Every year at Oviedo High School, a group of approximately 600 students competes to top the class rankings for their respective year. This year, thanks to hard work and infallible drive, one of those top spots belongs to Aiden Aysun.
“Aiden has a work ethic that [you] don’t see in a lot of people,” Aysun’s junior cross country teammate Nathanial Watson said. “When he sets a goal, he will do anything in his power to accomplish it.”
This drive and hard work have brought Aiden into a joint first position in the class of 2026, sharing with his two brothers. As a co-valedictorian, Aiden was tied for the highest GPA among the graduating class, which he was able to balance with success in extracurriculars.
“[I balanced my activities] by using Google Calendar plus having supportive parents and mentors,” Aysun said.
This organization and support system allowed Aysun to manage his schoolwork, both academics and his large role in the robotics club, with his pursuit of success in running. Aysun’s hard work on the track translated to results similar to those in the classroom.
In his senior season, Aysun helped lead the team to 2nd place in the Florida 4A State Cross Country Championship with a personal placement of 24th. On the track, he was able to place 2nd in the District for the 3200 meter and 5th in the District for the 1600 meter.
“[Aiden] is hardworking, competitive and consistent,” junior teammate Levi Mollica said.
While Aiden’s own accomplishments in academics and athletics are enough to get him remembered at Oviedo for years to come, his impact on classmates and teammates is just as important a part of telling his high school story.
“Aiden helps others by encouraging them to achieve their full potential. He’s the one that made me believe I could be decent at running and to keep going toward my goals,” Watson said.
While Aysun may have aced every challenge that Oviedo could throw at him, that does not mean he didn’t grow through his time at Oviedo. In fact Aysun, learned some lessons that have taught him to be the leader he is today.
“[The most important lesson I learned at Oviedo was to] never judge before talking with someone. Most people have lives that are deep and much more interesting than the surface level image they portray,” Aysun said.
This lesson helped Aysun to connect with his peers and help push them to new heights through encouragement and providing a supportive voice.
Aysun will now move forward into a new era in his life after his commitment to MIT, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, to continue running and advance his education as he works toward a degree in engineering. Aysun’s education now and through the future helps to build toward his goal.
“[My goal] is to grow a loving family and build something that makes the world a better place,” Aysun said.
