The Stand Up, Speak Up Sawyer Updike Memorial Scholarship Fund is honoring the legacy of a young leader by awarding scholarships to high school seniors who demonstrate courage in standing up for others. The first scholarship was awarded in April 2025.
Sheri Roberts Updike established the scholarship in memory of her son, Sawyer Updike, a 2023 graduate of Glenda Dawson High School. Sawyer was celebrated for his leadership qualities and involvement in sports and Boy Scouts before his untimely death during his freshman year at the University of Texas.
The scholarship aims to foster a community of young leaders willing to stand up and speak out for positive change. It is managed by Dawson High School and relies on contributions, currently providing about $1,500 per recipient.
Cornell Wesley, a scholarship recipient and student at Prairie View A&M University, shared his personal connection with Sawyer. "Receiving Sawyer's scholarship in his name means that I've gotten a chance to carry on his legacy and just continue doing what he was doing," said Wesley.
Wesley and Sawyer played on the same high school football team. "He was a leader on the team. He would get us ready for games. He was just the leader of the team," Wesley said.
Reflecting on the impact of Sawyer's death, Wesley expressed the sadness of losing such an upbeat and positive leader. "It's sad and about his leadership. He was just like, on the team. He would get our heads right and everything like that," he said.
When Wesley heard his name called for the scholarship, he was shocked and excited. "I was sitting there, and then I heard my name called, and I was just shocked at first, but then I realized, I was excited to, like, be able to carry on Sawyer's legacy," Wesley said.
Wesley also shared a personal experience of standing up for a friend being bullied. "People were just, like, joking around something like that. But you could tell it was kind of affecting him. So, you know, I was just telling everybody, maybe we should chill out," he said.
He encouraged students not to stay silent in the face of bullying. "I would say, don't be scared. Make sure you could find an adult or somebody of authority to tell about the situation," Wesley said.
The scholarship fund continues to honor Sawyer's legacy by encouraging young leaders to stand up for positive change.