NBA legend Allen Iverson is in a giving mood this week. After helping a high school senior make history as the first woman to participate in his showcase game series, he has now teamed up with Reebok to help cover college application costs for students at his former high school. 

Students at Bethel High School in Hampton, Virginia, will have their college application costs covered by Reebok as part of the rollout for their new collection, Origins Pack, which features new signature sneakers from Iverson, WTKR reports. 


“Nothing should limit you from applying to any school you want to consider. By working with Reebok to cover the application costs of rising seniors at Bethel High, I want the next generation of game-changers to see college as a route to success, whether they want to be an artist or a doctor,” Iverson said in a statement.

Bethel High's rising senior class of 2021, which has about 400 students, will have all college application costs paid for. Each student also received a pair of Reebok shoes.

The effort is meant to honor Iverson and give a new generation of kids the same chance he had to attend college. He sent the students a video of himself making the announcement on Wednesday. 

"What up, y'all. I got Reebok to cover your college application fees, so skies the limit, and you'll get a new pair of kicks," Iverson said in the video, according to 13 News Now.

Reebok is also giving a select number of students across the country the same chance to have their college application fees paid for. Students will need to submit a 200-word essay on how attending college will help them achieve their goals in life. Rising seniors can apply at Reebok.com. 

“I speak on behalf of the students, their families and the Hampton community when I say we are filled with gratitude from this Reebok donation. Allen Iverson is an integral part of this town, and we’re thrilled he continues to honor and support the school and community,” said Bethel High Principal Ralph Saunders.

College application fees have become a burdensome problem for low and middle-income students applying to college. The average cost of most college applications is about $43 according to a study by U.S. News and World Report. Most fees hover around $50, and some Ivy League schools charge more than $75 per application. 

One student told Money in 2017 that he spent about $1,700 on college applications when he was applying. 

While many schools have a fee waiver that students can apply for, hundreds of universities now make thousands of dollars through the lucrative application process.

According to LendEdu's examination of 2015-2016 college admissions data, the University of California-Los Angeles brought in $5,367,180 just from declined applications and over $6 million from all applications. The same study found that the University of California-Berkeley made $4,590,110 in revenue off declined applications. 

Bethel High has made it a point of honoring Iverson in recent years, including renaming the school gym Allen Iverson Gymnasium in 2019. Iverson was a legend at the school, leading them to a state championship in his junior year, WSET reports.

"I was honestly at a loss for words. I was just talking to my parents about college application fees, and then when he said it, it was so ironic," Bethel High junior Jaelyn Matthews told 13 News Now.

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