NCHSAA Endowments

In 2006/07, through a private donation from Pat Gainey’s daughter, Berry Jo Shoen, the Gainey Student Athlete Scholarship Award was established to recognize “Athletic Achievement and Strength of Character” in one athlete, annually. Awards currently alternate between a senior female athlete and a male baseball player at an NCHSAA member high school located within a county of limited financial resources. This award is presented at the NCHSAA Annual Meeting held each May in Chapel Hill. The recipient receives a $2,000 scholarship award and a commemorative plaque.

About Pat Gainey:  A native of Dunn, Gainey recorded a phenomenal record in women’s basketball at a couple of different stops during his coaching career and was a real supporter of women’s athletics.  His overall record at Pamlico was an incredible 93-6 in women’s basketball and he also fielded outstanding baseball teams there. He then moved to Taylorsville, where he coached from 1955-64. His women’s basketball teams collectively won five Western North Carolina High School Activities Association titles and at one point recorded 54 consecutive wins and 140 straight conference victories. His overall women’s basketball mark was 358-57.

Eligibility requirements:
1.    Cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher throughout high school academic career.
2.    Clean disciplinary records, both school and athletics related.
3.    Demonstrated athletic success (attach list and any related newspaper clippings, awards, pictures, etc.)
4.    Male athlete participating on a baseball team at a NCHSAA member high school located within a county of limited financial resources (Counties include those described in 2009 Bureau of Census report for North Carolina as having estimated poverty level rates for children ages 0-17 years at 20% or higher; see list below of qualifying counties).
You must be attending a school located in one of the following counties identified as a county of limited resources per the 2009 Bureau of Census report of North Carolina.

To apply: Download the North Carolina High School Athletic Association scholarship application

2007:     Kathryn “Kate” Moye, Pamlico County High School
2008:    Thomas “TJ” Scholl, Swansboro High School
2009:    Victoria Williams, Goldsboro High School
2010:    Troy "Ty" Eason III, South Lenoir High School
2011:     Elizabeth Dillon Batchelor, Washington High School
2011:     Haley Gene Lanier, Pender High School