Benjamin Burke

Academic Achievement Award Honorable Mention

Throughout high school, I spent hundreds of hours of time to be the best saxophonist, lacrosse player, and student I could be, and am very grateful to be recognized by Charity for Champions. My friend and lacrosse mentor Gabe Villanueva won a Charity for Champions award two years ago, and I am enthused to continue what he started by earning recognition from the same organization two years later. I plan to Major in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Florida and continue the sport of lacrosse with UF’s MCLA team. I also intend to continue my path in music by remaining dedicated to the saxophone in UF’s Concert Bands. This scholarship will allow me to invest in my future, enabling me to be successful with less concern about financials. Thank you, Dr. Al DeSimone and the Charity for Champions Foundation for the scholarship and recognition!!!

Mariana Cote

Personal Achievement Award Honorable Mention

I am extremely honored and grateful for Dr. DeSimone and Charity for Champions for giving me this scholarship. It means the world to me to have received such a recognition for achieving my personal goals. Throughout my swimming career, there have been a lot of ups and downs in my personal life that have created obstacles in my career. However, those obstacles did not stop me from completing my first Olympic Cycle and going to the Panamerican Games in 2023. Today, am I able to say that I was capable of overcoming those challenges and it made me a better athlete and person. This scholarship will allow me to lessen my financial burden and reach my fullest potential in a D1 school. I plan to swim for the next four years in the University of Houston and complete my second Olympic cycle by qualifying to the Olympics in 2028 representing my country Venezuela. Onces again, thank you so much for granting me this scholarship. It is an honored to be recognized by Charity of Champions.

Lauren Medrano

Most Improved Player Award

Thank you, Dr. DeSimone and staff for selecting me as one of the recipients of this esteemed scholarship. I am truly honored. The impact of this scholarship goes beyond monetary value; it has helped to give me the confidence and resources to pursue my dream of attending Louisiana State University to study Marketing and Entrepreneurship. I am excited about the possibilities that lie ahead and will strive to make a positive impact in my field of study and society as a whole.

Nattakara Phariyaniticupt

Team Fellowship Award Honorable Mention

I am beyond honored to be selected as a Charity for Champions Scholarship recipient. In the fall, I plan to study a combined major in Computer Science and Business Administration at Northeastern University. This scholarship helps contribute to my learning of technological advancements and innovations. My goal is to develop software and platforms that provide utility and security that will change the world. I would like to thank Dr. DeSimone and the entire Charity for Champions organization for this generous award and support.

Andrew Lochrie

Raider Award Winner

My current plans are to attend the University of Colorado in the Exploratory Studies program. I am excited to have so many options to choose from at such a large university. I am looking forward to college because I have a sense of open opportunity and I can find whatever path feels most fitting. I have always planned on going to business school but am not sure that it’s the right choice. Choosing your path is important to develop skills but so many people end up choosing careers that differ from their degree so I try to not stress about it. Being recognized for a scholarship like this is a big deal as I feel a sense of accomplishment from a long year of hard work on the team. All four years at Saint Thomas I worked hard and put a lot of effort into transforming myself into a high-level varsity athlete. It feels amazing to have this scholarship as a reward for my hard work on the team and I will forever be grateful.

Connor Lowe

Raider Award Winner

I have committed to play football at Guilford College in Greensboro, NC. I plan to continue to live out my dream of playing football while continuing to get my education so I will be able to have a stable life after football is over. I will be majoring in sports management as I would like to stay connected to the game. This scholarship means a lot to me. It was an honor to be chosen! I’ve been a patient at this office a couple of years back due to a bruised knee bone and again when I broke my ankle. You and your staff helped me get back on the feet and back on the field, and I really appreciate you for that.

Michele Di Miele

Goodwill scholarship winner

I am planning in the future, to major in business in the University of Central Florida. I am going to continue progressing on my journey and trying to improve my gpa, grades, and I would like to continue playing soccer. This scholarship is going to allow me to relieved pressure from college by helping me pay my expenses, allowing me to put my full attention in improving as a person, as an athlete, and as a student. This scholarship is going to help me finance my goals and future aspirations. I am very grateful for this opportunity and trust given to me through this scholarship.

Abigail Juskiewicz

Team Fellowship Award Winner

I am incredibly honored and blessed to have been recognized and to receive the Team Fellowship Award from Charity for Champions. This award will aid me as I begin college at the University of Central Florida where I will pursue a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology. Upon completing my bachelor’s degree, I hope to then continue my studies and earn my doctorate in Physical Therapy. This scholarship will help relieve some of the financial burden and help me focus more on my studies. I know the lessons I have learned through my academic and athletic career will help me and carry on into the next chapter of my life. Thank you for your generosity and support Dr. DeSimone and Charity for Champions.

Alexandra Morales

Athletic Achievement Award Winner

I am incredibly honored and grateful to be selected as the recipient for the Athletic Achievement Award. I would like to thank Dr. Al DeSimone and the Charity for Champions organization for their support and recognition. I am grateful for the recognition of my “outstanding team participation, leadership skills and sportsmanship” because I believe that these are attributes that are so important in building strong families, engaged communities, and moral societies. I strive to further develop these attributes throughout my college experience and beyond. In the fall, I will be attending the University of Michigan where I will continue my rowing career and plan to major in Biomedical Engineering. With a biomedical engineering degree, I hope to pursue research in schizophrenia, a disease that currently does not have a cure. With extensive research, I hope to find a possible cure, treatment, and/or enough research for others to build upon.

Katrina Modesti

Artistic Achievement Award Winner

Thank you immensely for choosing me as one of the recipients of your scholarship. With your help, I’ll be better able to continue in my sport in college alongside my other passions. I’ll be studying my English major and attending sport practice much easier now, knowing I’ll have less of a financial burden on my shoulders. During the equestrian competing season, I’ll be able to pay entry fees without a problem. For that, I am eternally grateful.

Jack Rego

Personal Achievement Award Winner

In the fall I plan on attending Colorado State University. My idea is to major in business for now, but my plan is to change my major to Forestry and become a part time firefighter in the mountains and forests of Colorado. I aspire to minor in something similar to animal sciences as well. Alongside my studies, I am going to be playing lacrosse for Colorado State where I will try to make an impact on my teammates and coaches through my leadership and dedication. I want to continue to serve my community and inspire those to become the best version of themselves as possible. Receiving the Personal Achievement Award from Charity for Champions means more to me than just receiving an award. To me, It is not just about the award and the title, it is an accomplishment that proves I am capable of persevering through any challenges to get to my end goal. This scholarship allows me to move forward in my education and brings me closer to my future aspirations.

Annabella Maldonado

Medical Interest Award Winner

As I look ahead to my future, I am deeply committed to pursuing a career in nursing with a specialization in anesthesiology. This path represents my passion for providing compassionate care and ensuring the comfort and well-being of patients undergoing medical procedures. The Charity for Champions Scholarship holds significant meaning for me as it not only supports my academic endeavors but also aligns with my values of service and community involvement. This scholarship provides me with the opportunity to focus on my studies and pursue my dream of becoming a skilled anesthesiologist without the burden of financial stress. With this support, I am determined to excel in my academic pursuits, gain invaluable clinical experience, and ultimately make a positive impact in the field of healthcare. I am grateful for the generosity of the Charity for Champions Scholarship and am eager to embark on this journey towards realizing my professional goals.