CREVE COEUR • A De Smet Jesuit High School graduate got an early Christmas present when four couples paid a delinquent tuition bill that would have kept the teen from returning to Wichita State University for his second semester.

The story of Kyle Bouman of Ferguson was outlined in Bill McClellan's column Friday. His family could not afford to pay the bill.

The high school had refused to release the final transcripts of Kyle Bouman, who graduated from De Smet in the spring. He is now at Wichita State on a baseball scholarship, but the school and the NCAA needed Bouman's high school transcripts to allow him to register for the second semester.

The Rev. Wally Sidney, president of De Smet, confirmed Saturday a group of four families that wished to remain anonymous had stepped forward to cover the $6,500. They have no ties to De Smet, a Catholic college preparatory school in Creve Coeur, but do have ties to the Catholic church.

"I think they were people who were simply moved by the Christmas spirit," Father Sidney said.

Kyle's father, Albert Bouman, learned of the donations Saturday.

"It's the day before Christmas, and I am very grateful that there are kind people," he said. "I'm very grateful to everyone. This has been a heavy burden."

Sidney said that a large number of people have come forward offering smaller donations to help with the tuition.

"It just speaks of the generosity of people reaching out to anybody in need whether they know him of not," Sidney said. "They sympathized with the family's plight and what they're facing, especially all these people who can only give a part but want to give something to help that young boy."

Sidney said school offices would be closed Monday but added: "I have spoken with our registrar and the first thing Tuesday morning we'll be sending the transcript."

While the four couples have paid the outstanding debt to De Smet, they suggested a fund be established at the De Smet to help offset Kyle's incidental costs while at Wichita State, such as books and lab fees, Father Sidney said. "The money could be used to further his education," he added. Other donations will go there.

The latest tuition bill was over $12,000, but De Smet had offered to accept $6,500 to clear it. Bouman's parents, who filed for bankruptcy in the fall, were unable to come up with the money but were intending to pay off the bill.