2018

Rebecca Wilson

Rollins College ‘18

Haines City International Baccalaureate School-East

Volleyball

Rebecca's mother was diagnosed with cancer while she was in middle school. This was very traumatic for her and the family, since her father lost his job about the same time. Her mother is now a seven-year survivor and her father has been back working full-time for 3 years . After playing volleyball for Coach Robin Wagman as a freshman at Haines City High School, she had to play for three different high school varsity coaches after Coach Wagman lost her five-year battle with cancer on February 27, 2011. Rebecca fought through these personal adversities, graduated fourth in her IB School-East class and received a student-athlete scholarship from Rollins College for the Fall 2014. Rebecca graduated with Magna Cum Laude honors and was the Class of 2018 Valedictorian.

She also became the forth AAO Scholarship Foundation HOF winner. Keeping things in perspective has never been a problem for her. “My family’s struggles have been a constant motivator for me, on and off the court,” says Wilson, an economics major and libero on the volleyball team. “I know how important this is for my future. It was a motivator for me to be successful in school.”

On Mother’s Day, Wilson followed in the footsteps of her sister, Jessica Wilson ’15—also a volleyball player who majored in economics—by graduating as valedictorian. Their mom, cancer-free for six years, joked that she doesn’t know how lightning struck twice.

A native of nearby Winter Haven, Wilson chose Rollins because she wanted her “favorite people” (parents Robert and Julie) to be able to attend her games.

She also wanted a college that struck the right balance between academics and athletics—and it didn’t hurt that, for one year, she’d get to play on the same team as Jessica.

While at Rollins, Wilson served on the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, racked up several defensive accolades on the court, and held a marketing internship at the Orlando City Soccer Club. After taking a break this summer to travel domestically and abroad, she’s aiming to begin a marketing career in the financial services industry.

2017

Destynee K. Arnold

Southeastern University

Destynee Arnold was a admirable student-athlete AAO Scholarship winner in June of 2012 after graduating from Winter Haven High School. She had a brilliant GPA over the 4 years of high school while trying to overcome a season ending knee injury during the basketball playoffs. Through it all, she succeeded in a masterful way to continue to lead the Winter Haven High School women’s team to a remarkable year of play. Upon becoming an AAO Hall of Fame Winner, Destynee graduated from Southeastern University in Lakeland, FL in April 2017 with a Bachelor’s degree in Biology. She qualified for the Dean’s List at SEU by graduating with a 3.5 GPA, while balancing academics along with participating on the Varsity basketball team. She is currently enrolled in the doctorate program at the University of South Florida College of Pharmacy as she pursues her dream of becoming a pharmacist. At USF, she is a member of the Kappa Epsilon Professional Pharmacy Fraternity as well as the Pediatric Pharmacy Advocacy Group, where she currently serves as the Treasurer. While in pharmacy school, Destynee is also an employee for Publix as a Pharmacy Intern.

2016

Brianna Whitman

Florida State University

2012 Scholarship Winner

George Jenkins High School

Synchronized Swimming

Florida State University

Brianna Whitman was a most commendable student-athlete AAO Scholarship winners in June of 2012 after graduating from George Jenkins High School-Lakeland. She created a very extraordinary GPA all 4 years and was inducted into the NHS. She sustained an almost season ending muscle tear injury that interrupted her competitive synchronized swimming schedule her senior season. After an extensive and difficult recuperation, she persevered and returned to competition to lead the team to many district medals.