ZACH WOODS Gaffney High senior Zach Woods was speechless Monday evening after being named the recipient of this year's Dickens Scholarship.

Woods struggled to keep his emotions in check while walking across the auditorium stage to accept the scholarship at the school's Senior Awards Day program. He will receive a full 4-year scholarship to attend the University of South Carolina.

Late GHS graduate Bobby Dickens established the scholarship in 2000 as a way to honor his 1952 graduating class. It is awarded annually to a student athlete with a minimum 3.0 grade point average, good character and a financial need.

The scholarship from the Dickens Family Foundation will cover Woods' tuition, room, board and books. He will receive a small stipend and additional money if he decides to continue his studies in graduate school.

Woods plans to major in business and engineering. His ultimate goal is to become an actuary, a professional statistician for an insurance company who helps determine the value of life insurance policies.

The Dickens scholarship will help make his dream possible.

"This is the greatest gift an individual can give to someone," Woods said. "To work hard and then have a person give a full scholarship each year so young kids can pursue their dreams, it's such a great thing for Mr. Dickens to do. I hope to make him proud."

Woods is a member of the school's Beta Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Future Business Leaders of America, Kappa League leadership fraternity, and active in the First Baptist Church youth group and praise band. He volunteers with the local Boys and Girls Club and Adopt-AHighway. He is a member of The Gaffney Ledger's Teen Panel.

Woods is the sixth Gaffney High student to receive the Dickens Scholarship. Previous scholarship winners were Byron Millwood, Jenna Cook, Quinton Curtis, Sherrian Ellis and Stanley Yeargin.

The scholarship winner is selected by a committee that includes members of the Dickens family.

Many students apply for the Dickens Scholarship every year, Gaffney High Principal Dr. Quincie Moore said.

"This was an extremely difficult process," Moore said. "We had many fine applicants to choose from this year."

PREVIOUS

DICKENS SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

. Byron Millwood

. Jenna

Cook

. Quinton

Curtis

. Sherrian

Ellis

. Stanley

Yeargin