Ontario Teen Whose Yearbook Was Vandalized By Racists Got A Scholarship For His Birthday
Joshua Telemaque, the Ontario teen whose yearbook message got vandalized by racists, has received a full scholarship and multiple birthday wishes from prominent Canadians.
The birthday love came in the form of a 19-minute long video, which featured Raptors players like Rondae Hollis Jefferson, Oshae Brissett, Terence Davis, Malcolm Miller, Chris Boucher, in-arena host Mark Strong, and more, wishing Telemaque a happy 18th birthday.
Mike Hogan of the Toronto Argonauts also offered the teen a full four-year scholarship from the Pinball Clemons Foundation to any college or university of his choice, CP24 reports.
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We are here to support you, we are here to love you, we are here to stand by you. Stand up in the face of ugly with your beautiful soul.
Mark Strong
In an interview with CP24, Telemaque said he was "so appreciative, so grateful for this."
Community members, including the mayor of Pickering, also drove by the 18-year-old's house on Wednesday to show their support.
The teen loves sports and enjoyed football, basketball and track and field in high school, according to his aunt Mayma Raphael's viral Facebook post.
Tons of sportscasters also chimed in on the birthday message, including journalists from TSN.
"It just touched my heart. It's special to me, it means the world to me right now," Telemaque said.