Editors: Semifinalists are listed by county
below. An asterisk indicates a double listing.

232 N.C. high school seniors named Morehead semifinalists

CHAPEL HILL -- Two hundred thirty-two high school seniors from North Carolina have been selected as semifinalists for 2004 Morehead Awards to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Among the largest and most competitive scholarship programs in the United States, the Morehead pays all expenses for four years of undergraduate study, including the costs of a laptop computer and four summer enrichment experiences. The value of the Morehead is approximately $72,000 for each in-state student and $120,000 for each out-of-state student.

The semifinalists, announced today (Dec. 16) by trustees of the John Motley Morehead Foundation, were chosen from among 1,298 students nominated by their high schools in October.

"This was the largest and most competitive field of candidates to date," said Charles Lovelace, executive director of the Morehead Foundation. "We have an extremely impressive group of semifinalists this year."

The semifinalists will interview before 11 Morehead regional selection committees in January in their home regions. Those committees will select approximately 70 finalists, who will interview with the Morehead central selection committee in Chapel Hill on March 1 and 2.

The 70 North Carolina finalists will compete with approximately 55 finalists from across the United States and Great Britain. Morehead winners will be announced March 5.

Instituted as the first non-athletic merit-based scholarship program in the country, the Morehead has evolved into an experiential learning program with lifelong expectations.

"The Morehead provides young leaders with the tools to create an extraordinary life," Lovelace said. "They receive a top-notch education at a leading university; a network of 221 enterprising peers and 2,500 accomplished alumni mentors; international travel and internships; and a lifelong challenge to do more good for the world around them than they do for themselves."

The extensive summer enrichment program provides global hands-on leadership and problem-solving experiences in four areas: outdoor leadership, public service, enterprise and international research. The scholars are expected to make significant contributions to the university community in their areas of talent and interest and to continue to contribute to their communities as Morehead alumni.

The selection process began in October, when some of the nation's brightest young leaders were nominated for excellence in academic achievement, leadership, moral force of character and physical vigor. Recipients are chosen by merit and achievement, not financial need.

The late John Motley Morehead III, an 1891 UNC-Chapel Hill graduate, began the Morehead program in 1951. More than 2,400 scholars have attended Carolina; 221 now study on campus.

A list of North Carolina Morehead semifinalists by county follows.

Alamance
Victoria Brooke Beasley of Elon, from Walter M. Williams High School
Eileene Islada Braxton of Graham, from Southern Alamance High School
*Duncan Alan McLean Germain of Elon, from the N.C. School of Science and Mathematics, Durham
Sarah Bouldin Gillespie of Mebane, from Eastern Alamance High School
Heather Ann Hayes of Burlington, from Walter M. Williams High School

Ashe
Mattie Rose Eckerman of Warrensville, from Ashe County High School

Beaufort
Elizabeth Grace Jarvis of Chocowinity, from Washington Senior High School
Joel Leon Moore Jr. of Washington, from Washington Senior High School

Buncombe
Patrick Michael Chidnese of Asheville, from The Asheville School
Tejan Paraj Diwanji of Asheville, from The Asheville School
Brooke Ashley Fisher of Asheville, from A.C. Reynolds High School
Rebekah Morgan Hargrove of Black Mountain, from Charles D. Owen High School
Rachel Elaine Hylton of Fairview, home school
Jonathan Edward Keeney of Asheville, from Asheville High School
Sally Virginia Lee of Asheville, from A C. Reynolds High School
Dylan Michael Parkes of Arden, from Christ School
Andrew Stephen Ray of Arden, from Christ School
William Thomas Rhodes Jr. of Black Mountain, from Charles D. Owen High School
Leslye Kathryn Elizabeth Simpkins of Asheville, from T.C. Roberson High School
Roxanne Mary Turpen of Weaverville, from North Buncombe High School

Burke
Andrew Michael Davis of Morganton, from Freedom High School
Taylor Louise Imboden of Morganton, from Freedom High School
Atif Mohiuddin of Valdese, from East Burke High School
Katherine Ann Overmyer of Morganton, from Freedom High School

