Scholarship recipient plans career in NASCAR
By SCOTT POWELL Ledger Staff Writer spowell@gaffneyledger.com

BRITTNEY MCCRAW

Gaffney High senior Brittney McCraw got a good start Tuesday evening on a future NASCAR racing career when she was named the recipient of this year's Dickens scholarship.

McCraw will receive a full 4-year-scholarship to attend the University of South Carolina from the Dickens Family Foundation. The scholarship will cover her tuition, room, board and books.

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

McCraw plans to major in sports management. Her career goal is to become involved on the NASCAR racing circuit.

She became interested in working with a race car from watching some of her dad's friends who own race cars and become actively involved behind the scenes of dirt track races.

"I would like to be involved in the business side of NASCAR, possibly working with sponsors or managing a racing team," McCraw said.

McCraw was speechless when she walked across the stage to receive the Dickens scholarship at the school's senior awards program. The scholarship winner is selected by a committee that includes members of the Dickens family.

"I'm so excited," McCraw said. "This is one of the most memorable moments of my life."

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