Albemarle student-athlete awarded scholarship

Graduating senior Miles Gregory is the state’s male award honoree

Miles Gregory holds his Male Athlete of the Year Award given by Albemarle High (photo courtesy of Miles Gregory)

ALBEMARLE — Through a partnership with the North Carolina High School Athletic Association and the streaming service FloSports, a Stanly County student-athlete was recently awarded a $1,000 outdoor track and field scholarship.

Albemarle High School graduating senior Miles Gregory is the male winner of the 2023-24 FloSports Scholarship. He is set to attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he aims to study physical therapy or kinesiology.

On an annual basis, FloSports designates funds to be used towards scholarship support of one male and one female outdoor track and field student-athlete at NCHSAA member schools.

“I’m extremely honored to receive this award. Thank you to NCHSAA and FloSports,” Gregory said in a social media post.

This past school year, Gregory was a prolific member of the Bulldogs’ football, wrestling, and track and field teams, earning the Male Athlete of the Year Award for his high school.

On the gridiron, he started all four years and made All-Conference three times. In his other athletic ventures, he finished as the runner-up in the wrestling regional and also qualified for the indoor state championships in the shot put this winter.

“Deeply humbled and honored to be chosen as the Male Athlete of the Year for Albemarle High School for 2023-24. Of all the awards I’ve received this year, this one is by far the most unexpected, and touched my heart,” Gregory said. “This honor is a beautiful culmination of my high school journey. A big thank you to everyone who has supported me along the way. Here’s to the next chapter!”

Last year, Gregory was one of 24 NCHSAA Heart of a Champion Award winners in the state. The award recognizes student-athletes who meet a high level of academic criteria, athletic involvement and sound character; Miles’ younger brother Vincent won the 2023-24 award.

Gregory also volunteers as a Special Olympics coach, a mentor with the Big Brother program, a CTE Ambassador, and a youth league football camp coach.

His other accolades include being involved as a Chief Junior Marshal, Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society member, and Dean’s List member at Stanly Community College. He recently graduated from Albemarle with a 4.0 unweighted GPA as class valedictorian and made the President’s List at Stanly Community College with 44 college credit hours.

“Living with ADHD and SPD has been a challenge, but it has also made me more determined,” Gregory said in a statement given to NCHSAA. “I have learned to work hard, gain confidence, and overcome my shyness. Today, I stand at the top of my class, a testament to my perseverance. If I could speak to my eight-year-old self, I would tell him to never give up, to keep pushing, and that he will rise to every occasion.”