Meet our deserving winners and read their bios
= multi-year scholarships awarded
2013 Winners
Chase Brown (AAO '13) was seriously injured with a ruptured spleen when playing starting cornerback at Winter Haven High School during the last practice before the first game of his freshman year of football. After emergency surgery and two weeks in the hospital, his sporting life was changed forever. All sports were off-limits for the remainder of his high school years and fresh and salt-water fishing became his passion. He has worked various jobs during high school and now owns his own fishing boat. Chase will attend the University of South Florida in Tampa, FL and work as a manager of the football team this fall.
Alex Wagman
Hunter Ratcliffe (AAO ’13) of Lake Region High School was the first pediatric heart transplant patient on the west coast of Florida at All Children’s Hospital in 1995, one month after his birth. This momentous event was only the beginning of the hardships and miracles in his life. At a young age, he also experienced 20% hearing loss and speech problems that were partially corrected at All Children’s Hospital. When he was ten (10) years old, while playing soccer, Hunter began experiencing acute heart rejection for the first time. This adversity was finally corrected with medicine and homebound sterile isolation for six (6) months. During his four (4) high school years, he was named as a Florida State Finalist in “Illustrative Talk” competition, kicked for the varsity football team and was named All-County 2nd team, played goalie for the varsity soccer team and captained the tennis team. Also, throughout this time, he experienced more rejection issues and the progressive stage of coronary heart disease. These problems have been cared for and Hunter will attend Webber International University in Lake Wales, FL this fall.
Alex Wagman
Deandre Thomas (AAO ’13) is the son of a single mother, living in a low-income community and has witnessed much unlawful activity over the school years. He has developed a well-grounded set of guidelines and principles taught to him by his mother. Deandre has excelled at Auburndale High School while playing football and he was named offensive team captain his senior year because of his strong leadership skills and outstanding play both his sophomore and junior years. In addition to football, he has been very active in high school student government organizations and city youth guidance groups dealing with drug prevention and delinquency. Deandre will attend Graceland University in Iowa and play football in the fall.
Alex Wagman
Chelsie Valentine (AAO ‘13) was extremely challenged emotionally when her high school softball teammates’ mother passed away after her five (5) year battle with cancer. Lauren Wagman and Chelsie shared softball pitching assignments all through Haines City High School and were neighbors and good friends. Coach Robin Wagman had a special relationship with Chelsie, thus making the unhappy experience very difficult and demoralizing. After much pain and sadness, Chelsie and Lauren pushed through the grief and sorrow and completed the softball season both winning many games. Chelsie will attend Warner University in Lake Wales, FL and pitch for their women’s softball team this fall.
Alex Wagman
