Meet our deserving winners and read their bios
= multi-year scholarships awarded
2012 Winners
Destynee Arnold was a admirable student-athlete AAO Scholarship winner in June of 2012 after graduating from Winter Haven High School. She had a brilliant GPA over the 4 years of high school while trying to overcome a season ending knee injury during the basketball playoffs. Through it all, she succeeded in a masterful way to continue to lead the Winter Haven High School women’s team to a remarkable year of play. Upon becoming an AAO Hall of Fame Winner, Destynee graduated from Southeastern University in Lakeland, FL in April 2017 with a Bachelor’s degree in Biology. She qualified for the Dean’s List at SEU by graduating with a 3.5 GPA, while balancing academics along with participating on the Varsity basketball team. She is currently enrolled in the doctorate program at the University of South Florida College of Pharmacy as she pursues her dream of becoming a pharmacist. At USF, she is a member of the Kappa Epsilon Professional Pharmacy Fraternity as well as the Pediatric Pharmacy Advocacy Group, where she currently serves as the Treasurer. While in pharmacy school, Destynee is also an employee for Publix as a Pharmacy Intern.
Alex Wagman
Luke Ewles was a praiseworthy student-athlete AAO Scholarship winners in June of 2012 after graduating from Winter Haven High School. He produced an exceeding high GPA all 4 years and was inducted into the NHS his junior year. He sustained a season ending football injury early in his senior season. After a long and difficult rehabilitation, he made and started on the varsity baseball team even though he had not played since little league.
Alex Wagman
Justin Johnson was a most worthy student-athlete AAO Scholarship winner in June of 2012 after graduating from All Saints Academy in Winter Haven. He upheld an extremely high GPA all 4 years, member of NHS and was the all-sports student manager each year and will be a member of the University of Alabama wheelchair basketball team. He has greatly persevered and flourished in spite of his physical challenges.
Alex Wagman
LaDerricka Spillman was a most creditable student-athlete AAO Scholarship winners in June of 2012 after graduating from Haines City High School. She generated a very amazing GPA over the 4 years of high school while experiencing many sad memories of the tragic death of her older brother in college. Through all her emotional pain, she managed to inspirationally lead the HCHS women’s basketball team to district and regional championships and a state final four qualifier her senior year.
Alex Wagman
Kayla Sundean KS was a laudable student-athlete AAO Scholarship winners in June of 2012 after graduating from International Baccalaureate School-Bartow. She sustained an exceeding high GPA all 4 year at the IB School and further distinguished herself by coming back from a near career ending injury her junior year to Captain the WVB team to a Regional Championship and receive all-county honors her senior year.
Alex Wagman
Brianna Whitman was a most commendable student-athlete AAO Scholarship winner in June of 2012 after graduating from George Jenkins High School-Lakeland. She created a very extraordinary GPA all 4 years and was inducted into the NHS. She sustained an almost season ending muscle tear injury that interrupted her competitive synchronized swimming schedule her senior season. After an extensive and difficult recuperation, she persevered and returned to competition to lead the team to many district medals.
After high school, she went to Florida State University where I got a degree in Retail, Merchandising, & Product Development and graduated in April 2016. During her time at FSU, she participated in the Marching Chiefs Color-guard for 2 years and re-established the Tarpon Synchronized Swimming Club she senior year. Last year she was awarded the Florida Sport Foundation’s 2016 Female Athlete of the Year.
She currently lives in Nashville and works for Ancient Nutrition as their Executive Assistant. After her injury in high school, she found therapy through running. She has since then run 4 half marathons, a handful of shorter distance races, and will be doing her first Triathlon this summer.
Alex Wagman
