LeBron James Congratulates Anthony Claytor, I Promise Program's First College Graduate

LeBron James has seen his life promise through. 

LeBron James recently congratulated the first I Promise student to graduate from college on social media. Anthony Claytor, who earned his bachelor's degree from Kent State, is the graduate recognized by James, according to CNN. 

“CONGRATULATIONS ANTHONY!!!! SO PROUD OF YOU YOUNG [prince],” James wrote on X.

A member of the inaugural class (2018) of the I Promise School, Claytor is part of James’ efforts to offer education and opportunities to at-risk children and their families in Northeast Ohio.

All 193 students in that inaugural class were given four years of free tuition to attend Kent State University, as well as one year of room and board fully paid for back in 2020. 

Claytor made the most of his opportunity thanks to graduating early with a Bachelor of Arts in criminology as well as justice studies with a minor in sociology.

“If it wasn’t for the LeBron James Family Foundation, I don’t know if I would have gone to college,” Claytor said. “I don’t know where I would be.”

Claytor said he very much needed the program. 

“If I went … somewhere else, I wouldn’t have been able to live on campus and meet new people, develop relationships or join organizations. I really enjoy being able to do that at Kent State.”

His goal now is to become a secret service agent, he said.

“There was more help financially, specifically with tuition and books,” said Claytor of the difference the support he had been given had helped his educational experience.

“These programs also provided me access to different scholarships and internships. Overall, it made campus a lot easier to navigate,” he added.

The school, based in James’ hometown of Akron, Ohio, provides students with a host of provisions to help them along with free tuition, free uniforms, free meals, free transportation within two miles, a free bicycle and helmet as well as access to a food pantry for their family.

Additionally, parents of students have access to job placement services and help acquiring their GEDs.

According to the I Promise website, the program has provided services to close to 1,300 students in the Akron area.

Photo Credit: KentWired.com