Young hero who died saving two girls receives award

Jun 25, 2016

Zaevion Dobson, a high school football player, made the news when he used his body to shield two girls from gunfire. Unfortunately, he was killed in the attack, but he will receive the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the ESPYS. At 15, he is the youngest person to win the award in its history.

It was on December 17 of last year when Dobson threw himself over his friends to shield them from gunfire.

“There’s nothing more courageous than somebody sacrificing their own life for somebody else,” stated Maura Mandt, executive producer for the ESPYS.

Just after Dobson’s death, Obama commented on his sacrifice in a tweet.

“He was a hero at 15. What’s our excuse for not acting?” He went on to call what Dobson did “an act of heroism a lot bigger than we should expect from a 15-year-old.”

According to ESPN, Zenobia Dobson, Zaevion’s mother, will accept the award on his behalf. The award show is on July 13, and both of Dobson’s brothers will be attending the ceremony with their mother.

“He would light up the room,” Zenobia Dobson said. “He was just so sweet. He had a warm spirit. His spirit was awesome, amazing. He was an amazing son. He was so sweet. He would always compliment me. He would always compliment his friends.”

She went on to talk about how Zaevion has a history of standing up for what is right. “He would stop bullies from bullying,” she said. “He got bullied at a young age. He stepped up to the bully, and once he stepped up to the bully, he wasn’t afraid. If he saw kids getting bullied, he’d step in and say, ‘Don’t bully them.'”

She also said that “there’s not a day that goes by that I don’t cry” when she thinks about her boy.

“I’m just so honored to be his mother,” Zenobia Dobson said. “I will always love him in my heart, but since his passing, I love him even more. I draw closer to him every day. I visit him at the cemetery every day, and I just talk to him every day, every single day. Even when I wake up in the morning, his picture is right there on my dresser and I can look at him. Even if my eyes are closed, I still say, ‘Good morning, Zaevion,’ or ‘Good night, Zaevion,’ ‘I love you, Zaevion,’ ‘I miss you, Zaevion.’