Drake Surprises UMiami Student Destiny Paris James With $50,000 Donation Toward Her Tuition

Canadian R&B artist Drake dropped by the University of Miami on Monday to present UMiami student Destiny Paris James with a donation of $50,000 to go toward her tuition.

James explained in an Instagram post that she applied to and received scholarships last year, and that her scholarship application essay was shared with other departments at the university. She was contacted about participating in a video that talked about where she came from and why it’s important to donate to scholarship funds. James was instead surprised by Drake, and students swarmed to watch the artist give her a massive check.

“Drake told me that he has read great things about me and appreciates how hard I’ve worked through so many trials and decided to give me $50K for my tuition,” James wrote on Instagram. “THANK YOU SO MUCH!!’ You don’t understand what this means to me! I would’ve never imagined this happening to me. I’m just a girl from Denmark, SC that wants to MAKE IT and be somebody and for you to see my hard work means the world. Thank you so much. God I thank you. You are so great and amazing! Thank you for blessing me when I thought my hard work was going unnoticed. I’m living out my dreams. God’s Plan.”

This happened today. I applied to scholarships last year for which I had to write an essay. I received those scholarships and thought that was the end of it. Apparently, my essay and my story made it to other departments. I was contacted this weekend about doing a video speaking about where I come from, things I’ve been through, and why it is so important for scholarship donors to continue to donate. This was the surprise the whole time. Drake told me that he has read great things about me and appreciates how hard I’ve worked through so many trials and decided to give me $50K for my tuition. @champagnepapi THANK YOU SO MUCH!!’ You don’t understand what this means to me! I would’ve never imagined this happening to me. I’m just a girl from Denmark, SC that wants to MAKE IT and be somebody and for you to see my hard work means the world. Thank you so much. God I thank you. You are so great and amazing! Thank you for blessing me when I thought my hard work was going unnoticed. I’m living out my dreams. God’s Plan 🙏🏾

A post shared by Destiny Paris James (@_destinyparis) on Feb 5, 2018 at 4:45pm PST

UMiami students also went wild when Drake filmed part of a video from atop the university’s student center and flashed the “U.”

“I’ve been around the world but I’ve never been to a more turnt school,” one student wrote, quoting Drake in her Instagram caption.

“I’ve been around the world but I’ve never been to a more turnt school” – @champagnepapi

A post shared by @ lexiebayphipps on Feb 5, 2018 at 3:59pm PST

But UMiami wasn’t the only school Drake supported on Monday. Earlier in the day, he had stopped by Miami Senior High.

“Best Day Ever! The REAL Drake was at the High today! Thanks for giving back to the community!” Miami Senior High’s Twitter account wrote.

Drake also presented the school with a check for $25,000 to support public education, according to Miami-Dade County Public Schools Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho.

“Thank you Drake for supporting public education @MDCPS & @miamiseniorhigh.#ArtsInOurSchools,” Carvalho tweeted.

“Where’s the fire? [City of Miami Fire] rushes to [Miami Senior High]. What’s the emergency? Drake in the flesh, burning hot with words of encouragement and a $25,000 check,” Carvalho tweeted a few hours later.

Drake himself dropped out of high school at 15 to pursue music, according to EDU in Review, but in 2012, he tweeted that he finally graduated high school.

“97% on my final exam. 88% in the course. One of the greatest feelings in my entire life. As of tonight I have graduated high school!” he’d tweeted.