Lexington-Richland School District Five students and staff received an unforgettable surprise when former Irmo Yellow Jacket and current Seattle Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori returned to his hometown schools virtually to give back to the schools that helped shape his journey.

Emmanwori surprised students and staff at Leaphart Elementary School STEAM Magnet, Irmo Middle School International Academic Magnet School and Irmo High School International School for the Arts during a virtual pep rally, presenting each school with a $10,000 donation for a total of $30,000 to support students and schools in the community where he grew up, the district said in a news release Friday, Sept. 4.

The virtual celebration reached about 2,000 students who had the opportunity to hear directly from Emmanwori, celebrate his success and experience a special surprise ice cream party alongside their teachers and staff.

“I wouldn’t be who I am without Leaphart Elementary, Irmo Middle and Irmo High,” Emmanwori said. “As students head back to school, I wanted to give $30,000 across all three, the same schools that shaped me growing up in Irmo. This is my way of saying thank you, and I hope every kid there knows their community is behind them.”

Emmanwori became a standout student-athlete at Irmo High School. His journey continued to the collegiate level at the University of South Carolina and ultimately to the NFL, where he now plays for the Seattle Seahawks.

"It's awesome to watch students grow and become the very best versions of themselves,” Irmo Middle School Principal Mansa Joseph said. “As educators, we plant seeds in our students and hope that those seeds grow beyond anything we could have imagined. Nick is a wonderful example of that. He is a young man who has pursued and achieved his dreams, and we are incredibly proud of him. His generosity is an incredible gift, and we are tremendously grateful for his donation.”

Leaphart Elementary STEAM Magnet Principal Courtney Sims added, “We are deeply grateful to Nick Emmanwori for his incredible generosity. We could not be prouder of everything he has accomplished, and we feel honored that his time at Leaphart played even a small part in his journey to success. Over the years, Nick has consistently shown how much he values and respects teachers — and this gift will allow us to support and celebrate our incredible staff in a meaningful way. Final allocations are being finalized, but the funds will be intentionally directed toward classroom furnishings, professional learning opportunities, teacher wellness and staff appreciation.”