Marques Hampton Photo Courtesy of Roanoke.com

One year ago today, incoming Virginia Tech football recruit, Marques Hampton and his mother, Antoinette Hampton, were tragically killed in an automobile accident on I-81 near Roanoke, Virginia.  The Hamptons had been to freshman orientation at Virginia Tech, and were returning home to Virginia Beach when the accident occurred.

Marques Hampton, a standout athlete at Tallwood High School in Virginia Beach, where he earned the 1998 All-Tidewater Football Player of the Year award following his senior year, had been offered numerous full football scholarships from Div 1-AA schools.  He was also being actively recruited by Virginia Tech Assistant Coach Bryan Stinespring.  Due to scholarship number limitations, Coach Stinespring didn't have a full grant-in-aid to offer Marques.  He did, however, have an opportunity.  The opportunity was to come to Virginia Tech as a "recruited walk-on" and compete as a member of a major Div 1-A football program, and earn his full scholarship.  This opportunity would allow Marques to pursue his dream of playing Div 1-A college football, and he wanted deeply to pursue that dream at Virginia Tech.  In his heart, his soul, and his dreams, Marques Hampton knew he was meant to be a Hokie.

Every source I've spoken with regarding Marques Hampton were all in complete agreement that this young man definitely would have earned that scholarship, and would have been a significant contributor to the success of the football team, as well as a fine student-athlete and ambassador for Virginia Tech.

Following the tragic accident last year, the Marques Hampton Memorial Scholarship was established by Virginia Tech.  The endowed scholarship will be awarded this year to a football player at Virginia Tech who exemplifies the characteristics of academic success, athletic promise and a strong sense of family and faith.   The memorial scholarship has been active for approximately one year, and has been funded in part by donations, as well as individual game and walk-up ticket sales from the Hokies football game last year against James Madison.

However, the scholarship is only approximately one-third funded after one year.  I have been assured by the Virginia Tech Athletic Fund that the scholarship will be awarded this year to a current player, but the need to completely fund the memorial scholarship remains a top priority.

Please consider taking the opportunity to make a donation to the Marques Hampton Memorial Scholarship.  Donations can be made to the scholarship through the Virginia Tech Athletic Fund, 504 Cassell Coliseum, Blacksburg, Va., 24061.  For more detailed information, contact Lu Merritt, Director of Development for the VTAF, at (540)231-6618, or by e-mail.

And finally, please take a moment, if you are so inclined, to send out a little thought of prayer for the surviving Hampton family members to help them find the strength to make it through this most difficult time of year.

And to Marques and Antoinette, you're gone but you will never be forgotten by your Virginia Tech family.

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