Sudan students recognized for ‘Outstanding Character’

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  • OUTSTANDING CHARACTER -- Two Sudan students received the Taylor Whitley Show-Up Awards at the Sudan Homecoming this fall. Shown left to right are Sudan School Board member Susan Baker, Sudan Senior Nathan King, Dennis Whitley, Lanette Whitley, and Sudan Senior Hailey Flores. Both students received $500 to be used as they see fit. (Submitted Photo)
    OUTSTANDING CHARACTER -- Two Sudan students received the Taylor Whitley Show-Up Awards at the Sudan Homecoming this fall. Shown left to right are Sudan School Board member Susan Baker, Sudan Senior Nathan King, Dennis Whitley, Lanette Whitley, and Sudan Senior Hailey Flores. Both students received $500 to be used as they see fit. (Submitted Photo)
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The 2nd Annual Taylor Whitley Show-Up Foundation Golf Tournament was held at Wildcat Golf Club in Houston, TX, on Nov. 16. Taylor Whitley, 1998 graduate of Sudan High School, died August 1, 2018, of sudden cardiac arrest. Taylor lead an active lifestyle playing football at Texas A&M and for the Miami Dolphins, the Denver Broncos, and the Washington Redskins.

Following retirement from the NFL, Taylor became the Vice-President of Sales with USA-DeBusk, a company known for industrial cleaning of plants such as Tolk Station, Sudan. Taylor traveled as needed establishing DeBusk offices. Upon his death, associates from elementary school through the present remembered him for his kindness and his character. Thus, the Taylor Whitley Show-Up Foundation was established by his wife, Shannon, and his daughters, Laine and Logan, with the mission of encouraging young people who exhibit outstanding character. A ‘Show-Up Award’ recognizes and celebrates a person going out of their way to be kind and helpful to others while remaining loyal to their personal obligations and responsibilities. A recipient receives $500 to be used as they see fit.

Nominations are made through the foundation’s website by people who observe such character qualities in students in the 11th or 12th grade in high school or students in college or technical school. Two seniors at Sudan High School were nominated for ‘Show-Up’ awards and were recognized at Sudan’s Homecoming this fall. They are Nathan King and Hailey Flores.

Sudan ISD Superintendent, Scott Harrell, Sudan School Board Member, Susan Baker, and the Sudan Education Foundation are to be commended for helping facilitate this recognition of two of their outstanding students. Taylor’s parents, Dennis and Lanette Whitley, were honored to be present for recognition of these ‘Show-Up Award’ recipients.

Owners of USA-DeBusk, Pat DeBusk and son, Andrew, established the annual golf tournament to raise money to support the foundation’s efforts. Subsequently, they have established the Whitley/DeBusk academic scholarship fund to award employee’s children with $5,000 college or technical school scholarships.

Information regarding the foundation work and how to nominate a young person for a ‘Show-Up’ award can be found online at https://TaylorWhitleyShowUpFoundation.