Cabarrus
Deeona Risa Gaskin of Concord, from Cannon School
Erin Elizabeth Lopez of Concord, from J.M. Robinson High School
Kristen Elizabeth Lovin of Concord, from Cannon School
Caroline Silva of Concord, from Concord High School

Caldwell
Erin Elizabeth Hardee of Granite Falls, from South Caldwell High School

Camden
Nathaniel Edwin Meiggs of Camden, from Camden County High School

Carteret
William Lee Arrington III of Beaufort, from East Carteret High School
Geoffrey Gale Handsfield of Morehead City, from West Carteret High School
Charles Devans Waters of Morehead City, from West Carteret High School

Catawba
Chaz Michael Beasley of Conover, from Newton-Conover High School
Matthew Aaron Breazeale of Hickory, from Fred T. Foard High School
Bria Cook of Hickory, from Fred T. Foard High School
Alison Lindsay Crawford of Newton, from Maiden High School
David Carl Giovannini of Hickory, from Hickory High School
Brett Baxley Gosnell of Hickory, from Hickory High School
Sarah Marie Killian of Conover, from Bunker Hill High School
Taylor Ann Sock of Hickory, from Hickory High School

Chatham
Peyton William Holland of Pittsboro, from Northwood High School
Antonio Levon McBroom of Goldston, from Chatham Central High School
Casey Renee Perry of Siler City, from Jordan Matthews High School
Mason W. Phillips of Pittsboro, from Northwood High School
Amos A. Vernon of Chapel Hill, from Northwood High School

Chowan
Erin Christina Potocki of Edenton, from John A. Holmes High School
Eric Anthony Sliva of Edenton, from John A. Holmes High School

Cleveland
*Alexander Harrison Queen of Kings Mountain, from Charlotte Catholic High School

Craven
*Leah Katherine Hawkins of New Bern, from the N.C. School of Science and Mathematics, Durham
Robert Grant Loftin of New Bern, from New Bern Senior High School
Amy Renee West of Havelock, from Havelock High School

Cumberland
Alexis Dolor Bates of Fayetteville, from Douglas Byrd Senior High School
Pia Martina Chapman of Fayetteville, from Douglas Byrd Senior High School
Thomas Henry Finch III of Fayetteville, from Fayetteville Academy
Anne Elizabeth Fleishman of Fayetteville, from Fayetteville Academy
Caroline Cowan Gregory of Fayetteville, from Terry Sanford Senior High School
Amit Gupta of Fayetteville, from Terry Sanford Senior High School
Alan Wilson Harper of Fayetteville, from Terry Sanford Senior High School
Safira Amanda Henkis of Parkton, from Gray's Creek High School
Adam Galen Overberg of Fayetteville, from Pine Forest Senior High School
Diana Alyce Rivers of Fayetteville, from Terry Sanford Senior High School

Dare
Muihrienne Elizabeth Leggat of Rodanthe, from Manteo High School
Lindsay Rebecca Strickland of Kitty Hawk, from Manteo High School

Davidson
William Ross Dula of High Point, from Ledford Senior High School
Sarah Foster Fish of Lexington, from Lexington Senior High School
Bethany Jordan Hunt of Lexington, from North Davidson Senior High School
Sarah Elizabeth Lovejoy of Lexington, from Central Davidson Senior High School
Blake Leonard Michael of Lexington, from Lexington Senior High School
William Henry Niver of Lexington, from North Davidson Senior High School

Durham
Jamie Lynn Carter of Durham, from Charles E. Jordan Senior High School
*Dane Alan Emmerling of Greenville, from the N.C. School of Science and Mathematics
*Duncan Alan McLean Germain of Elon, from the N.C. School of Science and Mathematics
*Leah Katherine Hawkins of New Bern, from the N.C. School of Science and Mathematics
Stephen David Hoyle of Chapel Hill, from Charles E. Jordan Senior High School
*Stephanie Rhianon Jones of Cary, from the N.C. School of Science and Mathematics
Matthew Bures McNeill of Durham, from Riverside High School
*Emily Morgan Rush of Sanford, from the N.C. School of Science and Mathematics
Ishani Sud of Durham, from the N.C. School of Science and Mathematics
Jennifer Leigh Emiko Tanaka of Durham, from Durham Academy
John Stephen Thompson of Durham, from Durham Academy
*Jiayin Xue of Greensboro, from the N.C. School of Science and Mathematics

