INDIANAPOLIS -- Teona Wooldridge was overcome with joy and tears after receiving a $40,000 scholarship from a former NBA legend Tuesday night.

Wooldridge is a junior at the Charles Tindley Accelerated School in Indianapolis. She had been looking for scholarships and never expected it would happen during a lecture. 

At the Steward Speaker Series former Los Angeles Lakers great Earvin Magic Johnson randomly chose Wooldridge for the scholarship. 

"I was just amazed," Wooldridge said. "For me, it was just a blessing from God."

Her parents are youth ministers and teachers with IPS. They said they were grateful for Johnson's generosity.

"First I thought I was hearing things," Wooldridge's father said. "At first I heard $10,000, then $10,000 for four years. My heart just dropped. I was so amazed and so grateful."

Wooldridge plans on attending Spelman College in Atlanta.