Davey O’Brien High School Scholarship Finalists Announced

FORT WORTH, Texas (Nov. 7, 2023) – The Davey O’Brien Foundation has announced the five finalists for the 38th Annual Davey O’Brien High School Scholarship Award. The scholarship, underwritten by Higginbotham and Simmons Bank, is presented each year to an exceptional senior student-athlete in North Texas.

This year’s finalists, in alphabetical order, are: Josie Arbuckle (Greenhill School), Parker Brizzolara (Lake Highlands High School), Charlie Humphreys (Cistercian Preparatory School), Avery Jackson (The Hockaday School) and Chris Simington (Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas).

“This group of finalists for the High School Scholarship Award is as impressive as can be,” David O’Brien Jr., Chairman of the High School Scholarship Selection Committee, said. “We once again had a tremendous group of applicants from across the area, and we are honored to have these five outstanding individuals associated with the Davey O’Brien Foundation.”

The recipient of the $30,000 scholarship will be announced Tuesday, Nov. 14 at the High School Scholarship Luncheon at The Fort Worth Club. The Foundation will also award $2,500 scholarships to each of the four remaining finalists. Recipients of the High School Scholarship Award are chosen on the basis of scholastic achievements, community service, character, leadership and varsity sports participation. As part of the selection process, the committee will interview all five finalists this week.

The Foundation has distributed over $1.3 million in scholarships and university grants to help high school and college athletes transform leadership on the field to leadership in life. The winner will be formally honored at the 47th Davey O’Brien Awards Dinner at The Fort Worth Club on Monday, Feb. 19, 2024.

–www.DaveyOBrienAward.com–

About the Finalists

Josie Arbuckle (Greenhill School)

Josie Arbuckle is an AP Scholar with Honor and Senior Class Vice President. She is in her fourth year as a member of the Greenhill swimming team, and has earned all-conference and team MVP honors each of her first three years. A UCLA swimming and diving commit, she holds six school records and two all-time conference records. Josie co-founded a scoliosis nonprofit organization called Let’s Get It Straight, and co-founded Greenhill’s Hornet Huddle program.

Parker Brizzolara (Lake Highlands High School)

Parker Brizzolara is an AP Scholar with Distinction and a National Merit Scholarship Commended Student. She also is a member of the National Honor Society, Girls Service League and Lake Highlands Student Council. Parker has earned varsity letters in soccer and tennis, earning all-district, all-city and all-academic accolades in both sports. In addition, she has participated in choir and theatre, and has served with the National Charity League for four years.

Charlie Humphreys (Cistercian Preparatory School)

Charlie Humphreys is a National Merit Scholarship Commended Student and an AP Scholar with Distinction. He serves as the Student Council President and has been elected to the school’s Athletic Council three consecutive years. The three-year varsity letterman and a two-time first-team all-conference performer on the offensive line will play football at Yale. Charlie also is a four-year member of the varsity track and field program, an Eagle Scout and a ruling elder at Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church.

Avery Jackson (The Hockaday School)

Avery Jackson has served as Class President each year in high school, is a member of Hockaday’s Student Interview Team and is an H-Club Student Ambassador. The four-time volleyball team MVP and all-conference performer owns seven school records and is the only player in school history with more than 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs in a career. The Stanford beach volleyball commit was inducted into the USA Volleyball Hall of Fame as Female Junior Athlete of the Year.

Chris Simington (Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas)

Chris Simington was elected as the Jesuit Dallas Student Body President as a senior after serving as Class President his first three years of high school. He also is a four-year member of Hope Squad where he participates on the suicide prevention program’s National Council. An AP Scholar, Chris is also an all-state oboe player. He has collected three varsity letters in football, was a UIL Class 6A all-district defensive lineman and has earned two letters in rugby.