(PHOTO/WENDY'S HIGH SCHOOL HEISMAN)
If Frelicia Tucker woke up on Christmas morning this year to find her name missing from every package beneath the family tree, that would be just fine with her.
The Wendy’s High School Heisman award she received during a star-studded ceremony Friday evening in New York City which honored the Aiken High School senior as the nation’s top female student-athlete will be enough to fill any amount of holiday wrapping for years to come.
But there is more – much more. After all, the way she sees it, if all she had walked away from that stage with was a trophy, she wouldn’t have been true to herself at all.
That’s because Frelicia Tucker is not the type of person who takes things for granted.
Not now. Not ever.
“This is not an award for me. This is an award for everyone who has helped me,” an emotional Tucker told a packed house at the PlayStation Theater in Times Square through a cascade of joyful tears. “(This is an award for) my family, my mom, my sister, my school and my community. I just want to thank you all.”
Her journey to the glitz and glamour of a nationally televised event – the ceremony will re-air on sports network giant ESPNU Dec. 12 at 6:00 p.m., Dec. 13 at 9:00 p.m. and Dec. 14 at 3:00 p.m. – actually began longer ago than one may think. Before she had been named as a Wendy’s High School Heisman national semifinalist, or selected as the South Carolina state winner, or even before the process even began months ago, Frelicia Tucker had mastered the art of counting blessings.
“No matter whether you experience successes or failures you can learn and grow from all of it,” Tucker said Sunday afternoon after arriving in Atlanta from New York. “You just have to continue to pursue greatness and continue to push and challenge yourself.”
Wednesday afternoon, even with constraints made upon her time with travel preparations still needing to be made for the trip, she took the time to attend an after school function and support one of the organizations to which she had made a personal commitment.
“It’s just something I enjoy doing as Student Body President, supporting my school and participating in all of our school events,” Tucker said. “I’m used to multi-tasking anyway, so I just had to make it happen.”
“That’s just who she is,” said longtime Aiken High School Counselor Sally Tice, who made the trip to New York City as part of Tucker’s support team. “She is very grateful for everything, and everyone who has played a role in who she is now. She supports everything she does and commits to with excitement. People like her don’t come along very often. Period.”
Much of her story of personal struggle, and an iron will that was formed in the extreme heat of personal tragedy is now well known thanks to her tremendous performance on the national stage. Her father’s death under violent circumstances when she was just a young girl has driven her to honor his memory with each and every breath she takes.
And honor him she has, like no average young person ever could.
Sally Tice said during conversations with Wendy’s High School Heisman representatives she learned that, mathematically speaking, Tucker’s victory could be considered more impressive than Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson’s, who won the nation’s Heisman Trophy during that prestigious award’s ceremony Saturday evening in the very same PlayStation Theater.
“It’s easier to win the football Heisman than it is to win the Wendy’s High School Heisman because you are talking about taking seven million high school student-athletes down to ten,” Tice stated. “There are far fewer total college athletes than that (around 460,000), much less counting just those playing football (around 13,000 at the Division I level). To combine the athletics and academics and then have the community service component, everyone knows it’s just an honor to be in that amazing group of ten – she’s just overwhelmed.”
And in the three categories displayed upon the Wendy’s High School Heisman trophy, of academics, athletics and community service, she is now without peer.
She will finish her high school career in the top one-percent of her class, she has already won a state track championship as an elite hurdler, and she has represented her state with distinction as President of the Palmetto State’s National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Youth Chapter.
As a Wendy’s High School Heisman winner, Tucker will receive a $10,000 scholarship and a $500 Wendy’s gift card. Tucker says she plans to attend Rice University in Houston, Texas.
As an example of what and who an Aiken County Public School District student should aspire to be, Superintendent Dr. Sean Alford says Tucker shines as the perfect embodiment of the way the ideal student-athlete should pursue success in all aspects of life.
“We couldn't be more proud of Frelicia and the example she has set for her school, Aiken County and the nation,” Aiken County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Sean Alford stated Friday evening in the wake of her victory. “Frelicia raises the bar on every level and is simply an amazing human being whom I have the pleasure to learn from and grow with as together with our students, parents and community we are creating a school system that embraces change and celebrates excellence. Frelicia loves her family, school and community and we all love her. Frelicia is Aiken County Public Schools – passion and determination immeasurable.”
Please click HERE to enjoy a Wendy's High School Heisman video dedicated to Aiken High's Frelicia Tucker!
A CONVERSATION WITH WENDY’S HIGH SCHOOL HEISMAN WINNER FRELICIA TUCKER
ACPSD: What exactly does the girl who has a brand new Wendy’s High School Heisman award plan to look for under her Christmas tree this year?
FRELICIA: I can’t even think of anything that I would need or want for Christmas this year. I am just over the moon right now. I have too many things already. I have a $500 Wendy’s gift card so I am good to go. I had a trip to New York, and I had never been there before so Christmas is done. Now I can just celebrate with my family, that will be the highlight of my Christmas.
ACPSD: We talked a while back about you practicing your Heisman pose, and you ended up needing that after all didn’t you?
FRELICIA: That’s exactly right, I sure did. The first time I recall seeing anything about the Wendy’s High School Heisman was in an advertisement, before (Aiken High Counselor Sally Tice, who nominated her for the award) had even said anything about it. I thought that if it included academics, athletics and community service that I would want to be a part of it, so I definitely knew that I was going to apply and I thought I might have a good shot. If you do your best to be a good person inside and out and you really want to make a difference, then this is for you.
ACPSD: You’ve talked a lot about how important it has been to you to set a good example for your classmates and other students in Aiken County. As much as things may have changed in your life recently, you don’t plan to change at all do you?
FRELICIA: Definitely not. Before I went to New York, I was open and always here for them and ready to help them and now that I am back that hasn’t changed. I still want them to stop me in the hallways. Please, come talk to me. I can’t wait to have a conversation with them and do anything I can to help them. As a mentor, that’s who I am supposed to be and what I am supposed to do. I want them to ask questions and challenge me as much as possible.
ACPSD: What will life be like now for you after winning such a huge award?
FRELICIA: I imagine there will be lots of congratulations when I get home and I hope there will be lots of hugs from my friends and family so I am excited about that, but (winning the Wendy’s High School Heisman) I am going to continue on the journey. This is certainly not the end, but just a beginning. This is a great start. I am going to continue to pursue excellence academically and athletically. All of this just tells me that I am on the right track.
ACPSD: Do you feel like that is a key to success, never settling for the present but always striving for the future? Most especially for young people?
FRELICIA: That’s definitely what life is all about – that and being able to learn from any experience you may have.
ACPSD: What would be your advice to that student who may feel a little lost right now? Maybe they have experienced some tragedy in their life, or are facing some personal adversity. What would you say to them?
FRELICIA: I would just tell them to do whatever they could to keep a positive mindset and keep thinking about the blessings we have in life because we all have them. Waking up each day is a blessing. Whether your experiences are good or bad they are a blessing because you get to learn from them. You don’t want to always look on the past and all your struggles as that, but rather look at those things as obstacles to overcome because you will if you keep pushing.
LINK TO DISTRICT NEWS RELEASE: 2016 PR FRELICIA WENDYS HEISMAN