Lakewood Ranch's Devin McDermott named to All State Academic team

Lakewood Ranch senior Devin McDermott has been named to the 2012 FHSAA Academic All State first team.

The mutli talented standout earned four varsity letters each in cross country and track and two in soccer. She has a 3.96 GPA and ranks sixth in her senior class of 388 students.

McDermott is also a member of 11 high school clubs and organizations and holds down three part-time jobs. She plans to attend the University of Florida and study broadcast journalism.

McDermott was previously named the Florida state female winner for the 2011 Wendy’s High School Heisman Award was one of 12 finalists, six male and six female, for the national award.

To be eligible for selection to the All State team, a student must be a graduating senior, have a cumulative unweighted grade point average of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale, and earned a varsity letter in at least two different sports during each of his or her junior and senior years.

The candidates were selected based on academic record, athletic participation, non-athletic activities, community service and an essay submitted to the FHSAA office. This year, 12 boys and 12 girls are being honored from the more than 200 qualified nominees from the Association’s 695 member high schools.

Each honoree will receive a $1,000 award, as well as a commemorative medallion, from the FHSAA for being selected to the team.

From the 24 recipients, two Scholar-Athletes of the Year—one boy and one girl—will be announced at the 18th Annual FHSAA Academic All-State Awards Banquet to be held Monday, June 11, at the Best Western Gateway Grand in Gainesville.

The Scholar-Athletes of the Year, the most prestigious honors conferred on an active student-athlete by the Association, will receive an additional $3,000 each, as well as a trophy.