Man Successfully Locates Owner of Diploma Discovering it at Goodwill

• A surprising discovery was made by Thomas Lipscomb at a Goodwill store – a hidden diploma.
• Lipscomb documented his journey on TikTok, searching for the owner of the diploma.
• The graduate, Jacob Calabrese, expressed gratitude and surprise when the diploma was returned.

Imagine discovering a college diploma hidden among thrift store items. That’s exactly what happened to Thomas Lipscomb.

Lipscomb, a 26-year-old avid collector and reseller, stumbled upon a diploma from California State University inside a vintage “Star Wars” book at a Goodwill store in California. Intrigued by the find, he decided it should be returned to its original owner.

Determined to locate the diploma’s owner, Lipscomb embarked on a search using various social media platforms. After a couple of days, he successfully identified the right person, Jacob Calabrese, through LinkedIn.

Throughout his search, Lipscomb documented the experience on TikTok, obtaining Calabrese’s permission to share the clips. The video, which was posted on Wednesday, has garnered over 1.6 million views.

In the video, Lipscomb revealed that Calabrese generously offered to cover the shipping costs for the returned diploma. In a light-hearted gesture, Lipscomb jokingly requested $69 from Calabrese on Venmo. To his surprise, Calabrese sent the money, prompting Lipscomb to include additional items in the package as a token of appreciation.

The package sent to Calabrese included the diploma, the book in which it was found, a collection of vintage “Star Wars” merchandise, and a birthday card with a Chili’s gift card tucked inside. The package reached Calabrese approximately three days later, and Lipscomb humorously mentioned that they are now “best friends.”

Although Calabrese was pleasantly surprised and grateful for the unexpected reunion with his diploma, Lipscomb hopes that viewers of his viral TikTok video will take away a meaningful message.

Lipscomb expressed the importance of kindness and service towards others, particularly during challenging times. He also jokingly mentioned his intention to find more former owners of thrift store finds, perhaps even encountering a billionaire in the future.