FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 31, 2007


Bush, Thacker named 2007 FHSAA Scholar-Athletes of the Year

ORLANDO – Daniel Bush of Arnold High School (Panama City Beach) and Celeste Thacker of Osceola High School (Kissimmee) were respectively named the 2007 FHSAA Male and Female Scholar-Athletes of the Year at the 13th Annual Florida High School Athletic Association Academic All-State Awards Banquet tonight at the Orlando Airport Marriott.

The two students – among the 24 chosen to the 2007 FHSAA Academic All-State Team – received a $3000 scholarship and commemorative trophy in addition to the $1000 award and medallion for being selected to the team. The Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award is generally regarded as the most prestigious award the Association confers upon an active student-athlete.

Bush finished his high school career with a 4.0 cumulative unweighted grade point average, salutatorian of his 308-member senior class. He earned varsity letters in track & field and wrestling all four years of high school, as well as football his junior and senior years. Bush will attend the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Ala., majoring in mathematics.

Arnold High School's first National Merit Scholar finalist, Bush is also an AP Scholar and a National Latin Examination gold medalist. He was student body president at Arnold his senior year and earned a perfect score in the math section of both the SAT and ACT exams.

Thacker finished her high school career with a 4.0 cumulative unweighted grade point average, valedictorian of her 440-member senior class. She earned varsity letters in softball all four years of high school, volleyball her sophomore, junior and senior years, and weightlifting her freshman year. Thacker will attend Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn. and is undecided on her course of study.

Thacker, recognized as one of 10 Seniors of Distinction by Osceola High School, served as class president for three years and was student council vice-president her senior year. She was recognized as a Community Service Star by the Osceola Gazette and was chosen Student of the Year by the Elks Lodge. Thacker also received the Distinguished Athlete Award from the U.S. Marine Corps her senior year.

Last April, 24 student-athletes – 12 boys and 12 girls – were chosen from among more than 150 qualified nominees from the Association’s 650 member high schools as the 2007 FHSAA Academic All-State Team. To be eligible for selection to the team, a student must be a graduating senior, must have a cumulative unweighted grade point average of 3.5 or better, and must have earned a varsity letter in at least two different sports during each of their junior and senior years.

The FHSAA Scholar-Athletes of the Year recognition program began in 1991-92. Since the Academic All-State Team program was initiated during the 1994-95 school year, only those student-athletes who are selected to the team are eligible for the Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award.

The Florida High School Athletic Association is the governing body for interscholastic athletics in Florida. It has a membership of more than 750 middle, junior and senior high schools.

Past FHSAA Female Scholar-Athletes of the Year
2006 – Kristen Weaver, St. Johns Country Day (Orange Park)
2005 – Christa Bosenberg, Walton (DeFuniak Springs)
2004 – Katherine Booth, Lake Mary
2003 – Revae Green, Tavares
2002 – Courtney Caplin, St. Johns Country Day (Orange Park)
2001 – Becky Tapp, St. Petersburg Catholic
2000 – Lisa Porter, Island Christian (Islamorada)
1999 – Tiffany Walker, Naples
1998 – Deborah Thomas, Stanton (Jacksonville)
1997 – Megan Beck, Lely (Naples)
1996 – Mary Jernigan, Dr. Phillips (Orlando)
1995 – Terri Phelan, Miami Sunset
1994 – Kelly Dillon, Port St. Lucie
1993 – Stephanie Eken, St. Cloud
1992 – Erin Thomas, St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale)

Past FHSAA Male Scholar-Athletes of the Year
2006 – Jake Mervis, Lake Highland Prep (Orlando)
2005 – Eddie Tabasky, Mainland (Daytona Beach)
2004 – Ryan Truchelut, Trinity Prep (Winter Park)
2003 – Adam Kircher, Maclay (Tallahassee)
2002 – Nick Wilson, Paxon (Jacksonville)
2001 – Bob Ross, Rockledge
2000 – Nick Nestle, Mainland (Daytona Beach)
1999 – Jared Day, Liberty County (Bristol)
1998 – Isaac Morford, Keystone Heights
1997 – Robert Rutland-Brown, Spruce Creek (Port Orange)
1996 – Ethan Altaratz, Naples
1995 – Kevin Campbell, Jupiter
1994 – Grant Thompson, Oak Hall (Gainesville)
1993 – Clint Park, North Florida Christian (Tallahassee)
1992 – Shelby Highsmith Jr., Ransom Everglades (Miami)

Contact:
Robert Hernberger
Assistant Director of Communications, FHSAA
(352) 372-9551 ext. 190
roberth@fhsaa.org