Ole Miss sophomore Jarrius Adams scored big on Saturday, as he won the $100,000 Dr Pepper Tuition Giveway scholarship, the university noted in a press release.
The Hattiesburg native successfully threw 11 15-yard passes into a target over 30 seconds to win the $100,000 Dr Pepper Tuition Giveaway scholarship, the press release said.
The throw-off against another finalist was televised live during halftime at the Wisconsin-Penn State Big 10 Conference championship.
Adams is majoring in public policy leadership and political science at Ole Miss, the university said.
“It’s a truly wonderful blessing,” the 19-year-old said Monday. “I worked really hard to get to reach this level, but honestly, it’s hard to believe it really happened.”
Adams’ journey to the winner’s circle began in August, when he ran across an ad for the competition on his Facebook page, the press release noted.
The soft drink company contest invites students ages 18-24 to submit 350-word essays on how they would use their education to change the world, the press release said. Social media users vote for the entries.
“To not have to worry about college tuition anymore is such a huge blessing for me,” Adams said in the release. “I really hope that my good fortune inspires others to seek such opportunities in the future.”