The North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) and the NCHSAA Foundation are proud to announce the recipients of the 2024–2025 Pat Gainey Student-Athlete Scholarship Award: Antonio Lee Jr. of Dudley High School and Erwing Soza of Highland School of Technology.
Established in 2006 through support from the Shoen Family Foundation, the Pat Gainey Scholarship is awarded annually to two student-athletes who demonstrate athletic achievement, strength of character, and financial need. The award honors the legacy of Coach Pat Gainey, a trailblazer in women’s athletics who led his teams to multiple championships in both basketball and baseball while serving as a dedicated coach, scout, and mentor.
Antonio Lee Jr. – Dudley High School
A standout student-athlete and leader, Antonio Lee Jr. has made a lasting impact both in the classroom and on the field. With a weighted GPA of 4.69 and a class rank of 2nd at Dudley High School, Antonio has balanced academic excellence with athletic success in football, baseball, and track & field. His accolades include All-Conference honors, MVP recognitions, a state title in the 4×2 relay, and leadership as a team captain.
Beyond athletics, Antonio is actively involved in community service through organizations such as United Way, Out of the Garden, Urban Ministry, and Special Olympics. His goal is to pursue a career in industrial and systems engineering at North Carolina A&T State University, where he plans to uplift underserved communities through innovation and mentorship. Antonio exemplifies integrity, humility, and the power of perseverance.
Erwing Soza – Highland School of Technology
Erwing Soza is a dynamic multi-sport athlete and first-generation college student who excels in baseball and basketball. With a weighted GPA of 4.48 and a class rank of 36 out of 125, he has earned numerous honors, including MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, All-Conference, and Most Coachable awards. Off the field, Erwing is deeply involved in Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), the National Technical Honor Society, and a variety of employment and leadership roles.
His community impact is profound—he created the Highland & Woodhill Partnership to tutor and translate for Spanish-speaking elementary students, bridging language barriers in his community. His passion for sports, business, and service led to an internship with the Gastonia Ghost Peppers, where he helped expand outreach to Hispanic audiences. Erwing plans to study Business Administration and pursue a career in professional sports management, with a focus on community connection and representation.
The Clary Medal is made possible through the generosity of the Eddie and Jo Allison Smith Family Foundation and annually recognizes an outstanding male and female varsity student-athlete participating in varsity competition in at least two NCHSAA-sanctioned teams. The award is based on each individual’s excellence in athletic participation, extra-curricular activities, and community service, exhibiting a desire to excel in all areas of life – athletics, education, sportsmanship, teamwork, leadership, honesty, and integrity. The Wilburn Clary Medal was first awarded in 2006 and is dedicated to Wilburn Clary. Clary’s athletic career involved coaching, officiating, and administration. He coached several sports at the Methodist Children’s Home for almost 30 years, was an outstanding high school and collegiate official, and served as the executive secretary of the Western North Carolina High School Activities Association from 1949 until 1977 when the organization merged with the NCHSAA.
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