Instant Karma – The Good Kind
Matt Zajac is a Mechanical Engineering student at New Mexico State University. He’s also not your your typical college student. He’s an Iraq War vet – and a double amputee. He was injured in an explosion in Iraq.
Recently, he was announced as the winner of a $2,000 by-name drawing lottery at the NMSU-San Diego State college football game (28 September). NMSU apparently holds such a drawing at each of its home games to encourage student attendance.
There was one small problem: Zajac couldn’t collect.
Rules for the drawing stipulate the winner must be present to win. However, Zajac was at his grandmother’s house that day, taking care of her. And he refused to attempt to collect via fraud: he was honest with NMSU officials about the fact that he wasn’t at the game.
NMSU officials commended Zajac for his service (and, presumably, for his honesty as well). However, they felt they could not make an exception in Zajac’s case. Rules are, after all, rules.
In most cases, that would have been the end of it – no cash, but honor and honesty intact. Except . . . some things just seem to transcend athletic rivalries when good people are involved.
Enter NMSU’s arch-rival, the University of New Mexico.
One of UNM’s supporters – Mark Chavez, who runs the UNM support site “TheLoboLair.com” – read about Zajac’s misfortune and his honesty. He decided to try and raise $2,000 to make up Zajac’s loss.
Chavez started his online fund drive one day last week at 0830. By 1550 that same afternoon, they’d raised $2,000.
Zajac was notified of the cash coming his way. In response, he indicated he was honored, but would only accept half – and would pass along the other half to the Fisher House Foundation, a charity that supports military families. Zajac at one time volunteered for Fisher House.
Well done, gents. Damned well done. Kudos to both of you.
Oh, and for what it’s worth: it seems UNM and NMSU played a football game recently – last Saturday (5 October), to be precise.
Maybe there really is something to the term “Instant Karma”. UNM won the game, 66-17. (smile)
Category: Feel Good Stories, Schools
Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaang!
67-17? That’s beat like a red-headed step child.
Great post, Brother!
With all of the childishness going on with the shut down drama, it’s nice to see some people acting like adults. Well done, Gentlemen!
And I’m an emotional sucker today, because I teared up!
Nothing like some good Instant Karma!!!!!
Goosebumps…
That whole Karma thing IS real!
Good job all … There is hope for our country. And it is not packaged in a nondescript “Hopeee” message thing.
Hope is derived from observing the good actions of good men and repeating such good deeds!
It is heartening to see that there are still people of honor in this country. Too bad none of Them are of the political class.
Being from NM, this doesn’t come as a total shock. Yeah, it’s a decent rivalry, but considering NMSU’s football program has pretty well sucked since, well, FOREVER, it’s good natured at least.
But it’s incredible to see people stepping up to do something good and kind to those who have also done the right thing.
Now were this a perfect situation, NMSU would donate the $2K to the charity of Matt’s choice.
THAT would be pretty awesome as well.
Wonder who won the second drawing and what they did with Matt’s money…
Meanwhile, great story!
Kinda like Sparky, used to live in NM before moving to Houston (yes, I am a whore and the money was ‘way better here – what was I thinking!) and met some wonderful folks there. This gets passed around. Good on both of ’em.
Things like this continue to give me hope for the future of our country.