Dan Shugart

CRESTVIEW, Fla. -- Our Scholar Athlete is a profile in perseverance. That's paying off for the Crestview Bulldogs this year. And it will benefit his clients in the future. Crestview's Damien Dodson was not one of those "can't-miss athletes" to grab a coach's attention as a freshman. But he worked his way onto the starting defense by his emergent junior year. "And that's a testament to him and his character," says Thomas Grant, Crestview's head coach.

GULF BREEZE, Fla. -- Every Olympic year turns the spotlight on women's gymnastics. For ten days, we hear the stories and marvel at the athletic brilliance that comes from a lifetime commitment. One of the stories may be playing out in a Gulf Breeze gym -- and quite a story it would be. Saylor Ladnier just wanted to see if she'd like gymnastics. She was 3. In a few short years, she was winning everything in sight and on the fast track in the sport.

ESCAMBIA COUNTY, Fla. -- Our scholar athletes share the discipline to excel in everything they do. Tate Aggie Carson White takes it to another level. Carson has a lot on his plate. He plays tight end. He wrestles. He carries a 4.77 GPA. And he plays French horn in the Tate wind ensemble. "I'm definitely driven," he said. "I've been doing it so long it doesn't feel as hard as it did my freshman year, with so much on my plate.