One of the special scholarship opportunities offered by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association is named for a retired long-time executive director of the organization.

The Charlie Adams Endowed Student Scholarship was given for the first time during the 2009-10 academic year and is named for former NCHSAA executive director Charlie Adams. A pair of $1,500 scholarships to further a student-athlete’s education are presented at the NCHSAA Annual Meeting in May.

The awards go to a female athlete participating on a varsity cross-country team at an NCHSAA member school and is given in honor of Michelle Adams Szwajkun, the daughter of Charlie and Sue who was a member of the Chapel Hill High School team which won the 1984 state championship. The male award goes to a varsity wrestler at an NCHSAA school and is in memory of the late Scott Adams, the son of Charlie and Sue who was the first Chapel Hill High wrestler to compete in the state wrestling championships.

The scholarship is available for students in those sports who are graduating seniors and plan to enroll in higher education. Students must also submit an essay specifically addressing how athletic participation has influenced their decision making as well as submitting a recommendation from at least one coach noting qualities of the nominee relative to athletic achievement, leadership, sportsmanship and character.

Deadline to submit materials is March 18, 2011. The nomination form  with additional detail is found on the NCHSAA web site front page, under the drop down menu Scholarship/Awards. Questions may be directed to Mary Vrnak in the NCHSAA offices at (919) 240-7371.