Pat Gainey Student Scholarship Award Grant

In 2006/07, through support from the Shoen Family Foundation, the Pat Gainey Student-Athlete Scholarship Award was established to recognize "Athletic Achievement and Strength of Character" annually and provide financial support for two student-athletes with a major focus on need-based applicants.
Pat Gainey, a Dunn, NC native and proponent of women's athletics, showcased a phenomenal record in women's basketball. His overall women's basketball record at Pamlico was an incredible 93-6. He then moved to Taylorsville where he coached from 1955-1964. His women's basketball teams collectively won five Western North Carolina High School Activities Association titles and at one point, recorded 54 consecutive wins and 140 straight conference victories. His overall women's basketball mark was 358-57.
Under Pat's tutelage, the Pamlico baseball teams captured 4 Seashore Conference Championships and compiled an overall record of 67-7 including 24 straight conference wins. Pat Gainey always had a great knowledge of baseball and spent the summer months scouting professional baseball prospects. Pat scouted a combined 18 years for the New York Giants and Chicago White Sox.
Award presentation: NCHSAA Annual Awards Celebration, Piedmont Hall/Greensboro; June 2026 (date TBD)

Eligibility

Applicant must be either a senior, male high school varsity baseball player participating on a team at an NCHSAA member high school OR a senior, female high school varsity student-athlete participating on a sanctioned sports team at an NCHSAA member school.Applicant must reside in an eligible county of limited financial resources. These include counties designated by the state as Tier 1 and Tier 2 economically distressed counties. Consideration will be given to data reported within the FAFSA Submission Summary generated through the FAFSA process, including the Student Aid Index number (SAI).Minimum cumulative un-weighted GPA of 3.2 or higher.Clean disciplinary record during high school/athletic participation.Demonstrated athletic success.Must complete graduation requirements in 2026 Spring semester from an NCHSAA member high school and plan to enroll, or already be enrolled, for the Fall 2026 semester in an accredited and recognized university, college, or community college anywhere in the United States.

Ineligibility

If you reside/attend school in one of the following counties (Tier 3), you are NOT considered eligible to apply:Brunswick County  Cabarrus CountyCamden CountyCarteret CountyChatham CountyCurrituck CountyDavie CountyDurham CountyHenderson CountyIredell CountyJohnston County Lincoln CountyMecklenburg CountyMoore CountyNew Hanover CountyOrange CountyPender CountyUnion CountyWake County