NEED TO KNOW
Auburn University student James “Weston” Higginbotham was found dead last week while on a family trip to Japan
Now his mom is remembering how he changed their lives and the memories of him they will carry forward
A scholarship in his name was also created at Auburn
The family of Auburn University student James “Weston” Higginbotham is paying tribute to how he changed their lives — and the memories of him they will carry forward — as they announced the creation of a scholarship in his honor following his death while on vacation in Japan.
In a statement on social media on Wednesday, June 10, Nancy Higginbotham remembered her 20-year-old son as a proud vegan who cared about the environment and sustainability.
“Weston had an adventurous spirit whether it was skiing fearlessly right up to the point of wiping out, hitting big jumps on his mountain bike, or hiking Yosemite, the Pyrenees Mountains, Camino de Santiago, and the Swiss Alps,” Nancy wrote. “If there was sunshine and outdoor adventure to be had, he was there.”
“In his family, Weston was the adventure leader and his family followed without reservation knowing he researched the best camping spot, hidden overlook, or the most authentic restaurant and could navigate most often with only a paper map,” she continued.
Weston went on a trip last month with his family to celebrate younger brother Grayton’s high school graduation, his family has said. They arrived in Japan on May 22 and in Kyoto three days later.
On the evening of May 29, Nancy previously said, she and Weston argued over her use of ChatGPT to plan the trip so Weston decided to explore the area on his own while the family continued their visit to a temple.
Authorities have said that Weston was on a train around 8:15 p.m. local time and got off at Yamashina station in Kyoto, according to his family. His phone soon lost connection and tracking ability through the Life360 app. Messages and calls were also not going through to his phone.
Weston Higginbotham
Credit: nancy higginbotham/Facebook
During the search for her son, Nancy shared updates on Facebook. On June 6, she confirmed in a social media post that Weston’s body was found “by a volunteer search-and-rescue group in a mountainous area outside of Kyoto.”
His cause of death has not been disclosed, but no foul play is suspected.
In her Wednesday tribute, Nancy wrote that her younger son looked up to Weston as the two brothers both shared interests in running, climbing, music and fashion.
“Weston didn’t treat [Grayton] as an annoying younger brother but instead included him into his friend group,” Nancy wrote.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
She also highlighted Weston’s love for music and sense of adventure that included him studying abroad and competing in a half marathon.
“People who met Weston loved him and he loved them right back,” she wrote. “He was inclusive to everyone and had lifelong friends from all backgrounds and walks of life. He was kind and respectful to others with a quick yes ma’am or no ma’am always in his back pocket. If a friend, neighbor, or stranger needed a helping hand, he was the kind of person who showed up without hesitation.”
Weston studied biosystems engineering with a focus on sustainability at Auburn, where he worked for its research department, Nancy wrote.
He was also a member of the school’s climbing and triathlon teams and had planned to visit Bolivia in August to oversee a water distribution project at a local village.
In addition to Nancy and Grayton, Weston is survived by his father, Keith, and other extended family.
“He was so kind and loved his family and friends and felt most grounded in nature,” Nancy wrote.
Instead of flowers, mourners can make a donation to the James “Weston” Higginbotham Endowed Scholarship for ecological engineering at Auburn, according to Nancy.
Weston’s visitation and funeral service are scheduled for June 17 in Birmingham, Ala., she wrote.
And, she wrote, “To honor Weston’s memory, take a walk at a state park, eat a vegan meal this week, stop and admire the sunset, tell those close to you how much you love them, and reduce the noise in your life.”
Read the original article on People