Forsyth
Wesley Lamont Clark of Winston-Salem, from Forsyth Country Day School
Lisa Marie Doolittle of Lewisville, from West Forsyth High School
Jonathan Hewitt Engram of Winston-Salem, from R. J. Reynolds Senior High School
Linda Estelle Gonzales of Clemmons, from West Forsyth High School
Christopher Grant Gonzales of Clemmons, from West Forsyth High School
Caroline R. Huber of Winston-Salem, from R.J. Reynolds Senior High School
Whitney Nicole Shaffer of Winston-Salem, from Salem Academy
Alejandra Ochoa Thompson of Greensboro, from The N.C. School of the Arts
Robert Tyler Vaughn of Winston-Salem, from Mount Tabor High School
Larry Wayne Wise II of Clemmons, from R.J. Reynolds Senior High School

Gaston
Shefali Mahendra Chudgar of Belmont, from South Point High School
Thomas Stowe Nelson of Gastonia, from Gaston Day School
Kathryn Serra of Gastonia, from Ashbrook High School

Graham
Colby Mack Collins of Robbinsville, from Robbinsville High School

Greene
John Andrew Hulbert of Snow Hill, from Greene Central High School

Guilford
Catherine Morgan Coughlin of High Point, from High Point Central High School
Adam Craig Eaglin of Summerfield, from Northwest Guilford High School
Bonnie Patricia Gregory of Greensboro, from Walter Hines Page High School
Colleen Jeske of Greensboro, from Western Guilford High School
Whitney Alexis Marshall of Greensboro, from Greensboro Day School
Tanisha Palvia of Greensboro, from Grimsley High School
Ross Anthony Shingledecker of Greensboro, from Grimsley High School
Jennifer Brooks Staton of Greensboro, from Greensboro Day School
Mary Katherine Strong of Greensboro, from Greensboro Day School
Nathan Taylor Thompson of Greensboro, from Walter Hines Page High School
Christine Pat Wang of Greensboro, from Western Guilford High School
*Jiayin Xue of Greensboro, from the N.C. School of Science and Mathematics, Durham

Harnett
Jennifer Rae McCosley of Broadway, from Western Harnett High School

Haywood
Lauren Denise Rogers of Clyde, from Pisgah High School

Henderson
Andrew M. Armstrong of Horse Shoe, from West Henderson High School
Emily Claire Laborde of Hendersonville, from Hendersonville High School
John Taylor Linkous of Hendersonville, from East Henderson High School
Jennifer Caroline Allison Wilder of Fletcher, from North Henderson High School

Hertford
William Clayton Thompson of Harrellsville, from Hertford County High School

Iredell
Amber Michelle Broach of Mooresville, from Mooresville Senior High School
Margaret Adison Haynes of Statesville, from North Iredell High School
McLain Sherrill Mallory of Statesville, from Statesville High School

Johnston
David Benjamin Adams of Smithfield, from Smithfield-Selma Senior High School
Lisa Michelle Thompson of Princeton, from Princeton High School

Lee
*Emily Morgan Rush of Sanford, from the N.C. School of Science and Mathematics, Durham

