The following is from an official FHSAA Press Release.
The Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) announced on Wednesday the 31st Annual Florida Dairy Farmers Academic All-State Team, a recognition program that honors 24 graduating student-athletes who excel in both athletics and academics. With this being one of the most important special recognition programs the FHSAA sponsors, 12 girls and 12 boys from all over the state will be awarded a total of $50,000 in scholarships.
“Florida’s dairy farmers are proud to recognize the outstanding achievements of these dedicated student-athletes,” says John Larson, Board President of Florida Dairy Farmers. “We are honored to support a program that upholds a strong tradition of excellence both on the field and in the classroom. These students exemplify the hard work and determination needed to succeed in both arenas, and we are proud to celebrate their accomplishments.”
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. The 2025 Florida Dairy Farmers Academic All-State Team selection committee evaluated scholarship nominees based on their athletic participation, academic record, extracurricular activities, community service and essay.
Each Florida Dairy Famers Academic All-State Team member will be recognized at a banquet on Monday, June 2 where they will receive a $1,700 scholarship and a commemorative medallion. Out of the 24 All-State Team members, one male and one female will be named the Ronald N. Davis Scholar-Athletes of the Year, the FHSAA’s most prestigious honor bestowed on any active student-athlete. The winners of this award will earn a commemorative trophy and an additional $4,600 in scholarship funds – $6,300 in total.
Grace Finneran – St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale): Grace Finneran maintains a 4.0 GPA and has earned recognition as an Advanced Placement Scholar with Distinction, a National Merit Commended Scholar, and an Aquinas Veritas Scholar. A standout athlete in cross country and track and field, Finneran was named the 2024 Sun-Sentinel and Miami Herald Cross Country Runner of the Year. She also secured the runner-up position at the Florida High School Cross Country State Championships, demonstrating her exceptional talent and dedication to her sport. Beyond athletics, Finneran has taken on multiple leadership roles within her school. She serves as a core leader and co-vice president of Campus Ministry, as well as vice president and co-president of the St. Thomas Fellowship of Christians. Additionally, she leads as a St. Thomas Student Ambassador and is an active member of several honor societies, including the Italian, Science, English, and Athletic Honor Societies. Her commitment to service is evident through her extensive volunteer work, accumulating over 500 hours. She has served on the Church by the Sea Serve Team, contributed to STA Campus Ministry, volunteered with the Plantation Swim Team, and assisted at Plantation Christian Preschool. She is daughter of David and Nicole and plans to attend either the University of Florida in Gainesville or the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virigina, where she will study landscape architecture.
