Chance Shaw

Extraordinary Community Service Award Winner

I am extremely grateful to have been awarded the Extraordinary Community Service Award by Dr. Al DeSimone’s Charity for Champions Foundation. This scholarship will help ease the burden of college tuition, allowing me to dedicate myself to my education at Florida International University, where I will be majoring in Civil Engineering. I am excited to pursue a career focused on planning and designing infrastructure and environmental systems, where I can positively impact society. Thank you again to Dr. DeSimone and the Charity for Champions Foundation for this incredible opportunity.

Chancelin Dixon

Team Fellowship Award Winner

I first want to thank the Charity for Champion’s organization for granting me the Team Fellowship Award. As someone who does multiple activities simultaneously, it is motivating seeing that I was recognized for such an award. Being around different people across my activities has made me an open-minded and flexible person. Despite my own self-doubt, I still find myself encouraging the people around me because I value the importance of a strong community, and I’m proud to say I’m a contributor to that at West Broward High School. I will be attending Florida International University majoring in neuroscience in the following fall. I will continue using the qualities that were highlighted for this award in my college life, which I’m very excited about! Once again, thank you Charity for Champions for this wonderful award.

Nicolas Posada-Tamayo

Academic Achievement Award Winner

I am extremely grateful for my selection as a 2025 Charity for Champions award winner. With this scholarship, I will be able to pursue my education in mathematics and economics at the University of Chicago where I will seek to engage in socioeconomic research both in the US and abroad.

Alivia Artanis

Athletic Achievement Award Winner

Receiving this scholarship means the world to me and my family. I am incredibly honored to be one of the 19 students at West Broward High School selected for Dr. DeSimone’s Charity of Champions Scholarship. This generous scholarship brings me one step closer to achieving my dreams as I head out of state to attend Queens University of Charlotte, North Carolina, where I will study Sports Communication and play Division 1 Softball. To me, sports are more than just a game—they represent teamwork, resilience, goal setting, and a likeminded purpose. At Queens, I look forward to incredible opportunities, including working with ESPN representatives, collaborating with local professional teams, and even studying abroad to share my love for sports on a global stage. Thank you again for investing in my future and helping me turn my passion into purpose. Because of the Charity of Champions, I am one step closer to achieving my dreams.

Jackson Hagner

Athletic Achievement Award Honorable Mention

After I graduate high school, I will pursue a degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Central Florida. I also plan to continue playing sports in college whether it is at the collegiate level or through intramural. This scholarship is important to me because it shows that people recognize the hard work I have put in to be able to compete in the sports I love. I have really enjoyed competing in soccer, football, and volleyball in high school and hope that I can have the same opportunities in college. Thank you for awarding me this scholarship.

Madison Weidler

Medical Interest Award Winner

I am honored to be able to receive the Medical Interest Award from Charity for Champions. Being selected for this scholarship is a meaningful recognition of both my academic pursuits and my passion for community service, particularly as it relates to the medical field. My future plans include getting a four year degree at The University of Miami in Microbiology and Immunology and pursuing a future at medical school. This scholarship will help fund my undergraduate and pursue further education at medical school. I am so thankful to Dr. DeSimone and the Charity for Champions team for this amazing opportunity! Your support not only motivates me but also inspires me to continue working hard and giving back through the field of medicine.

Danielle Oz

Personal Achievement Award Winner

It is an incredible honor to receive the Personal Achievement Award from Dr. DeSimone’s Charity for Champions. Being recognized not only for my academic or athletic achievements but also my character, strength and resilience means the world to me and provides me with the comfort that I’m doing something right. Thank you for providing such a generous scholarship which will help cover the costs of my tuition and bring me one step closer to achieving my future endeavors. My future plans include attending Florida State University to study biomedical engineering, going on to medical school, and becoming a surgeon, while also playing basketball for the school’s club team.

Jacob Lopez

Athletic Achievement Award Honorable Mention

I am so thankful to be selected as an honorable mention recipient for the Athletic Achievement Award. This recognition means a great deal to me, and I am truly honored that Dr. DeSimone’s Charity for Champions has recognized my leadership and athletic abilities during my time with CBHS Football, and my academic achievements throughout high school. I have always wanted to promote physical wellness among others and pursuing a career in Physical Therapy will allow me to help fellow athletes improve their physical functions and live a better, healthier life. Receiving a scholarship award from Charity of Champions will provide me a head start in my college career, which will definitely bring me one step closer to my goal of achieving a Doctorate degree in Physical Therapy.

