The tragic reality of death is built in to the human experience, but that doesn’t make handling loss any easier, especially during such formative years as high school.
For Jake Parker, the now graduate of Valwood School and former quarterback for their 2015 state championship winning football team, it was the loss of his older brother, Austin, that awakened him to this reality. Despite fulfilling his dream to live in Montana, Austin made a fatal error while hiking up Electric Peak in Yellowstone National Park. Since that day almost three years ago, nothing has been the same for Jake and the rest of the Parker family.
But due to the remarkable character and resiliency of this young man, Jake’s story is one of not just pain, grief, and sorrow, but one of determination, perseverance, and triumph. No challenge, whether athletic or otherwise, was ever too large for him to overcome with the support of his faith, family, and the game of football.
To view Jake’s full story click here!
A Mountain to Climb
June 2016
Written by Cole Parker
Photography by Marque Milla Reese
