FLEMING ISLAND – Seven Clay County high school graduates have been named recipients of the 2016 Wes Whiddon Scholarships. From left are Jazmin Houston of Fleming Island High, Whiddon’s mother Angie Whiddon, Whiddon’s father Loren Whiddon, Daniel Justino of Middleburg High, Austin Cummins of Fleming Island High, Whiddon’s youngest brother, Wyatt Harvin of Keystone Heights High, Heath Whiddon and Robert Worley, the coach at Orange Park Junior High who started the scholarship in May 2009, a year after Wes was hit by a train as he stood on a railroad trestle over Black Creek. Three other students, who were not able to attend the June 16 Clay County School Board meeting, were also recipients of the customary $1,042 award, which pays homage to Wes Whiddon’s No. 42 jersey he wore as a beloved linebacker for the Fleming Island High Golden Eagles. Those students are Madison Brady of Oakleaf High, Ka’Lissya Garner of Clay High and Christopher Villalva of Ridgeview High. Recipients are chosen each year based on application essays entitled on the topic “How I Make a Difference.” The scholarship’s motto is “Your life is your message to the world, make it count.” To date, the Wes Whiddon Scholarship Foundation has raised and awarded more than $50,000 for Clay County student-athletes. Wesley Whiddon’s dream was to play college football. The foundation works to make his dream of a college education a reality for as many Clay County student-athletes as possible. Applicants must have participated in athletics at the junior high or high school level while attending a Clay County public school.