This Fort Worth student won the Davey O’Brien High School Scholarship Award

Mikayla Wilson was shocked she was even a finalist for the 32nd annual Davey O’Brien High School Scholarship Award.

So you can imagine the rush of emotions that overcame her on Tuesday when it was announced that she was the recipient of the award, becoming the first student from Fort Worth Trimble Tech to receive the honor, and sixth from Fort Worth independent school district since the award’s inception in 1986.

“I just found out I was a finalist a couple weeks ago,” Wilson said during the awards annual luncheon. “I was shocked to even be one and would never have guessed. I’m just honored to be here so it’s been amazing.”

Wilson receives a $30,000 scholarship, which is based on scholastic achievements, community service, character, leadership and varsity sports participation.

“Mikayla is a truly impressive young woman, and we know she will continue the strong legacy established by all the previous recipients,” said David O’Brien Jr., chairman of the scholarship selection committee.

Wilson is ranked first in her class of 361 students at Trimble Tech with a 4.46 grade-point average on a 4.0 scale. She is a two-year President of the National Honor Society and a member of Key Club International.

She’s competed on the varsity softball team since her freshman year, and is a three-time all-district performer. She earned District 7-5A first-team honors once and second-team accolades twice, and also participated in volleyball for three years.

“It was an honor to be included with the rest of the finalists so that alone was amazing,” father Michael Wilson said. “It was just enough to be here, but to hear her name come out, I was just like her, filled with emotion.”

Wilson said she wants to attend Texas, TCU or Rice and major in astrophysics or astronomy. Her dream goal is to work for NASA as a scientific researcher.

“People ask us how do we do it, how do we push her and it’s actually her alone. She has that motivation,” her father said.

Wilson will be honored Feb. 19 at the 41st Annual Davey O’Brien Awards Dinner alongside Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award winner Baker Mayfield of Oklahoma.

“Mikayla has a true servant’s heart,” Trimble Tech softball coach Ladine Thomas said in a press release. “As a coach and educator, I feel blessed to have gotten to spend time with Mikayla on her journey. All too often we find ourselves wishing to have one or two more just like these ‘special kids.’ She will do amazing things.”

The Foundation also awarded $2,500 scholarships to the other five finalists: Sophie Isom (The Hockaday School), Ainsley McDonald-Boyer (Azle), Brandon Parrish (Joshua), Michael Smat (All Saints) and Mason Ward (Keller).

This story was originally published January 23, 2018 at 4:48 PM with the headline "This Fort Worth student won the Davey O’Brien High School Scholarship Award."