By Doug Stauffer
The recent 55th Annual All Sports Banquet on the picturesque Okaloosa Island celebrated athletic combined with academic excellence and demonstrated the power of philanthropy as the community joined together to give. The Emerald Coast Convention Center was alive with the spirit of competition, not just on the fields and courts, but in the bidding war that saw donations soar to a record-breaking $126,200 from the evening auction. By the night’s end, nearly $400,000 had been raised, surpassing the 2022-2023 total and setting a new benchmark for support towards area athletics.
The award winners of the evening ranged from high school sensations to professional athletes, all of whom share a commitment to academic excellence and philanthropy with a spiritual emphasis. The banquet, known for recognizing the who’s-who of local talent, did not disappoint, spotlighting individuals from prep to college and the amateur ranks to the professional stage.
The evening’s emotional pinnacle arrived when the Thomas brothers, Azareye’h and Juanyeh, took the stage. Azareye’h Thomas, an FSU defensive back lauded for helping to lead the Seminoles to an unbeaten regular season record, won the Male Collegiate Award. Meanwhile, his brother, Juanyeh Thomas, a defensive back for the Dallas Cowboys, who helped lead his team to a 12-5 season and the NFC East title, clinched the Professional Award.
Their success on and off the field was recognized by their tribute to their mother, whom they invited on stage to a standing ovation. The brothers, both Niceville High School graduates, honored her for the sacrifices that paved their paths to personal and professional achievements. One phase by Momma Thomas encapsulated the depth of her influence, “Every lesson is a blessing.”
The banquet also highlighted the stars of tomorrow, with Lauren Bage and Titus Thornell winning the Female and Male Scholastic awards, respectively. Bage, a multi-sport star from Choctaw, broke barriers as the first female in town to play tackle football. She is No. 5 in her graduating class and told the crowd, “With God and hard work, all things are possible.”
Thornell, a three-sport letterman, also excelled at Choctaw in football, wrestling and weightlifting. He earned a 4.36 GPA and volunteers in mentoring youth at his local church.
Their stories of determination and faith echoed the sentiment that hard work and divine guidance overcome all obstacles.
Further accolades were bestowed upon Liliana Fernandez, the Female Collegiate award winner from Tulsa, and Garrison Lemire, the Taylor Haugen winner, embodying perseverance and dedication ideals.
Lemire, a Niceville senior originally from Abilene, has set his sights on Texas A&M, studying Psychology and exercise physiology. “We look up to Coach Lou and Coach Dussault, both retired marines who believe in tough love.”
Other award winners include Blake Orr, an FIU javelin thrower aiming for the Junior Olympics, and Shane Patty, a Special Olympics multi-sport star and the voice of NWF State Raiders baseball and softball.
The banquet concluded on a high note, with FSU and NFL legend Warrick Dunn delivering a keynote speech resonating with his journey of overcoming adversity through faith, hard work and community support.
The 55th Annual All Sports Banquet not only celebrated the achievements of these remarkable athletes, but also underscored the importance of giving back, setting a precedent for future generations to aspire to greatness both on and off the field.
