There have not been too many positive vibes in Penn State over the past few weeks, but as we come to terms with the allegations against our university, there is something we can take solace in and celebrate. Yesterday, former Penn State Football player Adam Taliaferro was elected to a seat on the Gloucester County Board of Freeholders in New Jersey.

Despite just recently pursuing a political career after working as a lawyer specializing in labor and gaming law, Taliaferro won easily, received 31,956 votes with voter turnout estimated around 54,000.

After a horrific spinal cord injury ended his football career in 2000, many medical experts said he would never walk again.  Taliaferro has done much more than simply prove that prognosis wrong.

Last month, he was back on campus as the Homecoming Grand Marshall and recently told philly.com:

“My goal was always to play in the National Football League. When that was taken away, I had to step back and see what my life’s goal was. I realized that, in fact, I was one of the most blessed people. I was the product of the people who helped me all those years.”

Since we could all use something to smile about right now, here’s the video of Taliaferro leading Penn State onto the Beaver Stadium field less than a year after his injury. He is a shining representative that Penn State is about more than just football, and we should all feel a tinge of pride in his success.