GREENSBORO SPORTS COUNCIL AWARDS BILL LEE SCHOLARSHIPS TO FOUR GREENSBORO STUDENTS
For immediate release. Dec. 3, 2024
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Four Greensboro high school seniors received the Bill Lee Scholarship during today’s pairings event for the 2024 HAECO Invitational, the Greensboro Sports Council announced today. The Council began awarding these $2,000 scholarships during its annual high school basketball tournament in 2001. The 48th HAECO Invitational is set for Dec. 19-21, 2024 at the Greensboro Complex Novant Health Fieldhouse and Special Event Center.
The Bill Lee Scholarship is awarded to four tournament participants each year. Participating schools are invited to nominate student athletes; winners are the most-qualified applicants regardless of which school they represent. Including the 2024 winners, who are listed alphabetically below, 97 student athletes won the Bill Lee Scholarship since the program’s inception. In addition to receiving their scholarships during today’s annual HAECO Invitational pairings announcement, the winners will be recognized during the championship games on Saturday, Dec. 21.
Ragsdale High School’s Josiah Beatty’s family moved to central North Carolina from Michigan in 2022. He has a Cumulative GPA of 4.3; he is a Junior Marshal, a member of the National Honor Society, Student Council treasurer, Ragsdale Student Ambassador and an AP Ambassador. Beatty volunteers as a Ragsdale Usher/Junior Marshal, for One Church and the Yalik African American Culture Movement. In addition to basketball, volunteering and academics, he holds a part-time job at High Point University working as a waiter and serving assistant. He hopes to attend UNC-Charlotte, Purdue University or Georgia Tech University and is considering a career in information security.
Addison Newkirk represents Greensboro Day School holding a 3.83 cumulative GPA. Newkirk is a member of the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta Math Honors Society and a four-year member of the head’s list. On the basketball court, Newkirk is a 1,000-point scorer, 2024 All-State Honorable mention, 2023 State Champion and a three-year captain. Newkirk volunteers with Service without Borders, Best Buds, math tutoring and Math Counts. He hopes to attend Wake Forest University, Washington & Lee University or the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is considering a career as a business/investment analyst, Wealth Management, Biomedical Science, Animal Science, Archaeology, basketball coach, journalist or sports commentator.
Sophia Stevens is a student at Southeast Guilford High School with a 4.3 cumulative GPA. She is a member of the National Honor Society, National Technical Honor Society, Robotics Club and has Career and Technical Education certifications in Game Design and Entrepreneurship. She is a four-year, first-team starter, three-year team captain and recorded more assists and steals than any other player last season. Stevens volunteers with Wilpar Estates Helping Hands, SMART Committee, National Honor Society, Falcon Friends, Student Ambassadors and Little Falcon Camp. She hopes to attend High Point University, Augusta University or Greensboro College and is considering a career as a sports media broadcaster or graphic designer.
Candace Williams represents Greensboro Day School and carries a 4.2 cumulative GPA. She is a member of the National Honor Society and the Math Honor Society. On the court, she scored her 1,000th point last season, is a three-time HAECO Invitational All-Tournament Team member and the 2023 MVP, 4A Metro Player of the year, Greensboro News & Record All-Area first team, PTAC All-Conference and NCISAA All-State Team. She is also the captain of cross-country team. Williams volunteers at Court Kicks for Kids, Heart for Hope, Mount Zion Church as well as coaching the GDS middle-school team and speaking to elementary school students in the mornings. She plans to play basketball at Barton College and is considering a career as a criminal attorney, a doctor, teacher or police officer.
Bill Lee was a Greensboro native and resident who was a major supporter of local sports. The Bill Lee Memorial Scholarship was established by the Greensboro Sports Council following Lee’s death in 2001. Recipients are nominated by the schools participating in the HAECO Invitational each year, and the Greensboro Sports Council awards the scholarships. Each nomination is considered with the following criteria: 40% academic, 40% athletic and 20% civic.
About the HAECO Invitational:
The HAECO Invitational is an annual high school basketball tournament in Greensboro, N.C. Founded in 1976 as the Little 4 Invitational, the tournament features men’s and women’s teams representing eight high schools located in or around Guilford County. The tournament is played at the Greensboro Complex. Tournament proceeds are donated to local charities and the participating schools; the HAECO Invitational is planned and presented by the Greensboro Sports Council. For more information, please visit www.HAECOInvitational.com and follow the event on Instagram, X and Facebook: @HAECOinvit.