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.”

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.

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.