Shane Battier hands out 17 scholarships to Miami Central High School students

Battier Take Charge scholarships benefit students in West Little River

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. ā€“ Shane Battier, a retired Miami Heat player, surprised 17 Miami Central High School students with full-ride scholarships on Wednesday.Ā 

Battier, 40, and his wife, Heidi Ufer, his high school sweetheart, useĀ his The Battier Take Charge FoundationĀ to provide opportunites to studentsĀ who he says just need a hand.Ā 

Battier, who was born in Bimingham, Michigan,Ā said he isĀ following on a pledge he made before he started his career in the NBA playing for the Memphis Grizzlies, Houston Rockets and the Miami Heat until 2014.Ā 

Shane Battier takes on new challenge with the Heat

His pledge: "If IĀ ever make it to the big show, I will use my platform and my name to give an opportunity to deserving kids."Ā 

Asha St. Louis, a Miami Central student, is one of the kids Battier had in mind. She was among the 17 students who receiving the Battier Take ChargeĀ scholarships.

"It means a lot," St. Louis said.Ā "IĀ was literally crying when they called my name, so yes this is the most meaningful thing. It's a result ofĀ all of my dedication tears and sweat."

Battier delivered an encouraging speech at the event at the school in Miami-Dade County's West Little River neighborhood.Ā 

"We areĀ all in this together and so there are a lot of people who need help and it's up to all of us,"Ā Battier said. "What we're doing is not anything extraordinary."


About the Author:

David Lang is executive producer of the Local 10 sports department.