Published March 6, 2009
By David Perlmutt
The Charlotte Observer
Seventy high school seniors from around the world – including eight from the Charlotte region – have been awarded the prestigious and lucrative Morehead-Cain scholarship to attend UNC Chapel Hill the next four years, the scholarship's foundation trustees announced Thursday.
The Morehead-Cain is among the nation's most competitive, paying all expenses for four years of undergraduate study in Chapel Hill. Scholars also receive a laptop computer and are sent on four summer enrichment opportunities. The total value for in-state recipients is about $80,000 and $140,000 for out-of-state students.
Besides 61 U.S. winners, nine international scholars were selected – three from Great Britain, three from Canada, and one each from Austria, Hong Kong and Turkey.
All the winners were selected through a nomination and interview process that began last fall. More than 1,600 high school seniors were nominated by their schools or self-applied for the Morehead-Cain.
Their selection was based on leadership, academic achievement, moral force of character and physical vigor. The winners typically are chosen on merit and accomplishments, not financial needs.
They have until April 13 to accept the scholarship.
The eight winners from the Charlotte region are:
Lindsay Elizabeth Rosenfeld of St. Stephens High School in Hickory, daughter of Greg and Priscilla Rosenfeld of Hickory.
Charlotte Clement Lindemanis of Gaston Day School, daughter of David and Pamela Furr of Gastonia.
Kara Maria Simpson of Hunter Huss High School in Gastonia, daughter of Andra Rosbor of Mitchellville, Md., and Cynthia Simpson of Gastonia.
William Grant Johnston of Covenant Day School in Charlotte, son of Dirk and Sharon Johnston of Charlotte.
Laura Kathryn McCready of St. Andrew's School in Middletown, Del., daughter of Kent and Christine McCready of Charlotte.
Rachel Maureen Myrick of Myers Park High School, daughter of Thomas and Patty Myrick of Charlotte.
Jenay Alexis Powell of Charlotte Latin School, daughter of John and Rhonda Powell of Marvin.
Emily Frykman Zuehlke of Charlotte Latin School, daughter of William and Elizabeth Zuehlke of Waxhaw.
Since the first Morehead-Cain scholars (they were Morehead scholars until recently) graduated in 1957, 25 of the 28 Rhodes Scholars from UNC were Morehead-Cains. In the past six years, eight Morehead-Cains have won Rhodes Scholarships for graduate study at England's Oxford University.
Morehead-Cains account for 20 of the university's 27 Luce scholars and 16 of 27 Truman scholars, awards that are among the nation's most distinguished and generous for graduate study.
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