Lenoir
Lawrence A. Moye IV of Maury, from Arendell Parrott Academy

Lincoln
Anne Charlotte Lutin of Lincolnton, from Lincolnton High School

Macon
Katherine Ann Betz of Highlands, from Highlands School

Mecklenburg
Ashleigh Dionne Beamer of Charlotte, from Independence High School
Jarrod Dwayne Blue of Charlotte, from Independence High School
William Patton Brugh Jr. of Charlotte, from Myers Park High School
Mary Lera Covington of Charlotte, from Garinger High School
Anna Shepard Daniel of Charlotte, from Myers Park High School
Emily Jane Elliott of Charlotte, from Myers Park High School
Jessica Elyse Fisher of Huntersville, from North Mecklenburg High School
Alexander Gregory Foley of Matthews, from David W. Butler High School
Kathryn Butler Gillespie of Charlotte, from Providence Senior High School
Fletcher Harrison Gregory IV of Charlotte, from Charlotte Latin School
Ryan Tremaine Hubbard of Charlotte, from Charlotte Christian School
Seth Mitchell Ivey of Charlotte, from David W. Butler High School
Lawrence Ngo of Charlotte, from Independence High School
Huy Ngo of Charlotte, from Olympic High School
*Alexander Harrison Queen of Kings Mountain, from Charlotte Catholic High School
Anuradha Raja of Charlotte, from Harding University High School
Adam Winston Rhew of Charlotte, from South Mecklenburg High School
Victoria Paige Rollins of Charlotte, from North Mecklenburg High School
Lauren Kelly Voler of Charlotte, from Myers Park High School
Mary Caitlin Walthall of Charlotte, from Charlotte Country Day
Catherine Elizabeth Williams of Matthews, from East Mecklenburg High Schoo

Moore
Alejandro Cruz Gonzalez of Robbins, from North Moore High School
Lauren Talbot Johnson of Pinehurst, from O'Neal School
Matthew Townsend Pate of Sanford, from O'Neal School
Katherine Farrell White of Pinehurst, from Pinecrest High School

Nash
Atiya Nicole Boddie of Rocky Mount, from Northern Nash Senior High School
Alexander James Gould of Rocky Mount, from Rocky Mount Academy
Maxwell Gavin Miller of Rocky Mount, from Rocky Mount Academy

New Hanover
Michael Lindsay Allred Jr. of Wilmington, from New Hanover High School
David Louis Campbell of Wilmington, from John T. Hoggard High School
Aaron Lee Marcus of Wilmington, from New Hanover High School
Whitney Rebecca Roberts of Wilmington, from Cape Fear Academy
Sara Michelle Sizemore of Wilmington, from John T. Hoggard High School
Scott Hoover Stier of Wilmington, from Eugene Ashley High School
Claire Alexandrea Williamson of Wilmington, from John T. Hoggard High School

Onslow
Elizabeth Marie Kramer of Camp Lejeune, from Lejeune High School
Jamie Reneé Rochelle of Richlands, from Richlands High School
Robert Lawrence Rusch Jr. of Jacksonville, from Jacksonville Senior High School
Anthony Clarence Watkins II of Camp Lejeune, from Lejeune High School

Orange
Meredith Leigh Andrews of Hillsborough, from Cedar Ridge High School
Elysa Corin of Chapel Hill, from Chapel Hill Senior High School
Peter Norman Curtin of Chapel Hill, from East Chapel Hill High School
Colin Emerson of Chapel Hill, from Chapel Hill Senior High School
Stefan Lallinger of Chapel Hill, from East Chapel Hill High School
Kevin Li of Chapel Hill, from East Chapel Hill High School
Laura Kathleen Williamson of Hillsborough, from Orange High School

Pasquotank
Josie Chandler Johnson of Elizabeth City, from Pasquotank County High School

Pender
Allyson Leigh Gaiser of Hampstead, from Topsail Junior-Senior High School
Robert Andrew Vance of Currie, from Heide Trask High School

Pitt
*Dane Alan Emmerling of Elon, from The N.C. School of Science & Mathematics, Durham
Ashley Marie Garner of Greenville, from Junius H. Rose High School
Matthew Hunter Leggett of Grifton, from Ayden-Grifton High School
Peter John Wylie Jr. of Greenville, from Junius H. Rose High School

Randolph
James Tristan Routh of Franklinville, from Eastern Randolph High School
Amanda Jean Sellers of Trinity, from Trinity High School

Robeson
Monica Ashok Vyas of Lumberton, from Lumberton Senior High School
William Zachary Ward of Saint Pauls, from St. Pauls High School

Rockingham
Julia Ann Cavanaugh of Eden, from John Motley Morehead Senior High School
Caroline Grace Jones of Reidsville, from Rockingham County Senior High School
Claudia Kinley Russell of Mayodan, from Dalton L. McMichael High School

