Ethan McPeek

Academic Achievement Award Winner

In the fall I will be attending the University of Florida where I will be studying Aerospace Engineering and I will be active in the Air Force ROTC detachment. Ultimately my dream job is to become a pilot in the Air Force. This scholarship means so much to me because it is freeing up my mind to be able to focus on not the means of paying for college but on how I can best train and build myself to become the best candidate possible for the Air Force. Throughout my life here in South Florida I have been blessed with meeting such amazing people and living in such an amazing country. For me serving my country is the least I can do and my goal is to give back as much as I can and be the best officer and pilot possible. This award is helping me do that and is also giving me hope and recognition that I am on the right path. Thank you, Dr. DeSimone and the Charity for Champions foundation for this outstanding award. I will use this gift and work to pay it forward throughout my life.

Hannah Cowdin

Medical Interest Award Winner

I will be attending Lindenwood University for four years. I plan to study nursing during my time there. I am very thankful for this scholarship, which will help me be able to study nursing at Lindenwood University. This award is proof that hard work does pay off in the end and when you continue to do the hard work you will achieve so much more. I cannot wait to become a skilled nurse and help people. I will always keep in mind the scholarships that helped me achieve this goal.

Anna Denoy

Artistic Achievement Award Winner

In the future, I plan to continue pursuing my passion for music and the arts by joining the FSU Marching Chiefs, where I can stay connected to my love for performance while being part of a spirited and supportive community. At Florida State University, my plans are to major in either psychology or exercise physiology, as both fields reflect my strong desire to help others live healthier, more fulfilling lives. I can’t thank Charity for Champions enough for this recognition. Receiving this scholarship means so much to me—it not only acknowledges my hard work and dedication but also eases the financial burden of college, allowing me to focus more fully on my academic and personal goals. I’m incredibly grateful for this opportunity and excited for what lies ahead at FSU. Thank you!

Zoe Kurtz

Personal Achievement Award Winner

I am so thankful to have received the personal achievement award from Dr. DeSimone’s Charity for Champions. Being recognized for my character, strength and resilience proves to me that my hard work has not gone unnoticed. Thank you for such an amazing scholarship. This scholarship will help pay for my tuition and help me reach my future goals. My future plans include attending Western Carolina University to study Interior Design while participating in the Brinson Honors College, earn my Masters, and own my own company.

Anthony Tanaka

Leadership Award Winner

I am incredibly grateful for the support of Dr. DeSimone and Charity for Champions, which is helping make it possible for me to attend my dream school—Miami University. On June 17th, I begin my journey as a student at the Farmer School of Business, where I will study agricultural business management with a minor in sustainability, while also proudly joining one of the most respected football programs in the country. As a walk-on athlete, I am committed to working hard both in the classroom and on the field to earn a scholarship position and become the starting center for the RedHawks. I will be attending summer school to get a strong head start on being the best student-athlete I can be. Thanks to your generosity and belief in my potential, I have the opportunity to prove myself at the next level, just as I did in high school. I am truly thankful for this opportunity and excited for what lies ahead.

Camden Leone

Athletic Achievement Award Winner

My plans for the upcoming school year consist of going to Florida Atlantic University and pursuing a degree in business entrepreneurship and later going on to start my own business. This scholarship gives me an opportunity to focus more on my goals and less on the financial struggles of being a college student, allowing a huge opportunity to jump start on my studies and future career.

Jocelyn Garcia

Goodwill Scholarship Winner

My future plans include attending Ottawa University to study Physical Therapy, a field I am passionate about because I want to help people recover, heal, and live healthier lives. Winning the Charity for Champions Scholarship means so much to me it not only helps me financially, but also motivates me to keep working hard and giving back to my community. This scholarship is a reminder that others believe in my potential and it pushes me to strive for excellence in both academics and service.

Remi Klein

Medical Interest Award Winner

I am honored to receive the Medical Interest Award, and I am incredibly grateful to Dr. DeSimone and Charity for Champions for both their contribution to the community and for this scholarship. To me, this award serves as a reminder to what I have given to my community and a motivation to continue to help others. I plan to pursue a dual degree in Computer Science and Public Health from the University of Florida, which I hope to use in creating accessible healthcare technology to benefit those struggling in and outside my community. Thank you again to Charity for Champions for this opportunity!

