Two local middle-school students attended basketball camp on college campuses this summer, thanks to a Touchstone Energy Sports Camp Scholarship from Randolph EMC.

Patience Keller

Colton Freeman

Patience Keller of Climax expanded her knowledge of basketball and fine-tuned her skills on the court at the Wolfpack Women’s Basketball Camp under the direction of Coach Wes Moore. The camp took place June 9-12 at NC State University in Raleigh. Patience is the daughter of Misty and Adam Keller.

Colton Freeman of Eagle Springs worked on leadership and teamwork skills at the Roy Williams Carolina Basketball Camp under the direction of Coach Roy Williams. The camp took place June 22-26 at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Colton is the son of Meredith and Matthew Freeman.

Campers stayed in dorms and experienced life as a college student, and also developed fundamental skills that will help them excel on and off the court. At both camps, coaches and student-athletes worked directly with campers to improve their basketball skills and practice working as a team.

“Patience and Colton were both very deserving students of this opportunity and we’re happy to support programs that allow young athletes to experience life on a college campus, learn from mentors at their favorite NCAA athletic programs and develop fundamental skills that will help them succeed on and off the court,” said Kathleen Duckworth, corporate communications specialist at Randolph EMC.

Touchstone Energy Sports Camp Scholarships are awarded to more than 50 rising sixth, seventh and eighth graders across North Carolina each year. The scholarships cover all expenses at the overnight camps, and winners are selected based on an application that includes academics, extracurricular activities and an essay.