South County Student Wins Scholarship From Football Alumni Group

LORTON, VA — A member of the state champion South County High School football team in Lorton won a $1,500 post-secondary scholarship from the South County Football Alumni Association (SCFAA). Jaeden Davis said that finding confidence in himself and placing trust in his teammates helped him and the team succeed as the Stallions won their first state championship last fall since the Fairfax County school opened in 2005.

Davis, who plans to major in business administration with an emphasis in entrepreneurship, was awarded the scholarship at the South County High School Awards Banquet on Feb. 10. SCFAA teamed up with local State Farm Agent Casey Whitmarsh to award the scholarship. Whitmarsh and State Farm donated $500 and SCFAA donated $1,000 for the scholarship.

Along with football, Davis is a track and field athlete and is a member of the Black Student Alliance and DECA, a nonprofit career and technical student organization. He is enrolled in an entrepreneurship dual enrollment class to establish his first college credit prior to graduation. Davis has beeen accepted at several colleges but has yet to make a decision.

"We want to help players reach their full potential both on and off the field," SCFAA President Marlon Dubuisson said in a statement. "There will be a time when players play their last snap of football. We want to make sure they are set up to be educated, employable, and come back with the drive to give back to the South County community and join the next class of successful South County football alumni."

Davis said at the awards banquet that his experience as a high school football player has helped him to focus on achieving goals and taught him the value of a strong work ethic. Eight out of the 20 seniors on the football team applied for the scholarship, the first year that the SCFAA has awarded one.

The alumni association is already deciding on how to raise money for next year's scholarship. Whitmarsh has pledged to make a $10 donation for each non-State Farm insurance household that gets an auto State Farm insurance quote from him in February and March. Whitmarsh can be reached at his office at 7217 Lockport Place, Suite 100 in Lorton or by phone at 703-372-1964.