CHAPEL HILL — Four schools, one in each classification, have been named winners of the inaugural North Carolina High School Athletic Association Student Services School of the Year Awards.

Ayden-Grifton High School in the 1-A classification, North Wilkes among 2-A schools, Greenville’s D.H. Conley in the 3-A class and Matthews David Butler in 4-A earned the honor for the 2006-2007 academic year.

The new award is designed to recognize schools for exemplary involvement and dedication to the NCHSAA Student Services program. That would include but would not be limited to such activities as the Student-Athlete Summer Institutes (SASI), NCHSAA Coach-Captain Retreats, coaches’ education programs, DREAM Team (Daring to Role Model Excellence as Athletic Mentors) or Peer-Athlete Team Helpers (PATH).

Personnel involved with the Student Services program, such as directors of the Student-Athlete Summer Institutes (SASI) and facilitators working with the NCHSAA Coach-Captain Retreats, could nominate schools for the award. A special committee made the final selection.

Each of the four schools will receive a special award as well as a cash stipend of $400. The winning schools will also provide a poster or portfolio illustrating their Student Services activities to be displayed at the NCHSAA regional meetings later in September.

“The Student Services program prepares student-athletes, coaches and other school personnel as mentors, role models and leaders,” said Mark Dreibelbis, assistant executive director of the NCHSAA and director of the Student Services program. “These efforts truly do make a difference, and each school recognized here has exemplified the best of our program in developing outreach activities in their schools and communities. School-initiated projects promote positive values, respect, teamwork and sportsmanship, and we are very proud of what these schools have done.”