Jeffrey O’Neil’s proudest moment of her grandson, Bobby, came when he crossed the stage at his elementary school graduation despite the traumatic brain injury that keeps him confined to a wheelchair.

“It’s a miracle he’s still with us,” O’Neil said. “This young man persevered through everything he went through in the hospital. He beat all of the odds.”

O’Neil said when her grandson graduated the whole gymnasium exploded with cheers from those watching. “Everyone was on their feet yelling, ‘Go, Bobby, go,’” she said.

The graduation story – shared by O’Neil – was one of 10 stories picked as a winner of a $20,000 prize as part of the lottery’s N.C. Proud Moments in Education contest.

O’Neil said school is key to Bobby’s progress. It’s where he gets his speech, physical, and occupational therapy. It’s also where he learns to socialize.

“Every morning he meets the students as they get off the bus and says ‘Hi” to them,” she said.

Education will continue to be part of Bobby’s life. Middle school is the next step. She plans to use the $20,000 to get a dependable car for Bobby’s mom to transport him and his wheelchair.

“My hope is maybe I’ll have another proud moment,” O’Neil said. “I hope he keeps on moving.”

In the N.C. Proud Moments contest, the Education Lottery asked North Carolinians to share their proudest moments in education and how they would use $20,000 to create more proud moments. The lottery received hundreds of moving responses. A panel of judges chose 10 winners from the 100 entries that got the most votes. The contest helped mark the lottery’s 10th anniversary as it raises money to support education programs in North Carolina. Since 2006, the lottery has raised more than $4.6 billion. The winners’ submissions and a video featuring their stories are posted on the N.C. Proud Moments website, located at http://www.ncproudmoments.com/.