Richard Compton

Raider Award Winner

My plans future plans are to excel at Florida State University and earn a finance degree. I eventually plan to venture into investment banking and day trading on the side. Receiving this scholarship was a true honor. It caught me by surprise that someone was doing this out of the kindness of their heart for me. I thank you guys so much!

Eli Collin

Goodwill Scholarship Winner

I plan to study business administration in Tallahassee for college. I am thankful for the opportunity to win this scholarship to help me further my education opportunities. I am also honored to be recognized amongst some of the greatest student athletes in the county that have also won a scholarship from Charity for Champions. I hope my story pushes other student athletes like me to prioritize school and be a helpful hand in the community just as much as how they dominate their sport.

Tyrique Williams

Raider Award Winner

First I’d like to start by saying thank you for this scholarship opportunity, it is truly a blessing for my family, especially since I am planning to go to an out of state college; it will help reduce some of the out of state fees I will incur. This recognition means so much because it literally describes who I am and what I’ve gone through in a nutshell. From injuries, surgical procedures, being let down by my high school coaches, not being able to experience life with a father because mine died when I was only 4 months old, being raised by a single mother, making a way through financial struggles, and always having to be strong, prove myself, work hard, being self motivated, and disciplined-I have overcome so much adversity! To answer your question regarding my future plans, at one on point they were to obtain a full ride football scholarship to a D1 school, however, due to the football season not going as planned I did not get that opportunity. I’m not someone who gives up easily, so I plan to work hard during my first year of college, get my body strong and healthy as it needs to be, and try out to possibly walk onto Alabama A&M’s football team. I have majored in Animal-Bio Health Science because my back up plan is to be a Veterinarian; I love animals and taking care of them is the only other thing can see myself doing, outside of playing football. Whatever direction God leads me in, I will follow. I’m just happy to be alive, happy to have full control of all my limbs and bodily functions, happy to be in my right mind despite what I’ve endured, and blessed to be given opportunities such as this. Thank you for everything!

Agam Gago

Medical Interest Award Honorable Mention

This scholarship is a significant boost as I pursue my bachelor’s degree at Florida Gulf Coast University. My goal is to become a registered Physician Assistant, so I can give back by helping others, just like I’ve been helped. This recognition not only eases the financial burden but also motivates me to work even harder toward achieving my dreams in medicine.

Courtney Jensen

Most Improved Athlete Award Winner

I’d like to start by thanking Dr. DeSimone, Selena. and the whole Charity for Champions team for providing me with this opportunity to help lessen the stress and financial burden as I head to play Division 1 Beach Volleyball. I will be attending University of North Carolina at Wilmington in the fall where I plan to major in biology to later become a trauma doctor, working in the emergency room to provide care for those who underwent traumatic injuries or need immediate help. This scholarship allows me to focus on becoming the best version of myself as a student athlete and I will continue to pursue the ideals that this award embodies. I am so blessed and honored to have been chosen for the Most Improved Athlete Award and a thank you again to everyone who has made it happen!

Natalia Ortiz

Leadership Award Honorable Mention

I wanted to first start off by saying thank you for the recognition and the scholarship, it truly means a lot to me and is a part of the testament to the work I put in high school. Knowing that the late nights and early mornings practicing my sport and staying up to study were able to pay off through this scholarship is refreshing. The fact that my leadership roles were able to be recognized also means that the work I put into becoming a leader and being a leader for my sports teams did not go unrecognized. I plan to attend Florida State University in the fall and will continue swimming and playing water polo through sports clubs there. I want to continue to be a natural leader on the pool deck and create an amazing environment at Florida State! Thank you again for this scholarship.

Michael Bergstrom

Leadership Award Winner

Thank you so much for selecting me as the recipient of the Leadership Award! I plan on attending the University of Florida in the fall to study Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering. I hope to continue on to graduate school after that. This scholarship is a great honor to receive and makes me extremely proud as it shows my involvement in soccer has helped me, as well as my nonprofit, the Fort Lauderdale Book Fair, in leading others and making a positive impact in my community. Thank you so much for this recognition