CHAPEL HILL—High school students in the spring semester earned over 18,000 individual awards for achievements in the classroom as well as on the playing court or athletic field.
            The North Carolina High School Athletic Association made the awards in its Scholar-Athlete program presented by the North Carolina National Guard, which includes recognition of varsity teams that attain certain grades as well as individual athletes.
            A total of 8,232 student-athletes earned the individual Scholar-Athlete award.
            Individual Scholar-Athletes attained at least a 3.5 grade point average for the semester in which he or she competed.  The award is based on first semester grades for fall and winter sports and second semester grades for spring sports, and the school submits the nomination form verifying the grade point average on behalf of the athlete or team.
            In the team division, a varsity team earns Scholar-Athlete recognition by attaining a 3.1 aggregate GPA for that designated semester.  The school receives a certificate from the Association honoring the accomplishment and each member of the squad will also receive a certificate. A total of 10,332 individual awards were given in this category, and 498 varsity teams captured team honors.
            A minimum of five individuals is necessary to constitute a team, and all team members must be included in figuring the team GPA.  The team achieving the highest grade point average in the state in its particular sport and submitting its application by the appropriate deadline receives a plaque commemorating that achievement.
            "We are extremely proud of the achievements of these outstanding student-athletes," said Davis Whitfield, NCHSAA commissioner.  "Our Scholar-Athlete program demonstrates that we have a tremendous number of athletes who are participating in athletics and succeeding in the classroom."
            Weddington captured top honors in three sports and West Wilkes was a double winner.  
            The Scholar-Athlete recognition has been a part of the NCHSAA program for over 25 years. Over 1,200 varsity teams were recognized during the 2013-14 academic year and over 37,000 certificates were presented.
           
 
NCHSAA SCHOLAR-ATHLETE TEAM AWARD WINNERS
NCHSAA Spring Sports 2014
Presented by the North Carolina National Guard
SPORT                 SCHOOL                   GRADE POINT AVG
Softball                       West Wilkes                              3.720
Baseball                      West Wilkes                              3.670
Men's Tennis              Wilkes Central                           3.904
Women's Soccer          Weddington                              3.759
Men's Track                Weddington                              3.492
Women's Track           Avery                                        3.800
Men’s Golf                  Union Pines                              3.650
Women's Lacrosse      Weddington                              3.560
Men's Lacrosse           Page                                         3.333