Jarret Gallison

Team Fellowship Award Winner

I am incredibly honored and thankful to be a recipient of the Team Fellowship Award from the Charity for Champions organization. This award means a lot to me because it recognized me as a leader for the organization, I was a part of, as well as highlighting my achievements in athletics and academically. Being a recipient of this award motivates me to continue to be a leader and motivate others whether it is in my job field or in society. I hope that I, being a recipient of this award, can be used as a positive example and motivate students in the future hoping to earn the same or similar award. I plan to attend Florida State University to major in Political Science and afterward attend Law school and become a lawyer. This award will motivate me to try and accomplish my career goals and will help me with my tuition and my journey to getting there.

Cole Phillips

Artistic Achievement Award Winner

I am greatly honored to have been selected as the recipient of the Artistic Achievement Award. This scholarship is very special to me because it recognizes my musical achievements, along with my hard work in academics and on the field as a varsity baseball player in high school. In the Fall, I will be starting at the University of Florida, as a double major in Finance and Criminology. I hope to one day work in the financial arena solving white collar financial crimes. I also plan to continue my love of music at UF by starting a new band in college. This scholarship is meaningful because it will give me the ability to focus on my studies so that I can achieve my goals, while also continuing to pursue my love of music in college. Thank you to Dr. DeSimone and everyone at Charity for Champions for believing in me and awarding me this scholarship.

Wali Chothai

Medical Interest Award Honorable Mention

My plan for the future is to hopefully become an ENT doctor so I can help children who face the same difficulties I experienced—such as hearing loss and constant throat pain during my childhood. I hope to be a beacon of light for them, just as Dr. Singer was for me. Receiving this scholarship means a lot to me. It feels amazing to have some of the financial pressure of college lifted. More than that, it makes my high school journey feel truly fulfilling. It shows that all the hard work I put in—both on and off the field—was worth it. That is what this scholarship means to me.

Ezekiel Dube-Garrett

Academic Achievement Award Winner

In my college career, I plan to major in mechanical engineering, as well as throw javelin and play football. This scholarship will mean a lot to me. I worry about how my family and I will be able to afford my education. Having a twin brother, who is also going to college, makes this process more stressful. This scholarship will not only help me to focus more on my studies and less on finances, but will show that someone believes in me, and is supporting me. I am so grateful for this scholarship, and thank you so much.

Lola McClure

Leadership Award Winner

Being honored with the Charity For Champions Leadership Award means so much to me! The lacrosse field is my happy place. This award combines my love of the game and the privilege that I had to lead my team. I am excited to start my journey towards a degree in Political Science at Tallahassee State College. This scholarship will help me achieve my goal of graduating from Florida State University and eventually attending law school. Thank you, Dr., DeSimone not only for your generosity, but also for your belief in student athletes and our futures. Thank you, Selena, for your dedication to Charity For Champions, I am so proud to be a part of it!

Bella Kimball

Athletic Achievement Award Winner

Thank you so much again for this award! Receiving this Athletic Achievement scholarship is an incredible honor and a meaningful milestone in my journey as a student-athlete. It represents the support and encouragement I’ve received along the way, as well as the hard work & perseverance I’ve poured into cheerleading over the years. As I prepare to attend the University of Central Florida and continue my journey as a collegiate cheerleader, this scholarship not only eases the financial burden of college but also strengthens my commitment to excelling both on the mat and in the classroom. I am truly grateful for the team at Charity for Champions for this opportunity to live out my dream as a D1 cheerleader and excited for what lies ahead!

Joseph Dube-Garrett

Leadership Award Winner

This scholarship means the world to me and shows me that hard work does pay off. For the last four years I have devoted long hours, sleepless nights, and dreaded studying to be the best student I could be. I knew it would be difficult to keep my grades up while playing 2 varsity sports, being involved in multiple clubs, and having an active social life. I worked extremely hard to reach my goal of going to college and playing football. I will be attending Bridgewater State University where I will be Majoring in Economics and Finance and Minoring in Political Science. My goal is to become a Politician and I know I have what it takes. While many politicians are in it for the wrong reasons, I’m going in to it for the right reasons. I won’t be doing it for the money or the fame; it will be to make the world a safer and better place. I believe in freedom and opportunity and with this scholarship it will bring me one step closer to my dream of doing my part to make our country better. Thank you for selecting me for this scholarship.