Meet our deserving winners and read their bios
= multi-year scholarships awarded
2014 Winners
Dalton was a young teenager when he lost his older brother to a fatal accident. As he proceeded into high school he slowly came out of his traumatic shock and began to devote his academic and athletic efforts to honoring his deceased brother. He was inducted into the National Honor Society, graduated with high honors and was Captain of the varsity golf team his last two years of high school. He will be attending Polk State College in the fall.
Dustin found his love for volleyball when filming women's varsity volleyball games as a Freshman for Coach Robin Wagman. He was so interested in volleyball he practiced with the women's team and tried out and made an elite Orlando men's travel team his Junior and Senior years. This was necessary, because men's volleyball was not a scholastic team sport in Polk County Florida. He followed his dream of playing volleyball in high school even though the sport was not available. He graduated in the top 10% of his class and received a D-1 volleyball scholarship from North Greenville University for the fall.
Alex Wagman
Dustin found his love for volleyball when filming women's varsity volleyball games as a Freshman for Coach Robin Wagman. He was so interested in volleyball he practiced with the women's team and tried out and made an elite Orlando men's travel team his Junior and Senior years. This was necessary, because men's volleyball was not a scholastic team sport in Polk County Florida. He followed his dream of playing volleyball in high school even though the sport was not available. He graduated in the top 10% of his class and received a D-1 volleyball scholarship from North Greenville University for the fall.
Alex Wagman
Christopher worked and trained diligently in wrestling and weightlifting leading up to his senior year. In a summer wrestling tournament, he developed what was thought to be a minor hip injury. After two weeks of much pain and no relief, he returned to the hospital to be diagnosed with a broken back and bulging discs. His surgery and rehabilitation were successful, but he was never able to play high school sports again! A very disappointed Christopher devoted all his energies to coaching his peers and being team manager for his former teammates. He was awarded the highest Student Honor by his high school teachers and will be attending Polk State College this fall.
Alex Wagman
Melissa grew up in a single-parent home with six brothers and sisters. Her father worked three jobs to provide for them as the sole caretaker of the children. He was recently diagnosed with cancer, but after extensive treatments, he is now cancer-free. She has had to overcome these adversities throughout high school. Melissa has maintained a 3.6 GPA in high school, while also gaining 15 hours of college credits. She played varsity tennis for four years and Captained the school cheer squad. She will continue her college classes at Polk State College and hopes to soon transfer to Florida Gulf Coast University.
Alex Wagman
Amy lost her mother while in 5th grade and then lost her grandmother, who raised her all through school, just months before her senior year in high school. Through all of this adversity, Amy maintained an extremely positive outlook on life and overcame her unfortunate circumstances. She maintained a very high GPA, took Advanced Placement courses, was dual enrolled, and was Co-Captain of the tennis team for two years. She will be attending the University of South Florida in the fall.
Amy lost her mother while in 5th grade and then lost her grandmother, who raised her all through school, just months before her senior year in high school. Through all of this adversity, Amy maintained an extremely positive outlook on life and overcame her unfortunate circumstances. She maintained a very high GPA, took Advanced Placement courses, was dual enrolled, and was Co-Captain of the tennis team for two years. She will be attending the University of South Florida in the fall.
Rebecca's mother was diagnosed with cancer while she was in middle school. This was very traumatic for her and the family, since her father lost his job about the same time. Her mother is now a six-year survivor and her father is back working fulltime. After playing volleyball for Coach Robin Wagman as a Freshman, she had to play for three different high school varsity coaches after Coach Wagman lost her five-year battle with cancer. Rebecca fought through these personal adversities, graduated fourth in her IB School-East class and received a student-athlete scholarship from Rollins College for this fall.