Rowan
Alana McAllister Wilson of Salisbury, from North Rowan High School

Rutherford
Angela Lynn Bingham of Rutherfordton, from Chase High School
Rebecca Sullivan Winker of Rutherfordton, from Rutherfordton-Spindale High School

Scotland
Fred Kimball Seebeck III of Laurinburg, from Scotland High School
Rebecca Elizabeth Wood of Laurinburg, from Scotland High School

Stanly
Tanner Bradly McSwain of Albemarle, from West Stanly High School

Stokes
Ashley Marie Roberts of Walnut Cove, from South Stokes High School

Surry
Holly Lorraine Gambill of Elkin, from Elkin High School
Sarah Elizabeth Gitt of Mount Airy, from Mount Airy High School

Union
Dane Ashton Grismer of Monroe, from Parkwood High School
Allison B. Heffner of Weddington, from Weddington High School
William Brian Humphries of Matthews, from Sun Valley High School
Ayub Mohamad Suleiman of Monroe, from Monroe High School
Leah Ann Szarek of Monroe, from Weddington High School

Vance
Scott Daniel Dennis of Henderson, from Northern Vance Senior High School
Nicholas Long III of Henderson, from Northern Vance Senior High School
Angela M. Padget of Oxford, from Kerr-Vance Academy

Wake
Julia Cowper Bobbitt of Raleigh, from Needham B. Broughton High School
Mark Christopher Bolin of Raleigh, from Trinity Academy of Raleigh
Roby Chatterji of Raleigh, from Jesse O. Sanderson High School
Emily Chandler Dahl of Raleigh, from Jesse O. Sanderson High School
Lauren Marie Eckhardt of Cary, from Green Hope High School
Katherine Anne Evans of Raleigh, from Needham B. Broughton High School
Virginia Acree Graham of Raleigh, from Saint David's School
Devin Hubbard of Apex, from Apex Senior High School
Emlyn Patience Johnson of Raleigh, from Ravenscroft School
*Stephanie Rhianon Jones of Cary, from The N.C. of Science & Mathematics, Durham
Amy Marie Lenfestey of Cary, from Southeast Raleigh High School
Carolyn Armstrong Miller of Raleigh, from Cary Academy
Grant Miser of Apex, from Apex Senior High School
Meghan MargEva Morris of Raleigh, from Cary Academy
Thomas William Morris of Raleigh, from Ravenscroft School
Heloisa De Lima Nogueira of Raleigh, from Wakefield High School
Erin O'Quinn of Raleigh, from W. G. Enloe High School
Mary Rose Parrish of Raleigh, from Leesville Road High School
Joshua Aaron Setzer of Cary, from Cary Academy
LeVelton Ray Thomas of Garner, from Southeast Raleigh High School
Megan Tooley of Cary, from Green Hope High School
Brittany Leigh Zick of Cary, from Cardinal Gibbons High School

Warren
Alexandra Lehmann Tharrington of Manson, from Warren County High School

Watauga
Genevieve Calloway of Boone, from Watauga High School
Samantha Lee Deal of Boone, from Watauga High School
Matthew Marcus Smith of Boone, from Watauga High School

Wayne
Danielle Marie Bliss of Goldsboro, from Eastern Wayne High School
Michelle Marie Carmon of Goldsboro, from Eastern Wayne High School
Carolyn Melinda Ziemer of Goldsboro, from Wayne Country Day School

Wilkes
Brenna Anne Johnston of Wilkesboro, from Wilkes Central Senior High School

Wilson
Brenda Mae Haitema of Wilson, from Ralph L. Fike High School
Jacob Montague of Wilson, from Ralph L. Fike High School
Ginger Renee Price of Wilson, from James B. Hunt Jr. High School
Randall Lee Proctor Jr. of Elm City, from E.T. Beddingfield High School
Jennifer L. Ricks of Wilson, from Ralph L. Fike High School

Yadkin
Weslee Sinclair Glenn of Boonville, from Forbush High School

Yancey
Timothy Ryan Hensley of Burnsville, from Mountain Heritage High School

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Contact: Charles Lovelace or Erika Williamson, 919-962-1201