Dallas (WBAP/KLIF) – Amid the controversy of being stripped of her valedictorian title at DeSoto High School, 2018 graduate Destiny Brannon has received nearly 40-thousand dollars in donations for college.
The Dallas Morning News reports donations are pouring in to a GoFundMe account dubbed ‘Get Destiny to UT.’
Destiny had initially counted on the automatic free first year tuition offered to all valedictorians in Texas, but her class ranking from 1st to 3rd changed all of that.
Meantime, Destiny and her family believe that the change in rank was because of her graduation speech criticizing the district for putting athletic programs ahead of academics. The district denies the claim.
Meantime, among those who left comments on the GoFundMe account, one donor identified as Robi Vollkommer said:
“I hope you have encouraged others to speak up as this is a MAJOR problem in the U.S. Putting athletes before academics. My kids’ high school hasn’t updated the academic scholar wall since 2011, but has hallways of pictures of athletes outside the gym going back as far as the mid 80’s??? You are a HERO!!!”
Donations have poured in from as far away as Ireland. Destiny told The News that she’s “surprised and grateful.” The goal was to raise $25,000.
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