How do high school students who have faced the unthinkable in their young lives find the motivation to take their next step?
Without positive adult role models… many simply will not!
With the numerous social and cultural challenges facing our students today, it is all too easy for them to be knocked off course, “slip through the cracks,” and fail at life before they even get started. Some kids are lucky because they are athletes who have the benefit of support from their teammates and most importantly – their coach. Coaches may be the only positive adult relationship in a student’s life, serving as a mentor, advisor, confidant, and advocate.
“Against All Odds Scholarship Foundation” recipients are student-athletes who have maintained their high academic and athletic performance despite facing a significant personal challenge such as debilitating illness or disease, physical disability, tragic accident or loss, extreme poverty, domestic violence, or parental abandonment.
Despite extraordinary circumstances, these individuals refused to be beaten and have endured, thrived, and inspired their peers, teachers, counselors, and coaches. They have demonstrated a strong spirit, enduring determination, courage, and the will to continue taking that next step, and the one after that, and the one after that, in order to live their lives to the fullest
The mission of the Against All Odds Scholarship Foundation, Inc. is to honor the achievements of high school senior student-athletes by awarding college scholarships in recognition of their perseverance in the face of adversity.
Our vision is to help create the future leaders by enabling our exceptional senior student-athletes to continue their academic achievement and community service in a college or university setting.
Against All Odds Scholarship Foundation, Inc. awards college scholarships to worthy senior student-athletes who have overcome extreme adversity during their lives.
With the numerous social and cultural challenges facing our students today, it is all too easy for them to be knocked off course, “slip through the cracks”, and fail at life before they even get started. Some kids are lucky because they are athletes who have the benefit of support from their teammates and most importantly – their coach. Coaches may be the only positive adult relationship in a student’s life, serving as a mentor, advisor, confidant, and advocate.
Against All Odds Scholarship recipients are senior student-athletes who have maintained their high academic and athletic performance despite facing a significant personal challenge such as debilitating illness or disease, physical disability, tragic accident or loss.
Despite extraordinary circumstances, these individuals refused to be beaten and have endured, thrived, and inspired their peers, teachers, counselors, and coaches. They have demonstrated a strong spirit, enduring determination, courage, and the will to continue taking that next step, and the one after that, and the one after that, in order to live their lives to the fullest.
• 73 Scholarships Awarded
• 80 Scholarship Renewals
• 17 Hall Of Fame (HOF) Award Winners
• 19 High Schools Represented
(All Saints, ASHS, BSHS, HCHS, HCHS-IB, Gause Academy-Bartow, GJHS, Harrison School of the Arts, KSHS, LGSHS, LWHS, Santa Fe Catholic Academy, SHS, PSGCCHS, MSHS, McKeel Academy, RCHS, WHHS, PSLCHS, PSCLCHS).
• 9 Cities Represented
(Auburndale, Bartow, Davenport, Haines City, Lakeland, Kissimmee, Lake Wales, Mulberry, Winter Haven).
• Total Amount Scholarships Awarded $153,500
[Data to be updated annually, starting with Spring 2021 graduating class.]
AAO Scholarships will be presented annually after spring graduations in May and June.
As finances permit, scholarships will be renewable each year, provided the student maintains an over-all >3.0 GPA and at least >12 hours of course credit each semester. Scholarship recipients also must continue to demonstrate the moral ideals of integrity, conviction, and leadership fostered by the AAO Foundation. The AAO Scholarship is an enduring award and recipient names will be engraved on the AAO Plaques that will be displayed on the HCHS “Wall of Fame.”
Scholarship applicants must be senior student-athletes who exemplify courage and persistence in the face of hardship or adversity. Maintaining high academic standards and sportsmanship, despite facing any number of personal challenges, is essential. “AAO Scholarship” applications are due on the third Thursday of May each year and can be completed online or down-loaded, printed and mailed.
The “AAO Scholarship” is a stepping-stone to lead these amazing senior students-athletes along the path to college. Every year countless high school student-athletes face challenges that for many would be debilitating, but a remarkable few are driven to work harder, overcome these challenges, and achieve success in the classroom and on the playing field.
The AAO Foundation desires to assist these outstanding senior student-athletes with high GPAs, distinguished varsity athletic careers, and school leadership positions to continue their education. Worthy applicants will be able to better afford tuition, housing, meals and books to attend college with the support of the AAO Foundation.
Please join us and help support our efforts to make it possible for these extraordinary young individuals to enter collage and continue their paths to successful and productive lives.
Individual and corporate sponsors who discover the AAO Scholarship Foundation mission and vision meaningful to them and are moved to action will be acknowledged for their generous contributions. Those who volunteer their valuable time to planning and implementing fundraising outings also will be recognized.
Individuals and corporations interested in becoming a donor and support the AAO Scholarship Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit Florida corporation, may send contributions made payable to the AAO Foundation.
This project was funded in part by an Impact Polk grant from the George W. Jenkins Fund within the GiveWell Community Foundation.
The Stephens Family
The Weeks Family
Thank you for providing each and every worthy student-athlete the opportunity to attend college and become the future leaders of our communities.