FSU Football Star Travis Rudolph Takes Notice Of Autistic Student, Eats Lunch With Him
TALLAHASSE, Fla. (CBSNewYork)-- A photo of an act of kindness is drawing praise from around the world.
A college football star took notice of a young student and then did something that changed his life, CBS News's Mark Strassman reported.
Bo Paske was sitting alone in Montford Middle School's cafeteria on Tuesday.
Travis Rudolph, a star wide receiver with the Florida State University's football team, was among five players visiting the school as part of a community service program.
"He said 'sup dude?'" Paske recalled. "He asked me am I gonna play in the NBA and I said yes."
Paske said he asked Rudolph if he was in the NFL and he said no.
Rudolph told CBS2 he noticed a young kid sitting off by himself and headed his way.
"Once I just got those two slices of pizza, I just saw him by himself was like hey, like a spotlight I guess, something clicked in my head just let me go ask him if I can sit with him," he said.
Someone snapped a photo of Paske and his new friend having lunch with no one else sitting close and sent it to the sixth grader's mother. Paske is autistic, and many days, no one sits with him at lunch.
"The thought of him eating alone gets to you?" Strassman asked the boy's mother.
"Yes absolutely," Leah Paske said.
Leah Paske will always remember the college football player's kindness to her son.
"He could've sat with anybody... so I'm just moved by his generosity and his kindness. Again I haven't spoken to him. I don't know what made him pick Bo but I'm so grateful he did. It's so kind," she said, holding back tears.
She thanked Rudolph in a Facebook post.
"This is one day I didn't have to worry if my sweet boy ate lunch alone because he sat across from the someone who is a hero in many eyes," she wrote.
"I definitely just hope that kids welcome him in. He can just be around me anytime if I was his friend," Rudolph said.
When the student walked into lunch on Wednesday, every kid wanted to sit with him.
"I'm a superstar! Everybody recognizes me," he said excitedly.
