In North Carolina, basketball is king. With intense NCAA rivalries and a pool of talented players from across the state, it’s no wonder that kids grow up watching and playing a lot of hoops. By the time they reach middle school, many students have dreams of playing college and professional basketball.
This summer, more than 50 middle school students will have a chance to live out their dreams with the athletes and coaches at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and N.C. State University.
Through the Touchstone Energy Sports Camp Scholarship program, each of the 26 electric cooperatives in North Carolina will award one middle school boy a scholarship to attend the Roy Williams Carolina Basketball Camp June 20-24 at UNC-Chapel Hill, and one middle school girl a scholarship to attend the Wolfpack Women’s Basketball Camp June 21-24 at N.C. State.
“It meant a lot to me to get to go to college with athletes and get to meet them and become a better basketball player,” said Hailey Woodard, a scholarship recipient in 2017.
To apply for the scholarship, fill out the online application by March 31, 2020. Applicants must be in sixth, seventh or eighth grade during the 2020-2021 school year. Students currently in eighth grade are not eligible for the scholarship program, per NCAA rules and regulations.
The scholarship covers all expenses at the overnight camps. During the day, campers learn valuable basketball and life skills from current and former players and Division 1 coaches. At night, campers stay in college dorms, giving them a glimpse into life on campus. Wes Moore, coach of the Wolfpack women’s basketball team, and Roy Williams, coach of the Carolina Tar Heel men’s basketball team, direct the camps.
This year marks the 17th year of the scholarship program sponsored by Touchstone Energy Cooperatives. The program reflects the Touchstone Energy values of accountability, integrity, innovation and commitment to community. Learn more and apply at ncelectriccooperatives.com/sports-camps.
