A Sudan native has created a network of giving through his name and legacy. 

Jordie Bellar and Gracyn Schultz were recipients of the Taylor Whitley ‘Show Up’ $500 Scholarship Award during the Sudan Education Foundation Fundraiser Dinner Oct. 8.  

Parents of Whitley Dennis and Lanette Whitley of Edna Tx presented the award to the two students. The award was established by wife of Taylor, Shannon Whitley, after Taylor’s passing in August of 2018 due to a severe cardiovascular disease.  

The ‘Show Up’ award is meant to signify the best qualities Taylor shared in his lifetime. To be present, achieve at the highest level and most importantly, be a man or woman of character.  

Taylor was a valedictorian at Sudan High School in SHS’s class of 1998. According to Sudan ISD, he was a great football star for the Hornets, earning three-time all-district and all-South Plains selection at offensive and defensive tackle at Sudan High School in Sudan, Tex. He did not allow a single sack during his last two seasons. 

He went on to play collegiate ball at Texas A&M University before getting selected in the third round of the NFL draft where he would play for the Miami Dolphins, Washington Redskins (now known as the Commanders) and the Denver Broncos.  

According to the Taylor Whitley Foundation website, Whitley’s motto in life was “Show up. Give a flip. and repeat!”. This became the inspiration Shannon used to find recipients of the award.  

The foundation has stayed consistent to awarding “young people in high school or early college that were good examples of character,” Dennis Whitley said. “People that put themselves ahead of others ahead of themselves.” 

The first recipient of the award was a cashier at HEB in Lake Jackson. Pate noticed a woman he was checking out did not have enough money to pay for her groceries, two days before Christmas. He decided to pay for the woman’s groceries, expecting nothing in return. His story went viral and caught the attention of the foundation who then awarded Pate a $500 scholarship. 

Since then, the Taylor Whitley foundation has received and awarded more like Pate who represent the same selflessness he displayed.  

For Bellar and Shultz, they both received the award based on their achievements in the Sudan community. “Both students value church, family and community and are positive influencers to others in these areas,” Lanette Whitley told the Herald. “They ‘show up’ to serve others and are powerful role models.” 

Bellar is a Sudan High School class of 2022 graduate. He was named valedictorian of his class and currently attends Texas Tech University where he is majoring in computer engineering.  

Shultz is currently a senior at SHS and plans for a career in dental hygiene in the future.