With the numerous social and cultural challenges facing our students today, it is all too easy for them to be knocked off course, “slip through the cracks,” and fail at life before they even get started. Some kids are lucky because they are athletes who have the benefit of support from their teammates and most importantly – their coach. Coaches may be the only positive adult relationship in a student’s life, serving as a mentor, advisor, confidant, and advocate.

Robin Nable Wagman Against All Odds Scholarship

Recipients are senior student-athletes who have maintained their high academic and athletic performance despite facing a significant personal challenge such as debilitating illness or disease, physical disability, tragic accident or loss or parental abandonment.

Despite extraordinary circumstances, these individuals refused to be beaten and have endured, thrived, and inspired their peers, teachers, counselors, and coaches. They have demonstrated a strong spirit, enduring determination, courage, and the will to continue taking that next step, and the one after that, and the one after that, in order to live their lives to the fullest – just as Coach Wagman did.

Who was Coach Robin Wagman?

In the fall of 1979, a young University of Central Florida college graduate returned to Polk County, Florida to pursue her dream of a successful career teaching physical education and coaching high school athletes at her alma mater, Haines City High School.

Coach Robin Nable Wagman achieved that dream and over her 30 plus years as a teacher, a coach, and a mentor, she impacted the lives of more than 12,000 students and athletes.

With 14 County, 13 District and 2 Regional Championships in track and field and 4 District Championships in women’s volleyball, her leadership helped students learn to believe in themselves and work to accomplish more than they ever thought possible. For many of Coach Wagman’s students and athletes, she was the only adult who wanted more for them than they wanted for themselves and she pushed them to earn it.

In December 2005, Coach Wagman was diagnosed with cancer and an intense course of radiation and chemotherapy began. Eventually, there were multiple recurrences of her cancer, followed by increasingly severe treatments. She fought cancer, just like she coached, with heart, dignity, and unfailing determination.

Coach Wagman maintained a full teaching and coaching schedule until a week before her death on February 27, 2011. She spent those final days of her life in the hospital diligently planning the 2011 Senior Class Graduation (as she had for the past seven years), praying that she would be there to see her students, including her own daughter, walk the stage.

Robin lived a life dedicated to encouraging and inspiring others to reach their full potential as students, as athletes, and as members of our community. In recognition of Robin’s remarkable accomplishments, determination, and perseverance, the Robin Nable Wagman Against All Odds Scholarship Foundation, Inc. was formally established on August 15, 2011.

What promises are made to achieve Coach Wagman’s hopes and dreams?

AAO Foundation Mission Statement

The mission of the Robin Nable Wagman Against All Odds Scholarship Foundation, Inc. is to honor the achievements of Polk County high school senior student-athletes by awarding college scholarships in recognition of their perseverance in the face of adversity.

AAO Foundation Vision Statement

Our vision is to help create the future leaders of Polk County by enabling our exceptional senior student-athletes to continue their academic achievement and community service in a college or university setting.

Where are we going to make a difference?

AAO Scholarships will be presented annually after Polk County spring graduations in May and June.

As finances permit, scholarships will be renewable each year, provided the student maintains an over-all 3.0 GPA and at least 12 hours of course credit each semester. Scholarship recipients also must continue to demonstrate the moral ideals of integrity, conviction, and leadership fostered by the AAO Foundation. The AAO Scholarship is an enduring award and recipient names will be engraved on the AAO Plaque that will be displayed on the HCHS “Wall of Fame.”

Polk County, Florida is equal to Delaware in land size with a diverse population (64.6% Caucasian, 14.8% African American, and 17.7 % Hispanic). The per capita income is only $21,881 with a median household income of only $43,946.  With 15.2% of the population living below the poverty level, the AAO Scholarship Foundation strives to change that by encouraging students to return to Polk County to continue to develop as model citizens, community leaders, and successful professionals in their chosen fields.

Qualifications, Past Awards and Achievements

Scholarship applicants must be Polk County, Florida residents and senior student-athletes who exemplify courage and persistence in the face of hardship or adversity. Maintaining high academic standards and sportsmanship, despite facing any number of personal challenges, is essential. “AAO Scholarship” applications are due on the third Thursday of May each year and can be completed online at www.robinwagmanaao.org , down-loaded, printed and mailed to:

AAO Scholarship Foundation

6750 CRESCENT WOODS CIRCLE

LAKELAND FL 33813

The first scholarship was awarded in 2008 to a HCHS student-athlete who resumed playing varsity football and achieved a starting position his senior season after undergoing surgery and treatment for cancer. In addition to beating his cancer, the first recipient also made tremendous efforts to educate others on the risks and treatment of the disease.

The second scholarship was awarded in 2011 to an International Baccalaureate School-East student-athlete for her sustained dedication to academics and varsity sports. She achieved a 3.92 GPA and a starting position on both the varsity volleyball and softball teams, while experiencing extreme emotional trauma as her mother battled cancer during her four years of high school.

These are just two students of our many, who exemplify living life with dignity, persevering in the face of the unthinkable, and never giving up. The “AAO Scholarship” is a stepping-stone to lead these amazing senior students-athletes along the path to college. Every year countless high school student-athletes in Polk County face challenges that for many would be debilitating, but a remarkable few are driven to work harder, overcome these challenges, and achieve success in the classroom and on the playing field.

The AAO Foundation desires to assist these outstanding senior student-athletes with high GPAs, distinguished varsity athletic careers, and school leadership positions to continue their education. Worthy applicants will be able to better afford tuition, housing, meals and books to attend college with the support of the AAO Foundation.

“AAO Scholarship” applications are due on the third Thursday of May each year and can be completed online at www.robinwagmanaao.org . down-loaded, printed and mailed to:

Please join us and help support our efforts at www.robinwagmanaao.org  to make it possible for these extraordinary young individuals to enter collage and continue their paths to successful and productive lives.

Financial milestones affecting the AAO Scholarship Foundation

• The AAO Scholarship Foundation receives donations at www.robinwagmanaao.org, from two (2) annual fundraising events and individual donation campaigns.

• In the first few years of operation, the AAO Scholarship Foundation received donations in excess of $150,000.

• The fundraising goal for each year forward through our ten-year anniversary in 2021 is  $50,000 per year.

Fundraising Strategies and Tactics

The AAO Scholarship Foundation will utilize numerous fundraising strategies and tactics in order to maintain and increase the deposit level to meet the expected expenditures associated with awarding and sustaining scholarships each year.

Our annual fundraising tactical events currently consist of a Winter Celebration Dinner-Dance held on the last Saturday evening of February, the Robin Wagman Golf Scramble held on the second Saturday morning of June. More direct contribution appeals are found at www.robinwagmanaao.org, direct mail and email, personal solicitation of individuals and family foundations and applications for corporate sponsorships (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum).

Opportunities for Donors

Individual and corporate sponsors who discover the AAO Scholarship Foundation mission and vision meaningful to them and are moved to action will be acknowledged for their generous contributions at various patron and corporate levels of involvement (Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum).

Those who volunteer their valuable time planning and implementing fund raising outings also will be recognized.

Individuals and corporations interested in becoming a donor and support the AAO Scholarship Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) non-profit Florida corporation, may send contributions made payable to the AAO Foundation or by visiting our website at www.robinwagmanaao.org and utilize PayPal.

(EIN 38-3850329)   (DLN 17053053312042)