News Release

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

CHAPEL HILL -- Two hundred forty high school seniors from North Carolina have been selected as semifinalists for 2005 Morehead scholarships 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 $80,000 for each in-state student and $140,000 for each out-of-state student.

The semifinalists, announced by trustees of the John Motley Morehead Foundation, were chosen from among 1,362 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 Morehead semifinalists this year."

The semifinalists will interview before 11 Morehead regional selection committees in January in their home regions. Those committees will select approximately 60 finalists, who will interview with the Morehead central selection committee in Chapel Hill on March 7 and 8.

The 60 N.C. finalists will compete with approximately 55 finalists nationwide and in Great Britain. Morehead recipients will be announced March 11.

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 180 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 graduate, began the Morehead program in 1951. More than 2,500 scholars have attended Carolina; 180 now study on campus.

A list of North Carolina’s Morehead semifinalists follows:

• Tamryn LaShea Fowler of Graham, from Graham High School
• Emily Elizabeth Kiser of Elon, from Western Alamance High School
• Jessica Beauvais Thaller of Burlington, from Walter M. Williams High School

• Tyler Lanier Gamble of Fleetwood, from Ashe County High School
• Jenny Ann Grubb of Todd, from Ashe County High School
• Nicole Elizabeth Suggs of West Jefferson, from Ashe County High School

• Elias Mauricio Clarke Campbell of Pantego, from Northside High School
• Malcolm Steven Mollison of Washington, from Washington Senior High School
• Molly Robin Preston of Bath, from Northside High School

• Peter Daniel Almirall of Oak Island, from South Brunswick High School

• Reaha Lizeth Campbell of Asheville, from T.C. Roberson High School
• Joseph Matthew Charlet of Asheville, from the Asheville School
• Garrett Cook Graham of Brevard, from Carolina Day School
• *Anna Louise Hinshaw of Arden, from West Henderson High School, Hendersonville
• Casey Marie LeSawyer of Weaverville, from North Buncombe High School
• Emily Susan Van Tassel of Asheville, from A.C. Reynolds High School
• Joseph Russell Wilkerson of Black Mountain, from Charles D. Owen High School
• Adam Blake Wright of Asheville, from North Buncombe High School

• Rachael Joyce Debnam of Morganton, from Freedom High School
• Leigh Carter Edwards of Morganton, from Freedom High School
• Clay William Giese of Valdese, from East Burke High School
• Jonathon C. Hodges of Valdese, from East Burke High School
• Loren Meris Jones of Morganton, from Freedom High School
  

• Tyler S. Barry of Concord, from J.M. Robinson High School
• Graham Alan Boone of Concord, from Concord High School
• Megan Elizabeth Gill of Concord, from Northwest Cabarrus High School
• Meredith Ann King of Concord, from Mount Pleasant High School
• Maria del Carmen Lara of Concord, from J.M. Robinson High School
• Laura Marie McIntyre of Kannapolis, from Northwest Cabarrus High School
• Meredith Graham Robb of Concord, from Concord High School
• Jeanne Elyse Tilley of Harrisburg, from Central Cabarrus High School

• Abby Caroline Sherrill of Granite Falls, from South Caldwell High School

• Douglas Rae Godette Jr. of Beaufort, from East Carteret High School
• Nikida Christine Koraly of Cape Carteret, from Croatan High School
• John Richard Smith of Morehead City, from West Carteret High School

• Taylor Craig Auten of Hickory, from Hickory High School
• Julie Teresa Mikus of Conover, from Newton-Conover High School
• Mikhail Radionchenko of Hickory, from St. Stephens High School
• Paige Alana Sellers of Hickory, from Hickory High School

• William Ryan Hobbs of Siler City, from Jordan Matthews High School
• Natalie Marie Phillips of Bear Creek, from Chatham Central High School
• Abigail Susan Wilson of Pittsboro, from Northwood High School

• Dalan Christopher Loudermilk of Murphy, from Murphy High School

• Tanner Lyon Bloom of Edenton, from John A. Holmes High School

• Austin Walker Milt of Hayesville, from Hayesville High School
• Erika Milia Walker of Hayesville, from Hayesville High School
• Clay Dillon Woody of Hayesville, from Hayesville High School

• Tyler Colin Holden of Shelby, from Shelby High School

• *Erika Rasche Gutierrez of Trent Woods, from the North Carolina School of Science & Mathematics, Durham
• *Landon Charles Meekins of New Bern, from Arendell Parrott Academy, Kinston

• *Evelyn Ann Greene of Cameron, from Fayetteville Academy
• Jennifer Macdonald Healy of Fayetteville, from Terry Sanford Senior High School
• John Harper Hornaday of Fayetteville, from Fayetteville Academy
• Dominic Michael Lerario of Fort Bragg, from Terry Sanford Senior High School
• Jonathan Joseph Lesica of Fayetteville, from Terry Sanford Senior High School
• Charissa Elizabeth Lloyd of Fayetteville, from Logos Academy Homeschool
• Florencio Martinez Jr. of Spring Lake, from Pine Forest Senior High School
• Leigh Anne McLaughlin of Fayetteville, from Douglas Byrd Senior High School
• Madeline Perez of Fayetteville, from Westover Senior High School
• Ashley Erin Rosen of Fayetteville, from Terry Sanford Senior High School
• John Moore Sheffield II of Fayetteville, from Pine Forest Senior High School
• Rhett Alexander Stroupe of Hope Mills, from Gray's Creek High School
• James Michael Williams of Hope Mills, from Gray's Creek High School

