Mainstreet Daily News
The Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) announced on Wednesday the 28th Annual Florida Dairy Farmers Academic All-State Team, a recognition program that honors 24 graduating student-athletes who excel in both athletics and academics.
The FHSAA named 12 boys and 12 girls statewide and local seniors Caleb Moncrief of Keystone Heights and Nathalia Veal of Branford were selected. Each honoree will be awarded a total of $50,000 in scholarships, according to the FHSAA press release.
“The hardworking men and women of Florida’s dairy industry are honored to recognize the significant accomplishments of these amazing student-athletes,” says Florida Dairy Farmers CEO, Michele Cooper in the release. “We’re excited to support a program that has a great tradition of encouraging excellence on the field and in the classroom and we’re proud to support students that have the special mix of work ethic and determination required to succeed at both.”
To be eligible for this award, students must be a graduating senior with a minimum 3.5 unweighted grade point average and earned a minimum of two varsity letters in at least two different sports during their junior and senior year, according to the release. The 2022 Florida Dairy Farmers Academic All-State Team selection committee received applications from 51 male nominees and 69 female nominees. Each nominee was evaluated on their athletic participation, academic record, extracurricular activities, community service and essay.
Florida Dairy Farmers Academic All-State Team members will be recognized at a June 6 banquet where they will receive a commemorative medallion and a $1,700 scholarship. One male and one female out of the 24 will be named the Ronald N. Davis Scholar-Athletes of the Year, the FHSAA’s most prestigious honor bestowed on any active student-athlete. Winners of this award will earn a commemorative trophy and an additional $4,600 in scholarship funds – $6,300 in total.
The local members of the 2022 Florida Dairy Farmers Academic All-State Team are:
Caleb Moncrief, Keystone Heights – Caleb Moncrief owns a 4.0 GPA and ranks first in his class of 174 students. He earned varsity letters in four sports (football, weightlifting, basketball, and track and field) and was a member of the 2021 1A Florida High School Boys Weightlifting State Championship team. He served as Student Government president all four years of high school and is a member of the National Honor Society, Key Club, Future Business Leaders of America and has over 500 community service hours. He is the son of Helen Moncrief and plans on studying biomedical engineering at the University of Florida in Gainesville this fall.
Nathalia Veal, Branford – Nathalia Veal owns a 4.0 GPA and ranks first in her senior class. The Advanced Placement Scholar lettered in three sports (weightlifting, track and field and cross country) and holds the school record for bench press and clean and jerk. Nathalia served as class vice president her senior year and was a member of Future Farmers of America, Beta Club, National Honor Society and Fellowship of Christian Athletes all four years of high school. Nathalia has over 600 community service hours. She is the daughter of Karen and Nath Veal and was recently accepted to the United States Air Force Academy.