Akin fourth-grader Trent Beamer was definitely the most popular kid in school Nov. 10.

Trent won the National Football League’s Take a Player to School contest, and the result was a $2,000 check for his school and a day with Dallas Cowboy tight end Jason Witten.

Witten arrived at the Beamer home in time to pick Trent and his family up in a limosuine for the ride to school. The Beamers and Witten were greeted by Akin’s Leadership Team students waiving pompoms and chanting “Trent, Trent, Trent” and then “Cowboys, Cowboys, Cowboys.”

Chelsea Hulla, clad in her recently purchased Cowboy-blue cheerleader skirt and shirt, said she really didn’t know who Witten was because she doesn’t watch football. “But my dad does,” she said.

After signing a pile of Cowboy paraphernalia, Witten entered the cafetorium to the deafening roar of pint-size Cowboy fans. 

He took the stage and encouraged students to get at least 60 minutes of physical activity a day. “It doesn’t have to be football,” Witten said. “Just be active.”

He also admonished the students to “set goals and more than that, have a dream. I want to encourage you all to believe in dreams and set those goals high.”

Although drafted into the NFL as a college junior, Witten said he went back to school and completed his business degree.

After the schoolwide assembly, Witten joined Trent’s class for P.E. He and Trent’s teacher, Dani Womack, were the designated jump rope twirlers until Trent challenged Witten to a foot race. The two took off in a sprint with Witten talking a little trash before allowing the fourth-grader to pull in front.

Witten and Trent’s every move at the school was documented by a throng of media, and Trent seemed at ease in front of the camera.

“He’s been pretty cool,” Trent’s dad Brian Beamer said. “Although he did hide in the closet for a minute this morning.”

Seems the Beamer family is originally from Pittsburg, Pa., so Trent’s room is decorated in Steeler memorabilia. 

“When I walked in there and saw all that Steeler stuff and Trent was hiding in the closet, I thought about locking him there,” Witten said smiling. “But then I thought that wouldn’t be nice.”

The $2,000 was donated by the JCPenney Afterschool Fund. In addition to the money for equipment, every student in Trent’s class received a Play 60 T-shirt.

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