CHAPEL HILL –Kearra Brinson of Tarboro High School and Nathaniel Dunlap of Albemarle High School are the recipients of the sixth annual Clary Medals awarded by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association.

The two outstanding student-athletes will be recognized at the NCHSAA’s Annual Meeting on Thursday at the Dean E. Smith Center on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

The Clary Medal is made possible through the generosity of the Eddie and Jo Allison Smith Family Foundation through the NCHSAA Endowment. It annually recognizes an outstanding male and female student-athlete, who will each receive a $2,000 scholarship to further his or her education at the college level.

To be eligible for the award, a student must be a senior at an NCHSAA member school, participate on at least two athletic teams, maintain at least a 3.2 cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale, and demonstrate excellence in athletic participation, extra-curricular activities and community service.

Brinson was a four-year athlete in volleyball, while also playing basketball and running track during her career at Tarboro. She was a two-time captain and most valuable player of the volleyball team and twice earned all-conference honors. 

She has excelled academically, earning membership in the National Honor Society, as well as serving in the Interact Club, the Environmental Awareness Club, and on the yearbook staff. She has also participated in the NCHSAA’s Coach-Captain Retreat program. Brinson will continue her education at the University of North Carolina. 

Dunlap played three years of football and basketball at Albemarle and is a four-year baseball player, earning 10 varsity letters during this career. He was the Most Valuable Player as the Albemarle quarterback in the NCHSAA 2010 1-AA state football championship game.

A member of the Beta Club, the National Honor Society and vice-president of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Dunlap has also served on the Student Council and with the Junior Civitans. He is president of the youth fellowship at Main Street United Methodist Church and has been on several mission trips with his church.  He plans to continue his education either at Gardner-Webb University or Wingate University. 

The award is in memory of Wilburn Columbus Clary, a member of the NCHSAA Hall of Fame who was an outstanding coach and game official. He served as the executive secretary of the old Western North Carolina High School Activities Association from 1948 through 1977, when its schools joined the NCHSAA. Clary was also the first collegiate football official to be inducted into the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame.

“Both are exemplary citizens and student-athletes,” said Davis Whitfield, NCHSAA commissioner. “They are outstanding selections for the Clary Medals, which is one of the top awards the NCHSAA can present to a student.”