2024–2025 Alford Family Golf Scholarship Winners

Created in 2020 by then-NCHSAA Assistant Commissioner Brad Alford, the Alford Family Golf Scholarship provides financial assistance to one male and one female golfer who will continue their educational and athletic career at the next level. The Alford Family Golf Scholarship is given through the NCHSAA Foundation. Recipients must demonstrate how the shared core values of the NCHSAA and the game of golf have affected their lives as high school student-athletes. 

Recipients must display leadership qualities that include sportsmanship as a player and integrity as a person. The student-athlete must share how they plan to give back to the game in the future. 2025 is the third year the Alford Family Golf Scholarships have been awarded. 

The winners of the 2024-2025 Alford Family Golf Scholarship are Iyana Smith from Cox Mill and Joshua Gillespie from Kings Mountain. 

Iyana Smith

Iyana found her passion for golf in an unexpected way, turning a freshman-year setback into a life-changing opportunity. Initially aspiring to play volleyball, she was encouraged by her grandfather, who also serves as her coach, to try golf after not making the team. Since then, Iyana has emerged as a dedicated and accomplished student-athlete with a 3.54 GPA. Over four years at Cox Mill High School, she earned multiple varsity letters, several “Player of the Match” honors, and All-Conference and All-Region recognitions. She helped lead her team to back-to-back Cabarrus County Championships. As team captain her senior year, she embraced a leadership role, mentoring teammates and fostering a positive, inclusive team culture. Outside of athletics, she is an Adobe Certified Professional in both visual and video design, a ten-year Girl Scout, and an active community volunteer involved in programs like Ruby’s Kids and local food drives. Iyana will attend Bridgewater College to major in Business Administration, with a vision of one day launching a business that uses golf as a platform for mentorship and empowerment, especially for underserved youth. Her perseverance, leadership, and commitment to service embody the core values of the game and the mission of the NCHSAA, making her a deserving recipient of the Alford Family Golf Scholarship.

Joshua Gillespie

Joshua has been immersed in the game of golf since the age of two. A dedicated student-athlete with a 3.80 GPA, he has been a consistent leader on the Kings Mountain High School golf team, earning All-Conference honors in both his sophomore and junior years. His passion was shaped by years of involvement in the First Tee program and by competing in multiple NCHSAA State Championships. Joshua credits golf’s core values of discipline, patience, and integrity with shaping his character both on and off the course. In addition to his athletic accomplishments, he has been a committed member of the Beta Club and has served as a basketball team manager, showing his willingness to lead and support others. Joshua will attend Greensboro College to study Business, with a vision of launching a company that makes golf more accessible to underserved youth. His goal is to provide equipment, course access, and mentorship to children who might not otherwise have the opportunity to experience the game. His leadership, compassion, and commitment to giving back make him a deserving recipient of the Alford Family Golf Scholarship.

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