Student Wins $1.2M, Splits Half With Africa Charity

Connor Kacena-Merrell wasn't even supposed to be at ESPN's College GameDay when his raffle number got called. The Zionsville native had camped overnight just to get into the event before the Texas Longhorns faced Ohio State.

Two people drawn before him didn't show up to attempt the $1.2 million field goal kick. When organizers pulled number 0418 from the hat, the freshman's friends erupted around him.

His first kick sailed just right of the goalposts. The pressure mounted because he'd already promised half the winnings to Building Tomorrow, an Indianapolis nonprofit that builds schools in Africa.

"It's not just for my future," he told reporters. "It's also for the future of all the kids in Africa who Building Tomorrow helps."

Pat McAfee and Kirk Herbstreit gave him a second chance. Actor Matthew McConaughey, a devoted Longhorns fan, sweetened the pot with fellow announcer Herbstreit, each pledging an extra $100,000 to bring the total to $1.2 million.

This time, Kacena-Merrell nailed it straight through the uprights. The catch? He kicked both attempts barefoot because he'd worn cowboy boots to the event.

"I was barefoot a lot playing soccer as a kid, so I figured it would transfer over," he explained. His soccer background and youth football experience gave him just enough confidence to pull it off.

During halftime of the actual game, he got another opportunity to kick and succeeded again. Two successful kicks meant $1.6 million total donated to charity, with Building Tomorrow receiving hundreds of thousands.

Sunny's Take

George Srour, co-founder of Building Tomorrow, said the donation came as a complete surprise. Kacena-Merrell had worked with the organization before and made the decision to share his potential winnings without telling them first.

"For me, honestly, it was a no brainer to work with them again," the student said. "The people at Building Tomorrow are such passionate, dedicated, amazing people."

His mother Melissa remembered her son winning youth football games with clutch kicks years ago. She never imagined those childhood moments would prepare him for a million-dollar opportunity in front of millions of viewers.

The unexpected windfall will help Building Tomorrow continue constructing schools and providing education access to children who might otherwise never attend class. One barefoot college freshman's lucky moment became a gateway to education for students half a world away.