When University of Kansas student Jordan Stiers sent a simple text message to enter a half-court shot contest at the school’s annual “Late Night in the Phog” event on Saturday October 1st, she never imagined that she would walk away with a $10,000 check in hand.
Immediately after winning and bursting into tears, Stiers knew exactly who needed the money the most. “I was just thinking about my Nana and what I was going to do to help her,” Stiers told The Kansas City Star. “I’ve always thought about that one question: ‘If you win so much money, what are you going to do with it?’ And she’s helped me a lot in my life, so pay it forward.”
Stiers’ Nana is her paternal grandmother, named Roxanne Edwards, who rescued her from foster care at age 10. Edwards also took in four of Stiers’ siblings and raised them in her Independence, Missouri, home.
“I don’t think she’s going to believe me,” Stiers told The Kansas City Star. “This kind of thing doesn’t happen to people like us. She’s probably going to cry, just like I did.”
The sophomore texted the word “Pay” to enter the contest, and 15 minutes later she found out that she had been chosen as one of two contestants. She had attended the year before as well, so she understood the contest rules. Contestants could try to throw from half court themselves, or choose anyone in the building (who is not on the KU basketball team) to attempt it for them, and if they sunk the shot the contestant gets a $10,000 check from Kansas coach Bill Self.
Stiers was prepared and picked KU director of basketball operations Brennan Bechard, who sunk the same shot the year before — winning $10,000 for Topeka sophomore Jerrod Martin Castro.
“I saw he won, and I was like, ‘Double or nothing,’” Stiers told The Kansas City Star.
She must’ve really felt the nerves when Bechard missed his practice shot. But with the official throw, Bechard’s half-court shot just grazed the rim before sinking through the net … and then he tried in vain to run away as he was tackled by KU players.
Coach Self then wrote out a check for $10,000 to Stiers, giving her a hug and congratulations.
Stiers is the first person in her family to graduate high school and attend college, and she can’t wait to help her grandmother as a thanks for all that she’s done.
“She’s my mom. She’s my dad. She’s my grandma — she’s everything,” Stiers said. “She has done so much for me, taught me so much. … There’s nothing I can do to repay her, but this will say thank you a little bit.”
h/t: Little Things