Jimmy Wayne Awarded Honorary Doctorate from William Woods University

On Saturday, May 6, 2017 — foster care awareness month — Jimmy Wayne delivered William Woods University’s 2017 commencement address. Following a robust standing ovation, university president, Jahnae Barnett, presented an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters to Jimmy, in recognition of his tireless work on behalf of foster children and his exemplary contribution to society.

Jimmy’s work includes lobbying for the extension of foster care to age 21 in every state in the U. S., authoring the three-time New York Times bestselling memoir Walk To Beautiful: The Power of Love and a Homeless Kid Who Found The Way, advocacy through keynote speaking around the world on the plight of children in foster care, and his seven-month, 1,700 mile walk halfway across America to raise awareness for the 30,000 children a year who age out of foster care into homelessness. 

“I’m humbled by this honor. I’d be remiss not to point to some very special people who are the reason I’m here today. I’ll start with Bea and Russell Costner, the couple who, at 75 and 79 years old, took me in when I was 16, homeless and had nothing to offer them. They changed every cell in my body and continue to inspire me to this day. Ms. Crystal Friday, my 6th-grade teacher — twice, who encouraged me to write, and Ms. Cindy Ballard, my school counselor who helped enroll me in classes the very week I moved into Bea and Russell’s home. They met me halfway, and because of them, I’m able to help others,” said Jimmy.

After the commencement ceremony President Barnett — who has been with the university for 45 years and its president for the last 27 — said, “This was the most fabulous commencement address we have ever experienced. When I looked out at the audience, I saw tears, anticipation, and guests sitting on the edges of their seats. As soon as Jimmy concluded, he received an immediate standing ovation. We’ve had some
great commence speakers including Val Kilmer and President Reagan to William Shatner, but Jimmy’s was number one.”

Jimmy continues to raise awareness for children in foster care — and for the more than 30,000 who age-out of the foster care system every year — through writing, performing and speaking. To find out more about Jimmy and his awareness campaign, Project Meet Me Halfway, please visit:

http://www.projectmmh.org
https://www.jimmywayne.com
https://www.facebook.com/JimmyWayneOfficial/
https://twitter.com/JimmyWayne
https://www.instagram.com/jimmywayneofficial

 About Jimmy Wayne:
Jimmy Wayne is a former foster kid turned award-winning country music artist whose songs and story highlight his mission to raise awareness for children in foster care. Jimmy’s hits include “Stay Gone,” “Paper Angels,” “I Love You This Much” and “Do You Believe Me Now,” which earned BMI’s prestigious Million-Air Award for receiving one million radio spins in America. In 2009, Jimmy toured with Brad Paisley and recorded “Sara Smile” with rock ‘n roll Hall of Fame duo Daryl Hall and John Oates.

In 2010, Jimmy walked halfway across America (from Nashville to Phoenix) to raise awareness for kids aging out of the foster-care system. In 2012, Jimmy helped get legislative bills passed extending the age of foster care to 21 in California and Tennessee, North Carolina and Ohio. In 2014, he released Walk to Beautiful: The Power of Love and a Homeless Kid Who Found The Way, a three-time New York Times bestselling memoir which recently crossed the 100,000 print sales milestone. In 2016 he received the prestigious Points of Light award from President George W. Bush (41) and in 2017 he received an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from William Woods University.

Jimmy has performed on the Grand Ole Opry more than 200 times. He lives in Nashville and continues to work tirelessly on behalf of at-risk foster youth by performing, writing books and keynote speaking. Jimmy's ultimate goal is to build transitional homes for youth who age out of foster care without a place to go.

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