Caleb Ward (Courtesy photo)
CLIMAX — Caleb Ward has embraced challenges in athletics competition and away from those venues during his time at Providence Grove.
The senior has been recognized by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association as the recipient of a FloSports Scholarship, which goes to cross country and indoor and outdoor track and field participants. Ward was selected for boys’ cross country.
Ward competed for Providence Grove in cross country for four years.
“It was definitely a challenging sport, but it was worth it,” Ward said.
Ward had played soccer through middle school. His older brother, Preston Ward, had been a cross country runner, so he decided to follow that path.
Ward said he was pleased when he saw a scholarship designated for cross country, so he went through the application process. The FloSports Scholarship is geared toward students who’ve demonstrated excellence in academics, leadership and athletic achievement.
His résumé included an emphasis on community service. He has been involved in outreach programs through Pleasant Garden Baptist Church has been a summer camp volunteer at Quaker Lake Camp.
Ward has been an advocate for career and technical education. He participated in a state-level meeting in Raleigh sponsored by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and spoke about the impact CTE has had on him during high school.
“I appreciate the opportunities that (CTE) has given me,” he said.
Ward will graduate with an associate’s degree in agricultural sciences from Randolph Community College in May.
He lives on a farm near Franklinville where the family tends to about 30 Black Angus cows.
Ward holds a 3.903 grade point average and has been active in Fellowship of Christian Students, Beta Club and Future Farmers of America.
After graduation, Ward will head to North Carolina State, where he said he intends to major in agricultural business management.
But first there’s the rest of the tennis season. He has played anywhere from the No. 2 to No. 5 spots for the Patriots during the past couple of seasons.
He has been a captain of teams in cross country and tennis, competing for four years in each.
“I knew I wanted to do a spring sport,” he said.
