Craig Perry 

Extraordinary Community Service Award Winner

This fall, I will be attending the University of Florida and majoring in Economics. I am looking forward to this next chapter of my life and am excited to pick my classes, join clubs, and attend some Gator games. I also plan on continuing to volunteer and find ways to give back to my community.Receiving this scholarship will help me pay for my studies and continue my education. It also made me feel that all my hard work in the classroom and on the court was worthwhile. I am so grateful for this honor and humbled to be recognized. Thank you Dr. DeSimone and team for your generosity and support. 

Gabriella Antmann 

Academic Achievement Award Winner

I am incredibly grateful and honored to have received the Academic Achievement Award from Charity for Champions. This award will aid me as I continue my studies, pursuing a degree in microbiology and cell sciences at the University of Florida. Upon completing my bachelor’s degree, I hope to attend medical school and pursue a career as a physician. During my time as band captain, I have learned that one of the most profound forms of success one can achieve is impacting others, and the way that Dr. DeSimone and Charity for Champions contribute to the goodwill of their community is something that I find extremely admirable. I intend to pay it forward and continue positively impacting others through my participation in the medical field.

Jessica Mendieta

Personal Achievement Award Winner

I would like to begin by thanking Dr.DeSimone and his staff for this opportunity. My motivation to do better in college has been boosted by this scholarship and what it represents. I am excited to use this scholarship to pursue my psychology degree at Florida International University.  I plan to major in psychology with a Minor in criminology, and later on get a bachelor’s degree in Forensic psychology. I plan to make a positive impact in my field, and this scholarship will significantly help me cover the cost of my education, allowing me to focus on my studies and achieve my goals. While in college I want to get involved in different clubs, and reach my highest academic potential, and this scholarship will grant me the opportunity to focus on that. While it was hard to balance clubs, sports, and school, this scholarship made it worth it. Thank you again to the Team of Charity for Champions for granting me this award. 

Samuel Correia

Artistic Achievement Award Winner

It is a great honor to receive the Artistic Achievement Award. I plan to attend the University of Central Florida’s Burnett Honors College in the fall, pursuing studies in computer science and applied linguistics. Art and creativity will follow me wherever I go, and I will use those skills to leave the world better than I found it. A thousand thank you’s to the Charity for Champions and Dr. DeSimone. This scholarship opens up a lot of opportunities, and will go a long way in helping me afford and achieve my academic goals.

Haoran Shi

Leadership Award Winner

I’d like to begin by expressing that I am so incredibly honored to receive this award. Thank you so much to Dr. DeSimone, Selena. and the whole Charity for Champions team for providing me with this opportunity and resource that will lessen my financial burden as I head to college. I will be attending the University of Florida to study Statistics and Computer Science in the fall, where I will continue to use the knowledge, I gain to help under-supported demographics pursue a future career in STEM. I am so thankful for receiving such a scholarship that not only recognizes my efforts throughout high school, but also who I am as a person. I will definitely continue leading and supporting my community, thank you Charity for Champions!

Carson Tolbert

Team Fellowship Award Winner

I am so grateful to be able to be awarded this scholarship by Charity for Champions! Getting the Team Fellowship Award I feel demonstrates what I was able to accomplish in my years as a student and athlete at West Broward High School. I’ve strived for excellence in everything I do and even when I fail, get back up again and continue to do my best. Champions are doing things others don’t, and sometimes doing those extra things is what brings a champion out in me. I cannot wait to continue to work and grow in the coming years of my life! After I finish high school in a couple of weeks, in the end of July, I will leave my home for 2 years to serve a mission for my Church in Antigua, Guatemala. I will teach people about Jesus Christ, and what we know to be true. I will also be a source for good in the community and serve others to the best of my ability while I’m there. After the completion of my mission, I will attend Brigham Young University (BYU), in Provo, Utah. I will study Entrepreneurship, and Business Administration. I cannot wait! Once again, thanks for being honored for the selection of this Scholarship!

Nicholas Vazquez

Athletic Achievement Award Winner

I am incredibly grateful and honored to receive the prestigious Athletic Achievement Award. Growing up, sports have been a central part of my life, shaping who I am today. From a young age, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in sports medicine. This passion has led me to further my education at Florida State University, where I plan to major in athletic training with a pre-med focus. My ultimate goal is to attend medical school and become an orthopedic surgeon, so I can serve my community just like Dr. DeSimone. His dedication and expertise have been a significant inspiration to me and many members of this community. I am incredibly thankful to Dr. DeSimone and the entire Charity for Champions organization for presenting me with this award. It not only recognizes my past achievements but also supports my future aspirations. This award will help me continue to chase my dreams and make a positive impact in the field of sports medicine. I am excited about the opportunities ahead and committed to giving back to the community that has supported me throughout my journey.

