The Correctional Peace Officers Foundation is honored to recognize Dalton Gray, son of Associate Warden John Gray of Maury Correctional Institution in North Carolina, as a 2026 CPOF scholarship recipient.
Dalton graduated from C.B. Aycock High School on June 9, 2026, and will continue both his academic and athletic journey at Lenoir Community College, where he has committed to play baseball. There, he plans to pursue an associate degree in business before attending lineman school as he works toward his long-term career goals.
Dalton’s story is rooted in hard work, family, and perseverance. Raised in La Grange, North Carolina, he credits his parents for instilling in him the values of discipline, responsibility, and dedication. His father, Associate Warden John Gray, has modeled leadership and integrity through his work in corrections, while his mother, Crystal Gray, serves as a Registered Nurse and Clinical Administrator, demonstrating compassion and service to others every day. Watching both parents balance demanding careers while prioritizing family has had a lasting impact on Dalton and the path he is building for himself.
In his scholarship essay, Dalton shared how those lessons inspired him to create his own car detailing business over the past year, teaching him responsibility, time management, and foundational business skills. He also spoke about his love of baseball, his desire to continue his education, and the determination that helped him overcome early struggles with reading to eventually earn a place in honors English. His goals reflect both ambition and humility: to continue growing academically, keep working hard, and build a strong future through education and athletics.
For the Gray family, this scholarship carries a meaning that extends far beyond financial support.
In a letter shared with CPOF, the Gray family reflected on the Foundation’s role in their lives over the years. In 2017, John Gray was injured during an altercation at Maury Correctional Institution. During that difficult season, the family says CPOF, and especially Senior Field Representative Laura Matthews, stepped in with care, support, and compassion. Through that experience, the Gray family attended Project XXIX in Houston, where they gained a deeper understanding of CPOF’s mission and the people behind it.
Now, nearly a decade later, their family has come full circle as Dalton begins the next chapter of his life with the support of a CPOF scholarship.
In their words:
“CPOF has been a significant part of our family’s journey for many years, and we cannot adequately express how much your kindness, generosity, and support have meant to us. Your investment in correctional staff and their families makes a lasting difference, and our family is living proof of that impact.”
Stories like Dalton’s are a powerful reminder that CPOF’s mission does not end in the immediate aftermath of a tragedy, injury, or crisis. The Foundation’s support reaches far beyond a single moment — helping correctional families rebuild, move forward, and pursue the opportunities that come next.
We are proud to support Dalton as he begins this exciting new chapter and grateful to the Gray family for allowing us to share a small part of their journey.
Photo caption: Pictured are Dalton’s mother, Crystal Gray; scholarship recipient Dalton Gray; Dalton’s father, Associate Warden John Gray of Maury Correctional Institution; and Laura Matthews.