressured because someone else is paying?," we asked. "My junior year, it seems like a lot of pressure on us to graduate in four years," said Hester.
Wilder is majoring in Sports Management - Hester in Recreation Programming.
"It feels pretty good knowing the fact we don't have to worry about the bills, about the book money. It helps us focus more on school," said Wilder.
"Classes are kind of hard, but I'm getting through them," Hester said.
Hester says he doesn't talk to Bill Cosby much.
But when he does, it always seems like a game of 20 questions.
"How are you guys doing in class, how are you doing in school. How's everything. How's life outside of school. How's football?," related Hester.
Questions Hester and Wilder don't mind answering at all.
Wilder and Hester told us after getting their degrees in 2 years, they want to do what Bill Cosby did for them - give back to those less fortunate.
Two years ago, we told you about how comedian Bill Cosby was planning to pay for two young men to attend Hampton University.
Well, Cosby made good on his word, even sending them to H-U in his private jet.
We first met Jimmy Hester and Loren Wilder when they arrived on campus for the start of their freshmen year.
With two years now behind them, Wilder and Hester are on track for making Bill Cosby proud.
When Jimmy Hester and Loren Wilder stepped onto Hampton University's campus in August 2004, they were already big men on campus.
A single phone call from legendary comedian Bill Cosby, transformed Hester and Wilder into national celebrities.
They even appeared on the NBC Today.
Cosby found out about Hester and Wilder after reading an article in a Springfield Massachusetts newspaper, profiling gifted students.
Inspired by this article, Cosby decided to pay for their education at H-U.
"From the beginning, it felt like too much pressure to succeed," Hester told us.
Wilder and Hester are now at the halfway point of pumping out college degrees.
"Were there dark moments for you when you thought maybe this is not for me, but you felt pressured because someone else is paying?," we asked. "My junior year, it seems like a lot of pressure on us to graduate in four years," said Hester.
Wilder is majoring in Sports Management - Hester in Recreation Programming.
"It feels pretty good knowing the fact we don't have to worry about the bills, about the book money. It helps us focus more on school," said Wilder.
"Classes are kind of hard, but I'm getting through them," Hester said.
Hester says he doesn't talk to Bill Cosby much.
But when he does, it always seems like a game of 20 questions.
"How are you guys doing in class, how are you doing in school. How's everything. How's life outside of school. How's football?," related Hester.
Questions Hester and Wilder don't mind answering at all.
Wilder and Hester told us after getting their degrees in 2 years, they want to do what Bill Cosby did for them - give back to those less fortunate.