CHAPEL HILL, NC – Lowe's Home Improvement, specifically the Lowe's 4 Pros Division, in conjunction with the North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA), has selected Jacob Harrell from Gates County High School, David Ray from John A. Holmes High School, and Cassidy Rouse from Jones Senior High School as the recipients of the Lowe's Campus Captain award for June. 

The Lowe's Campus Captain program offers a platform through which school administrators, parents, students, and school community members can nominate deserving individuals for special recognition monthly during the school year. 

Individuals are nominated as a Lowe's Campus Captain for helping play an integral role in building back sports during the COVID-19 pandemic.  In addition, these individuals are selected for role models, making a difference in students' lives, exhibiting good citizenship, excelling in academics/athletics (students), and/or positively impacting their peers. Each recipient receives a commemorative award and Lowe's Home Improvement gift certificate.

Jacob Harrell is a Physical Education teacher, head Baseball coach, and Athletic Director at Gates County High School.  During the COVID-19 pandemic, Coach Harrell diligently worked with Athletic Directors in the region to develop protocols to ensure student-athletes could participate in sports. He effectively communicated the protocols and changes to the sports season with student-athletes, coaches, parents, and the community.  In addition, he intensely followed all guidelines, even sanitizing the gym after games and matches himself.  Coach Harrell always went the extra mile and was first at the school and last to leave, working tirelessly to ensure student-athletes had the best sports season possible.  He even organized the first-ever Golf team for Gates County in the 2021 spring semester. 

David Ray, the Athletic Booster Club President at John A. Holmes High School, is the next recipient of the June Lowe's Campus Captain Award. Mr. Ray's behind-the-scenes work helps make the Aces student-athletes perform at the highest level.  During the spring and summer of 2020, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr. Ray managed to repair Holmes' tennis courts, which had been deemed unplayable in 2019.  Cracks were filled, screens stabilized, pressured-washed, and painted, and the tennis teams could host home matches during the 2020-2021 year. As booster club president, Mr. Ray helps organize fundraisers and special events to support the Aces athletic programs and recognize student-athletes achievements.  

The final recipient of the June Lowe's Campus Captain award is Cassidy Rouse, a volleyball, basketball, and softball student-athlete at Jones Senior High School.  As a freshman, Cassidy played a crucial role in helping to recruit her peers to participate in athletics.  With most students learning remotely, participation numbers were meager, resulting in no JV volleyball team and only two girls trying basketball.  With Cassidy and other female student-athletes reaching out and encouraging others to participate, Jones played a Basketball team during the COVID-19 pandemic.  In addition, she planned, created, and hung hand-made posters to celebrate the senior student-athletes in nearly every sport, not just the sports in which she participated. Nominator Joy Wynne said, "Cassidy has been a quiet, positive, and genuine force that has contributed greatly in the improved overall spirit and camaraderie of sports at Jones Senior High."

"The North Carolina High School Athletic Association, in conjunction with Lowe's Home Improvement and its 4 Pros Division, is very pleased and proud to honor Jacob Harrell, David Ray, and Cassidy Rouse with the June Campus Captain awards," said Que Tucker, Commissioner of the NCHSAA. "Each of these recipients exemplifies what it means to be a leader by demonstrating a willingness to impact the lives of their peers and their respective communities positively. It is this commitment and dedication that make each worthy of receiving the Lowe's Campus Captain Award."

Lowe’s Home Improvement, specifically the Lowe’s 4 Pros division, has joined together with the NCHSAA in 2020-2021 to Build Back Sports as we work to navigate the return to sports safely during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Lowe’s Home Improvement is the Official Supplier of the NCHSAA and provides guidance, materials, and discounts to NCHSAA member schools.