Wade Edwards, the son of John Edwards-the former Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards, suddenly became a hot search in internet after to his mother's death, Elizabeth Edwards, on Tuesday 6 November 2010.
Wade died in a car accident on April 1996 at the age of 16. At that time he was a high school student at Needham B. Broughton High School in Raleigh, North Carolina. He died three weeks before after attending the awards ceremony for a national essay for high school students co-sponsored by the Voice of America and National Endowment for the Humanities. He was a finalist in that contest.
As An honor student, a winner of national, state, and local writing awards, a high school athlete, an editor of the yearbook, and a cherished friend, Wade is an example of excellence, compassion, and character.
In addition to his academic accomplishments, Wade participated for over ten years at various levels with the Capital Area Soccer League. He attended Woodberry Forest Sports Camp, the Colorado Outward Bound School, and every home basketball game of the University of North Carolina Tar Heels. He went white water rafting in Arizona and fly-fishing in Colorado. And he taught his family -- and many of his friends -- how to use a computer.
In the summer of 1995, he and his father successfully climbed the difficult Machame and Shira route to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, at 19,343 feet the highest peak in Africa. Matt Leonard, a friend who climbed with them, later became the first Director of the Wade Edwards Learning Lab.
Wade worked after school for his father's law firm, Edwards & Kirby, and he participated in Broughton High School's community service program, working for the Wake Education Partnership, the Daniels Middle School Parent-Teacher Association, political campaigns, and Broughton High School.
Senator Helms, whom Wade met in March 1996, gave a eulogy for Wade on the floor of the United States Senate. The local newpaper, the News and Observer, wrote a tender editorial about Wade's death called "A Great Kid."
In Wade's name, members of the community helped Wade's family and friends establish the Wade Edwards Foundation for the purpose of motivating, inspiring, and rewarding young people.
There have been other tributes to Wade as well. His sister, Cate, who had just turned 14 when Wade died, wrote a poem in his memory. His friend, then student body president-elect Hayes Permar, wrote a song. Another song was written and recorded by Indoor Storm. Wade's elementary school planted a tree in his name at the school and placed a memory brick in their walk. The Junior Classical League renamed their spring gathering as Attic Night, in recognition of Wade's Latin name, Atticus. The Latipac, Broughton's yearbook, now gives an annual award in Wade's name, and the 1997 yearbook was dedicated to his memory. The Capital Area Soccer League memorialized him in the program of the 1996 Shoot Out. Jim Jenkins, a columnist for the News and Observer, wrote "Wade's Legacy of Wisdom and Love."
The North Carolina Trial Lawyers Association renamed the state moot court competition. It is now called the Wade Edwards High School Mock Court Competition, drawing participants from all over the state competing for the privilege of representing the state at the national high school moot court competition. The 1999 winners, from Douglas Byrd High School in Fayetteville, finished fifth nationally, North Carolina's best showing ever.
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