On a memorable Thursday evening, April 11, Jason Kelce, the recently retired Philadelphia Eagles icon, alongside his brother Travis Kelce, awarded the first-ever Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux scholarship to a University of Cincinnati student.
The event was graced by the presence of Walk-On’s CEO Chris Dawson, founder Brandon Landry, and Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce, who all came together to present the scholarship check.
The scholarship recipient, Ben Blevins, was personally selected by Jason for embodying the true spirit of a walk-on athlete. This initiative is part of a series created to honor Jason’s incredible journey from a college walk-on to an NFL legend during his 13-year career.
RELATED: Jason Kelce Got Called Taylor Swift’s ‘Brother-in-Law’ During His Wrestlemania Appearance
This scholarship celebrates the grit and determination of walk-on athletes, aligning with Walk-On’s motto of recognizing the hard work and dedication required in their journeys. Blevins, who has shown remarkable versatility by transitioning from offense to defense, also excels in his criminal justice studies and was honored with the Iron Bearcat award for his adaptability and leadership.
The award ceremony took place during a special live event for the University of Cincinnati Football team, just before the Kelce brothers hosted their New Heights Podcast at the university. That same evening, the Kelce brothers participated in a “surprise commencement” ceremony where they received their diplomas, an event that their parents, Donna and Ed Kelce, attended at the Fifth Third Arena.
The university celebrated this occasion on X, posting, “A surprise commencement we’ll never forget. Congratulations to Travis and Jason on (finally) picking up their diplomas!”
The celebration continued in true Travis Kelce style, marked by the sharing of beers, as noted by Dan Hoard, the voice of the Cincinnati Bengals and University of Cincinnati, who also tweeted about the event.
Since hanging up his cleats, Jason has stayed active, engaging in a variety of exciting endeavors including making a surprise appearance at WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia. During the event, Jason and Eagles’ offensive tackle Lane Johnson made a dramatic entrance, disrupting the match with metal folding chairs and body slams, keeping their identities hidden until the conclusion of the match featuring Rey Mysterio and Andrade.
