A Florida teen has been thrown a lifeline in the form of a full-ride scholarship after he fearlessly rescued a woman from the grips of the Boynton Beach Inlet's notorious currents last month. Jakob Thompson's act of bravery not only saved a life but also put him on a path to fulfilling his dream of fighting fires, as reported by CBS12.
"Putting my life out there to help somebody came with a reward, but I was never looking for one," Thompson said in an interview with CBS12's Victoria De Cardenas. The Boynton Beach Fire Rescue, who deemed the inlet as one of South Florida's most dangerous due to its fast-moving currents, acknowledged Thompson's courageous efforts by inviting him for a tour at one of their stations. But what awaited him was a surprise scholarship that promised to change his trajectory.
This feat of heroism resonated with Sarah Perry, a bereaved mother whose son Aden perished in an attempt to save another's life. Perry, moved by Thompson's parallel display of selflessness, decided to bestow upon him the inaugural "The Aden Perry Good Samaritan Scholarship Fund" award. "When I saw Jakob’s story it just grabbed my heart, and I immediately knew I had to see him," Perry said. "He is like my son. He didn’t think, he didn’t hesitate; he just jumped in and did the right thing."
The surprise scholarship covers the full gamut of Thompson's fire academy journey, "all of his schooling, all of his bunker gear, everything that he needs is in that envelope," stated Sarah Perry. Jacob, grateful and poised, told CBS12, "Now after having a scholarship, it's gonna take care of everything and I know I'm going to be able to finish my schooling as a firefighter."
As Thompson was surrounded by family and friends at the Boynton Beach Fire Rescue station to receive his accolade, Perry announced her intent to follow the young hero's progress toward becoming a firefighter. Jacob Thompson, with new-found support and recognition, hopes to someday serve at the Boynton Beach Fire Rescue, returning the favor to the community he bravely aided.
