For the second time since the program began in 1994, Okaloosa County has a national finalist in the Wendy’s High School Heisman Competition. Trey LaNasa is a senior at Ft. Walton Beach High School.
The Wendy’s Heisman Trophy Award Program is set up to recognize seniors that excel in class, in sports and in the community. Trey LaNasa fits the bill. He’s student body president and captain of the cross country team at Fort Walton Beach High School. He says he was encouraged by his guidance counselor to apply for the award back in June, " I thought it would be something that would be cool to apply for. I knew going in that it was, really if I were to win anything that it would be more for the school than for me. I had no clue that this is what it would turn into. I had some lower expectations for sure, you can’t even expect just to even be qualified for a high honor that I have."
LaNasa was chosen out of 20,000 applicants and over 900 state finalists. The competition was then narrowed down to 102 candidates, with a male and female winner from each state and the District of Columbia.
Now, with LaNasa representing Florida, he’s one of six boys and six girls, named as national finalists for the award.
The high school announced that he was a state winner at a special ceremony on campus, complete with a hallway drum line.
But, the 18-year-old had no idea there was an even bigger announcement yet to come and said he was stunned to find out he was a national finalist, "They ended up surprising me at lunch, and I was like man, I’m a state winner, that’s so fantastic. And then I was standing out there with my family, getting my medal for being the state winner and Ms. Couvillon announced that I was a national finalist. And at that point I was in complete shock. It was like one of those times that you’re caught completely unaware. I’m extremely blessed."
Despite some student body adversity throughout the school year, Principal Charlene Couvillon said she couldn’t be more pleased to have a student like Trey at Ft. Walton Beach and is excited that he’s made it this far, "We’re so proud of Trey. We’ve always been so proud of Trey. Really and truly he almost sounds too good to be true. He’s just that kid that the kids love and the adults love because he’s just a great kid."
LaNasa has committed to attend the University of Florida, where he plans to study mechanical engineering and continue his running.
LaNasa is the second student from Okaloosa County to get this far in the competition for the High School Heisman Award. Jennica Hagberg from Niceville High School was chosen as a national finalist in 2007. Collin Myrick from Freeport High School in Walton County was a national finalist in 2011.
If chosen, LaNasa would be the first student – male or female - from Florida to become a national award winner. And, he says he’ll be proud to bring it home, "Anything that will bring some honor to Ft. Walton Beach is just something that I’m always about."
The winners will be announced at a ceremony in New York City on December 12th, with the event to be taped and broadcast later on ESPN 2, "Just being with these other high school finalists, I mean to be considered in their company is just humbling."
As a finalist, LaNasa has already secured a donation of at least $2,000 to be awarded in his name to Fort Walton Beach High School. If he’s selected as a national winner, the school will receive a $10,000 award which will go toward putting in a rubberized track at the school.
Additionally, the male and female winners will receive the Wendy’s High School Heisman Trophy, with the opportunity to attend and be recognized at the college Heisman Trophy presentation.
