Positive Coaching Alliance – Tampa Bay (PCA) hosted its Triple-Impact Competitor® Scholarship Awards Event on April 17 at AdventHealth Training Center, the practice facility for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers!

April 23, 2025: Triple-Impact Competitor scholarship winners along with their families and coaches joined PCA staff, mentors, and partners as the chapter awarded $48,000 to 24 winners from the Class of 2025. 

For the first time in Program history, PCA – Tampa Bay held its annual scholarship awards event at the AdventHealth Training Facility also known by many as One Buc Palace!

Guests were greeted by Captain Fear, the mascot for the Buccaneers, and winners received individual recognition during dinner prepared by SaltBlock Catering. Winners were selected by a committee following both review of hundreds of applications that were submitted in the fall of 2024 and in-person interviews held earlier this year. These select high school senior student-athletes have shown a positive impact through sport on three levels: by making themselves, their teammates, and their sports better. In addition to receiving a $2,000 check, students participated in PCA – Tampa Bay’s year-long program that focuses on mentoring and networking opportunities to support them as they transition from high school and into college and their careers. 

In addition to each application, letters of recommendation were required.  Check out a little of what others had to say about our winners: 

Teammate recommendation: “I have known EJ since little league football and he has always been someone I wanted to play with. In high school he was a great friend and extremely helpful in getting me settled into a new school and team. He was a great teammate and leader on and off the field making sure the team was always focused. He is the type of teammate every team needs.”

Assistant Principal of Athletics recommendation: “As the Assistant Principal, I have had the privilege of closely observing Greg’s academic and extracurricular achievements, as well as his exceptional character and leadership abilities. Greg has consistently displayed exemplary teamwork, sportsmanship, and an unparalleled work ethic.” 

Coach recommendation: “Cali’s success displays her outstanding leadership in several respects. Her example on and off the field has pushed her teammates to match her. She is a captain on the team, selected for her dedication to the game and her teammates, as well as her leadership skills.”

Additional special guests included County Athletics Directors, Lanness Robinson from Hillsborough County Public Schools and Marc Allison from Pinellas County Schools plus multiple Assistant Principals for Athletics and coaches.  To conclude the recognition event, guests received a private tour of One Buc Place led by some of the best tour guides in town. 

“PCA – Tampa Bay’s scholarship program is competitive and we are very proud to have these 24 student-athletes represent what being a Triple-Impact Competitor is all about.  They are exceptional in making themselves, their teammates, and their sports better,” said Mason Cathey, the chapter’s local director. “Anyone who knows them is confident they will successfully use the life skills and life lessons they learned in sports as they pursue their next interests.” 

Everyone loved receiving their award, but additionally, Roderick Smith Jr, from Hillsborough High School said, “My favorite part of the PCA Program has been meeting everyone and hearing their points of view on how sports have formed them into the people they are now.”

Check out some of our favorite photos below and in our social media highlights!

Student-athletes graduating with the Class of 2026 can complete an interest form here to learn more about the application process.