Wheeler receives recognition

Laguna Beach High 2004 graduate Jake Wheeler has been selected as the

West Region High School Scholar-Athlete of the Year for 2004 by the

National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame.

Wheeler had been honored as the top football scholar-athlete by

the NFL’s Orange County Chapter during an awards banquet held in

March. He was awarded a $2,000 scholarship from the organization in

recognition of his football and academic achievements and school and

community service.

The award honors the nation’s top four scholar-athletes who have

demonstrated outstanding academic application and performance,

superior football performance and exemplary school leadership and

citizenship during their high school career.

“I was stunned and really excited about getting this award,”

Wheeler said Wednesday from his dorm room at Emory University in

Atlanta, where he said he is leaning toward focusing his studies on

international relations.

Wheeler said he learned of his selection during a phone call from

his mother, Ginny, earlier this month.

“She called and said I had received a letter, and then read it

over the phone to me,” he said. “I couldn’t believe it. I was

flipping out. It was quite an honor. I still can’t believe it.”

Wheeler, an All-CIF receiver at Laguna in 2003, will represent the

west region’s 13 states, at the National Football Foundations’ annual

awards luncheon, a black-tie affair, on Dec. 7 at the Waldorf Astoria

in New York City.

During the luncheon, a formal induction of the 2004 College

Football Hall of Fame Class will take place and 15 college seniors

from across the nation will be honored as the foundation’s national

college scholar-athletes.

As guest of the foundation, Wheeler will be provided with

transportation and accommodations.

“My roommate is from New York, so he’s pretty excited for me,”

Wheeler said. “I’m looking at my finals dates down the road, and the

trip to New York City is right at that time. It’s going to be an

exciting time, that’s for sure.”