By Samantha Swindler / Managing Editor
Shawn Grim, the eastern Kentucky teen who was featured on 20/20’s “A Hidden America: Children of the Mountains,” told ABC News on Friday that he would be attending Union College this semester on a football scholarship.
Grim had visited the campus last year and again last week. When he was interviewed after his tour on Thursday, he said he hadn’t yet committed to the school.
By the following day, he had confirmed his decision, which was aired on a follow-up segment Friday on 20/20.
The former Johnson Central High School football standout was one of several children and teens featured in last week’s piece by Diane Sawyer on poverty in Appalachia. Grim is shown sleeping in his pick-up truck or crashing at friends’ homes in an effort to avoid the fighting, drinking and other problems at home. He was a 5-foot-7-inch tall football star in high school, known as the “Grim Reaper” to his opponents. After becoming the first in his family to graduate high school, Grim spent just eight weeks at Pikeville College on a football scholarship before dropping out and returning home.
“I found out I couldn’t pay for the college, I had to come back home,” he had said. “No one’s perfect.”
Grim began his time at Union Monday as a part-time student. The school’s Spring II semester begins next week, said Brenna Wallhausser, director of communications for UC. Until then, she said Grim will be registering for classes and “getting settled in.”
Last week, Barbourville Mayor David Thompson said he would be working with Grim to find him a summer job, possibly at the city’s waterpark. David and Helen McKenzie — whose nephew Dr. Edwin Smith and his Kids First Dental Care were also profiled in the 20/20 piece — offered a place for Grim to visit on weekends and holidays where he can get a home-cooked meal or just some needed time away from campus.
Union has offered to cover Grim’s tuition and board. He’ll have to supply money for books, food and other essentials, but a trust fund set up in his name since the 20/20 piece aired will hopefully fund the balance. A link on ABC News’ Web site gives viewers a chance to help at http://a.abcnews.com/2020/story?id=6845926
In another update aired Friday, Dr. Smith of Barbourville announced that he would provide dental work for Angel, a mother featured in the program who had lost most of her teeth.
Local News
Related Photos
-
File photo
Discussion
Grim chooses Union College
College to cover costs of tuition, board
- Local News
-
-
Sawyers named Times-Tribune publisher
Longtime Sentinel-Echo Publisher Willie Sawyers has been named regional publisher with oversight of both the London paper and the Times-Tribune in Corbin.
-
7 arrested in drug roundup
Seven people were arrested Thursday following a two-month investigation that involved undercover buys of prescription drugs, according to Corbin Police Public Affairs Officer Major Rob Jones.
-
Police seek man wanted for home burglaries
Police are seeking the public’s help in finding a man they believe is responsible for the theft of thousands of dollars worth of jewelry from several burglarized homes in Williamsburg and Whitley County, according to Williamsburg Police Chief Wayne Bird.
-
No report yet on body of Bright
The body of Delmer Bright was returned from the Kentucky Medical Examiner’s office Wednesday by Knox Coroner Mike Blevins.
-
Area legislators wait and see on redistricting
If the courts find the State Legislature’s redistricting plan constitutional, State Representative Marie Rader will find her 89th House District changing dramatically — with a razor-thin strip through the middle of Laurel County, connecting both Jackson and McCreary Counties.
-
Whitley, McCreary Farm Service Agencies to meet today
At 2 p.m. today at the Whitley County Extension office, agriculturalists will discuss the consolidation of the Whitley and McCreary counties’ USDA Farm Service Agencies.
-
Police Roundup - Feb. 2, 2012
London’s Kentucky State Police post has received a report of a scam or fraud trying to get credit or debit card account numbers.
-
Corbin sewer repairs to continue through May
Those crews doing work in the rain on some downtown Corbin streets Wednesday were digging in for a reason — to stop water from getting into the city’s sanitary sewer collection system. And the work will continue at times throughout the next few months before it’s finished.
-
Corbin Main Street prepares for new year
The man who heads Corbin’s Main Street Program says it’s time to do some exciting things. And they run from starting the early stages of master planning for the downtown area, all the way to introducing a new, user-friendly website for his organization.
-
Man dies after crash with train
Delmer Bright, 83, of Flat Lick, was pronounced dead Tuesday at Knox County Hospital just after 1 p.m.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Killer of Fla. Girl Found in Landfill Gets Life
Army Orders Bradley Manning Court-martial
Cancer Charity Revives Breast-screening Grants
Heavy Snowstorm Hits Colorado On Its Way East
2nd Teacher From LA School Arrested on Sex Claim
Prosecutors Close Armstrong Inquiry, No Charges
Sights and Sounds: Football Fans Pour Into Indy
Unemployment Rate Down to 8.3%
Obama: Still Far Too Many Americans Need Jobs
GOP: Jobs Numbers Welcome, Can Do Better
Fla. Man Adopts Girlfriend in Legal Battle
More Deaths As Egypt Clashes Continue
Raw Video: Prince William in Falklands
Egpyt Protesters Blame Police for Soccer Deaths
'Lucky' 9-Year-Old Receives 6-Organ Transplant
Raw Video: Michelle Vs. Ellen in Pushup Contest
First Person: Will Peyton Manning Stay in Indy?
Egypt Shaken After Deadly Soccer Riot
New Suits, New Starts for New York's Unemployed
Hall of Famer Dorsett Speaks Out on NFL Injuries
