WELCOME TO THE WES WHIDDON SCHOLARSHIP FUND

Loren "Wesley" Whiddon, Jr., age 17, of Orange Park, FL passed away on May 14, 2008. He was born February 22, 1991 in Jacksonville, the son of Loren W. Whiddon and Angela Ballou Whiddon. Wes was a junior at Fleming Island High School and was the middle linebacker, #42, for the Golden Eagles Varsity Football team. He ended the '07 - '08 football season with 175 tackles and was then named First Team All District, All County, and All Conference. He was the first freshman in Fleming IslandHigh School History to start for the Golden Eagles varsity football team and was also the first Golden Eagle to receive a 4-Year letterman award. He played Pop Warner football at Normandy Athletic Association and Orange Park Athletic Association. At the age of six, Wes played on City Champions All Star tee ball team for Normandy and then later played baseball for numerous travel and park teams. He was a coaches and parents dream. He loved God, football, his family, his girlfriend Lauren, and his many friends. Wesley loved life and was loved dearly by all who knew him.
His legacy will continue to live throughout the Wes WhiddonScholarship Fund."

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SCHOLARSHIP INFO

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OVERVIEW

The Wes Whiddon Athletic Scholarship was established in 2009 by the Orange Park Junior High Athletic Department to help local kids go to college. Thescholarship is available to any graduating Clay County student athlete that played sports at the junior high or high school level while attending a Clay County school.

The recipients have each received $1042 in tuition assistance. All Clay County High Schools have had at least one recipient to date.

Largely due to community support, we have been fortunate enough to award 103 scholarships totaling $107,326 to Clay County graduates in honor of Wesley Whiddon. Playing college football and receiving a college education was Wesley’s dream. Our goal is to help make Wesley’s dream of a college education a reality for as many Clay County student-athletes as possible.

Wes Whiddon Scholarship was established by the OPJH Athletic Department in order to help local kids go to college. The scholarship is available to any graduating Clay County student-athlete that played sports at the junior high or high school level while attending a Clay County school. All applicants must meet the following criteria.

QUALIFICATIONS

Student must be a graduating Senior from a public Clay County HS.
Student must have participated in athletics at least one season at a Clay County junior high or high school.
Submit Scholarship application.
Student must write an essay entitled "How I Make A Difference".
If student-athlete has already been accepted to a college, also submit acceptance letter.

WES WHIDDON MEMORY VIDEO

Wes Whiddon, Fleming Island Golden Eagle #42

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A TRIBUTE TO WES WHIDDON

Being a parent is very similar to being the coach of a football team. You expect effort, but don't always get 100%. You want the championship and straight A's, but settle for a winning season. You want others to notice the talent you have created but,well, there is nothing else that could satisfy that desire. "During one of the last conversations I had with my son, he told me that God put him on this earth to play college football.He had the grades, the talent and more heart that any coach would ever want. Wesley would play at the next level, but was never given the chance.Imagine having it all wrapped up in a 5 '9", 212-pound frame that could run the forty in a five flat.As a football coach, it might be hard to believe. As a parent, it was witnessed on a daily basis. Wesley Whiddon was not only a "coach's dream," as described by his Fleming Island High School football coach, Neal Chipoletti, but a "parents' dream," as defined by his father, Wes Whiddon, Sr."Heath, one of Wes' three younger brothers, began Orange Park Junior High in August, 2008. The following May, head football coach, Robert Worley, created the Wes Whiddon Scholarship Fund.He never coached Wesley, knew Wesley, or saw him play. When asked "why?" Worley said after coaching Heath in both baseball and football, he was inspired to honor the brother Heath loved and admired. Wesley's message to the world was being heard through the life of his little brother.
- Angie Whiddon. Wes' Mother