DEEP RUN — To administration’s knowledge, South Lenoir High School senior Cameron Gray is the first student in the school’s history to win one of the state’s most prestigious scholarship awards.
He was named the winner of the Park Scholarship of N.C. State last week.
While the school’s valedictorian is pretty much set for a college career, it still may not be at N.C. State. Gray was awarded the Most Prestigious Merit Scholarship from ECU and has been named a finalist in the Benjamin N. Duke Scholarship Program at Duke University as well.
The youngster certainly has some strong options.
“I’ve been a Dukie all my life, but if the full ride to Duke doesn’t work out, then probably the Park,” Gray said about weighing his probable choices, “and if it doesn’t work out, I’ll have some thinking to do. They’re both great programs.”
Since he was a child, he said his mom instilled in him the idea of becoming his school’s valedictorian. It’s exactly what he set out to do — and now he’s arrived at the goal.
“She created a monster, and she didn’t’ know it,” Gray said about his mother. “I’ve always kind of wanted to be at the top of my class. I had that goal since I was a freshman.”
Gray has earned a 4.958 overall grade point average, taking seven advanced placement classes along the way.
“He is a great student,” said Nulette Potter, Gray’s AP Calculus teacher. “He catches on quickly, he understands (and) he helps others.”
She added that he’s never tried to evade hard work in the classroom.
“I’m proud that Cameron is a very honest person,” Potter said. “He is a person of integrity.”
Two more of Gray’s AP teachers had glowing remarks to give as well.
“In 30 years of teaching, he is undoubtedly the most conscientious student I’ve ever had the pleasure of teaching,” said English teacher Penny Murphy. “One of the things I think makes him so unique … is he takes constructive criticism as well as any child I’ve ever encountered.”
Gray’s AP Environmental Science teacher, Ryan Gardner, said his membership as the school’s quiz bowl captain lifted the team to new heights.
“With his help, we won the county and region last year,” Gardner said. “I can say he’s always been a No. 1 student since the day he walked on this campus. (He is) just super nice, super smart — the total package.”
Gray said he used his quiz bowl teammates to form a tutoring group on campus, which has logged more than 30 study hours this year. While he helps his fellow classmates, he hasn’t forgotten those who’ve supported him along the way — which include his older brother, parents, teachers and South Lenoir Guidance Counselor Danita Sheppard.
Gray also has a younger brother who attends South Lenoir.
“Cameron has always been very focused and a great student,” Sheppard said. “He is one that is going to that is going to the extra mile. I think his influence over his senior class has been tremendous, because I think they look up to him and his accomplishments.”
She said being accepted into the Park Scholarship Program is a difficult task where some South Lenoir students have previously reached the semi-final level. The program has 45 slots — 30 for North Carolina residents — and there were 1,650 applications submitted this year.
“North Carolina is such a good college state. I thought about applying to some Ivy League schools, but I didn’t,” Gray said, adding he was a homebody. “(The Parks Scholarship Program) is just an all encompassing mind-blowing program.”
Jessika Morgan can be reached at 252-559-1078 or at jessika.morgan@kinston.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessikaMorgan.