CHANDLER — The rain did not stop the Chandler community from coming out to Chandler Elementary School for its spring family event on April 10. Food trucks were out, kids were running around school grounds, some were doing sidewalk chalk and others doing the Hokey Pokey in the school’s gymnasium.
The night was meaningful, but perhaps to no one more than former student Antonio Harris, who played football at Castle and now plays running back for Purdue. Harris gave the school a $2,500 donation.
The gesture meant everything to Principal Stephanie Henrich. Henrich had nothing but positive things to say about Harris.
“Antonio is such a great kid,” Henrich said. “When he was here, he always tried his best and was never in trouble. He’s going to be successful no matter what he does in life.”
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For Harris, Friday was a full-circle moment. Harris’ family grew up facing financial challenges. He said today’s moment was a ‘blessing’ to be able to give back to the community he has called home for so many years with his family by his side.
“It wasn’t always sunshine and rainbows growing up,” Harris said. “My parents just kept on chugging. They allowed me and my siblings to push forward and show us what hard work looks like.”
Harris said he would have never thought of a day like this becoming reality. It makes the day that much more special.
“Today’s a big moment for me and my family,” Harris said. “You dream about the NFL and playing college football, but these are the little things that may be overlooked or don’t come first to mind. I’ve always wanted to give back.”
The donation can help students who are now in a similar position as Harris once was. His inspiration for this day can be attributed in part to when he experienced a similar moment at Castle when an athlete returned to the school.
Harris would think to himself, ‘Dang, I want to be able to do that one day.’ Now, he has.
Harris hopes for his donation to Chandler to be used to aid the kids’ athletic ambitions. He received a round of applause from his community as Henrich shared news of the donation with Harris in the gymnasium.
This wasn’t the first time Harris has returned to his old stomping grounds, either. When he was at Castle, Harris would make it a habit to come back to Chandler and volunteer for multiple events the school would hold.
Chandler is a tight-knit community signified by, as Harris joked, its "one streetlight and minimal restaurant choices." But everyone knows everyone, and that’s what makes it a place of high importance to him.
“I feel like the teachers do a great job of looking out for the student as a person, beyond just the grades,” Harris said. “They do a great job of allowing our light to shine. I feel like they don’t get enough credit. They’re really the big pillars in kids’ life to show them that you can make mistakes, you can get back up and you can dream.”
From Chandler, to Castle and now at Purdue, Harris has always done well academically. He even earned Academic All-Big Ten honors as a sophomore.
Harris said the word “student” in student-athlete should be spelled with only capital letters, letting out a chuckle afterwards.
“School is very important,” Harris said. “You can’t really get anywhere with bad grades, that’s the first thing coaches are looking at. You have to be able to balance the two.”
Even a decade removed from his time as a Viking, the value Harris continues to place on education remains high and can serve as an inspiration to the next generation of Chandler students that dream to become athletes.
“Another thing is showing the kids that it is possible if you do the right things, continue to work hard and stay persistent," Harris said.