Cyrus Dhabhar

Goodwill Scholarship Honorable Mention

My grandfather believes that true happiness comes from making others happy. Sadly, business partners took advantage of this kindness and stole everything he had. His plight sparked my interest in law. It inspired me to become an attorney who brings happiness through justice, by representing (pro bono) those most in need. I believe that compassion/ reconciliation are powerful tools for rooting out injustice, therefore, I aspire to become an attorney who vigorously defends those who have been wronged, while promoting reconciliation with the person/system that has done wrong. I aim to do this by walking in the shoes of my opponents and helping them see the moral/just way. This scholarship from Al DeSimone’s Charity for Champions is not only an extremely helpful and generous award that will help me achieve my career and educational goals, but it is also a tremendous honor. I am truly grateful and very appreciative to receive this scholarship, and the prestigious recognition that comes with it.

Ryan McManus

Extraordinary Community Service Award Winner

I plan to attend the University of Florida and major in Physics. I want to continue my community service through restoring our marine ecosystem by continuing to plant new coral nurseries, and continue to advocate for safer environmental practices so that our gorgeous wildlife will always be preserved. I am so grateful for Charity for Champions’ Extraordinary Community Service Award, and I hope I can continue to inspire others to go above and beyond with their service to the community!

Mariana Lopez Flores

Medical Interest Award Honorable Mention

I am extremely grateful and honored to have received the Medical Interest Award as it represents more than just an award. It serves as validation for my hard work and dedication. Later this year I will be attending the University of Central Florida where I will pursue a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology and Physiology. Receiving this scholarship will help me gain the knowledge to one day pursue a career in this field and I will be able to give back to my community. Thank you, Dr. DeSimone and the Charity for Champions team for your generosity and this incredible opportunity.

Peyton Looky

Team Fellowship Award Winner

In the next four years I plan to attend Southern Wesleyan University. While playing basketball there I will also study elementary education in hopes to become a kindergarten teacher and basketball coach in my post graduate years. Being given the scholarship has brought gratitude and appreciation to me and my family. Because of Dr. DeSimone’s practice I have been able to be healthy and perform to the best of my abilities for many years and thanks to his generosity I am able to continue playing without a heavy financial toll on my family and my future.

Ryan Geary

Athletic Achievement Award Winner

First and foremost, thank you to the Charity for Champions for awarding me with the Athletic Achievement Award. It is such an honor! This scholarship will help me realize my goal of attending a four-year university, playing collegiate football, and becoming a professional physical therapist. Ultimately, the goal is to become a licensed physical therapist and gain experience working with patients in a clinical setting. I’m driven by the desire to help people improve their mobility, manage pain, and regain independence. Thank you again.

Olivia Russo

Academic Achievement Award Winner

I am extremely grateful to have received the Academic Achievement Award and scholarship. In the fall I will be attending The University of Chicago where I plan to major in Public Policy Studies and hope to immerse myself in immigration related work. Upon completing my undergraduate studies, I hope to attend law school, and this scholarship will propel my pursuit of my academic and professional endeavors. Thank you, Dr. DeSimone and to all the Charity for Champions board and staff members for your generosity and kindness!

Joshua Burke

Leadership Award Winner

I plan to attend the Indiana University Kelley School of Business where I plan to study organizational behavior/therapies. I have dreams of making a solid impact on this world, in ways that robots and AI cannot – through human behavior and human feelings. I want to use the power of emotional intelligence to help truly make sure that those in which I work with and help are able to be happy emotionally. I want to not just work, but be a good friend and role model. This scholarship, with thanks to Dr. DeSimone will allow me to study this, and apply my knowledge to the real world, in order to help others be happier, and to overall spread a little more love in this world so filled with hate. Just as Dr. DeSimone is able to put a smile on people’s faces, I want to do the same. Thank you.

Riley Orovitz

Most Improved Player Award

I plan on studying Sports Journalism at the University of Florida in the fall and will hopefully work for the Women’s Basketball team as a student manager, as well as becoming involved in UF athletics in other ways. This recognition in being awarded the Most Improved Athlete Award is a great honor and means a lot to me. I have worked hard in playing flag football throughout high school and will continue to do so within athletics in some aspect throughout my college career.