AJ Spaeth, World Class Athlete Recognized by Greensboro Rotary

Contributed by Carey Pahel

On Wednesday, April 17, 2019, the Rotary Club of Greensboro recognized A.J. Smith for his outstanding achievement. A student at Grimsley High School, AJ was selected to be on Team USA for the World Special Olympics in Abu Dhabi, where he received one fourth place and two fifth place medals.

AJ Spaeth accepting Outstanding Leadership Award from Rotarian Carey Pahel.

Prior to the World Games, he won the gold medal for the 200m at the state level. He then competed in Seattle for team North Carolina and earned one gold, one silver, and one bronze medal. After that he was asked to be one of two North Carolina runners from North Carolina to be on the national team which led to him going to the World Games in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. He is a junior at Grimsley and has earned awards in leadership in citizenship.

Accompanying him to the club meeting for his recognition were his parents parents Joe and Valerie Spaeth.