Our Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyers want to reward students who’ve committed their time and energy to improving the communities around them. Every year, the Anidjar & Levine Community Service Scholarship uplifts one student whose efforts stood out from the rest.
This year, the $2,500 award goes to Daniel Gedeon. Gedeon is an incoming freshman at Texas A&M University with a passion for sports. He anticipates graduating in May 2029 with a degree in Management Information Systems.
Sportsmanship and Volunteering
Gedeon’s history with community service started young, when he began volunteering with his high school’s youth basketball and baseball camps. As a counselor, he coached minority athletes, encouraging them to invest in their skills and build their confidence.
That experience let him get a closer look at the effort that goes into facilitating sports organization and progress tracking. In his words, the behind-the-scenes work “clicked with my analytical, problem-solving brain.”
It was his time refereeing for the Special Olympics basketball games, however, that transformed his perspectives even further. He got an up close and personal look at how the athletes lit up when scoring baskets, and found himself inspired by different presentations on encouragement and fairness. It was then that he decided that he wanted to give his all to communities in need.
Building on Years Serving Communities in Need
Gedeon’s experiences during the Special Olympics and as a sports camp counselor were far from his only opportunities to support his community. He’s spent years working with the Boys and Girls Club through his church. He’s also worked as an A/V tech with a local college ministry.
All of these combined experiences came together for Gedeon to teach a valuable lesson. In his words, “leadership doesn’t always mean being the loudest or most visible. It’s being the one who shows up early, stays late, and makes things work behind the scenes. It’s about being dependable, kind, and willing to serve others, especially when no one’s watching.”
Taking Inspiration From the People Closest to Him
When asked about his sources of inspiration, Gedeon cites one that is particularly close to home.
“This might sound surprising, but the person who is my biggest inspiration is my younger brother, JD,” he says. “He and I are best friends that do everything together, including sharing a room all our lives.”
“As I have gotten older, I have realized that JD looks up to me with a lot of admiration,” he continues. “My decisions, both good and bad, directly impact him and his choices…I believe this relationship has been instrumental in my personal growth as a leader and molded my perspective to think beyond myself and carefully consider those influenced by me.”
Where’s Daniel Gedeon Headed Next?
Daniel Gedeon’s future looks bright. As an incoming freshman at Texas A&M University, he plans to major in Management Information Systems, then pursue a career in cybersecurity.
His specific hopes include creating technological tools that athletes, coaches, and families can use to continue growing in their chosen fields. He hopes to make these tools available to players at the youth and amateur levels.
Gedeon specifically aspires to build on tools currently available to players, smoothing out “clunky and frustrating” quirks that make it harder for these programs to track stats, stream games, and communicate with users.
About the Anidjar & Levine Community Service Scholarship
The Anidjar & Levine Community Service Scholarship celebrates the achievements of students who consistently dedicate themselves to the betterment of the communities around them. Students’ community service contributions mark them as assets to the institutions most in need of support.
At the same time, students’ commitment to community service can transform their ambitions for the future. The Community Service Scholarship available through Anidjar & Levine encourages students to think critically about how their future career goals have changed as a result of their engagement with high-need communities.
Students interested in applying for this $2,500 can visit the scholarship’s terms and conditions to learn more about its qualifying criteria and upcoming submission deadlines.
Applicants have an opportunity to join the ranks of previous winners, including Arisa Chue (2022), Alex Greenlund (2022), Elysa Smith (2023), and Aviv Assayag (2024).
Congratulations, Daniel Gedeon!
Athletics give people from all walks of life the opportunity to learn more about their bodies and connect with a like-minded community of peers. Gedeon recognizes this and has channeled his love of sports into new opportunities to support others who want to build their confidence and improve their athletic performances.
Gedeon hasn’t backed himself into a professional corner, though. His community service has exposed him to a wide variety of perspectives and given him a chance to hone his technological interests into tools that can benefit athletes and coaches alike.
The legal team with Anidjar & Levine admires Gedeon’s multifaceted approach to sports management, from his direct contributions as a referee to his work with athlete-oriented apps.
That diverse approach to community service ensured that Gedeon made an impression on the scholarship selection committee. We look forward to witnessing his future success.