• Jennifer Marlene Burrus of Hatteras, from Cape Hatteras School
• Kristen Nichole Evans of Buxton, from Cape Hatteras School
• Phillip Scott Harvey Jr. of Kill Devil Hills, from Manteo High School
• Mary Shanley Morgan of Buxton, from Cape Hatteras School

• Kimberly Nicole Beam of Denton, from South Davidson High School
• Kaley Morgan Everhart of Lexington, from Central Davidson Senior High School
• Sarah Christina Jacobs of High Point, from Ledford Senior High School
• Robin Allison Lockwood of Lexington, from North Davidson Senior High School
• Anthony Edward Peters of High Point, from Westchester Academy
• Jennifer Renee Wiles of Lexington, from North Davidson Senior High School

• Kimberly Denise Canuette of Kinston, from North Duplin Junior-Senior High School

• *Marshall Alexander Ahearn of Mooresville, from the North Carolina School of Science & Mathematics
• Carina E. Barnett-Loro of Durham, from Charles E. Jordan Senior High School
• Andre Elisabeth Feigler of Durham, from the Durham School of the Arts
• *Yueqi Lucie Guo of Chapel Hill, from the North Carolina School of Science & Mathematics
• *Erika Rasche Gutierrez of Trent Woods, from the North Carolina School of Science & Mathematics
• *Aneesh Vaman Kulkarni of Charlotte, from the North Carolina School of Science & Mathematics
• *Ying Liu of Wilmington, from the North Carolina School of Science & Mathematics
• *Amanda Rose Mason of Denver, from the North Carolina School of Science & Mathematics
• *Heather Dare Mohorn of Greensboro, from the North Carolina School of Science & Mathematics
• *Ryan Reynolds Neely III of Asheboro, from the North Carolina School of Science & Mathematics
• *Derek DeVon Paylor of Roxboro, from the North Carolina School of Science & Mathematics
• *Caitlin Meriwether Prillaman of Chapel Hill, from Carolina Friends School
• Herbert Joshua Rivera of Durham, from Riverside High School
• *Eleanor Farley Saunders of Chapel Hill, from Charles E. Jordan Senior High School
• *Jeffrey Yong Tang of Greensboro, from the North Carolina School of Science & Mathematics

• Katherine Elizabeth Drake of Pinetops, from Southwest Edgecombe High School

• Annie Laurel Boiter-Jolley of Winston-Salem, from the North Carolina School of the Arts
• Mary Katherine Bowden of Winston-Salem, from Mount Tabor High School
• Allen Joseph Chiou of Clemmons, from West Forsyth High School
• Erica Danielle Freeman of Winston-Salem, from North Forsyth High School
• Cameron Smith Howard of Lewisville, from Forsyth Country Day School
• Rosanne Victoria Niforos of Winston-Salem, from R.J. Reynolds Senior High School
• Erica Palmiter of Winston-Salem, from Mount Tabor High School
• William Harrison Parker of Winston-Salem, from R.J. Reynolds Senior High School
• Robert Andrew Phelps of Clemmons, from West Forsyth High School
• Caroline Catherine Schneider of Winston-Salem, from Mount Tabor High School
• Elizabeth Yingying Song of Clemmons, from R.J. Reynolds Senior High School
• *Richard Edward Francis Valitutto II of Greensboro, from Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School

• Leah Amanda Hollar of Gastonia, from Ashbrook High School
• Rachael Marie Huston of Gastonia, from Forestview High School
• Cassandra Kay Kisby of Dallas, from North Gaston Senior High School
• Hilary Erin Schronce of Stanley, from East Gaston High School
• Bennett James Stancil of Belmont, from South Point High School
• Andrew Wilson White of Belmont, from South Point High School

• Alonzo Jonathan Hafele of Robbinsville, from Robbinsville High School

• Bryan Paul Reisch of Oxford, from J.F. Webb Senior High School

• David Earl Lanier Jr. of Snow Hill, from Greene Central High School

• Elizabeth Anne Adkisson of High Point, from High Point Central High School
• *Johnny Quinn Alston of Greensboro, from Eastern Randolph High School, Ramseur
• Robert Odell Bradley IV of Greensboro, from Grimsley High School
• Radharani De of Jamestown, from Southwest Guilford High School
• William Garrison Duckett of High Point, from High Point Central High School
• Howard Anthony Harris Jr. of High Point, from High Point Central High School
• Elizabeth Anne Hundley of Jamestown, from Wesleyan Christian Academy
• Layne Elizabeth Jacobs of Greensboro, from Walter Hines Page High School
• Emily Marie Johnson of Greensboro, from Northwest Guilford High School
• Elizabeth Katelyn King of Greensboro, from Greensboro Day School
• Sarah Catherine Lupton of Greensboro, from Walter Hines Page High School
• *Heather Dare Mohorn of Greensboro, from the North Carolina School of Science & Mathematics, Durham
• Hannah R. Page of Greensboro, from Caldwell Academy
• Morgan K. Radford of Greensboro, from Grimsley High School
• Evan Alexander Raleigh of Greensboro, from Southeast Guilford High School
• Anna Louise Rodenbough of Greensboro, from Grimsley High School
• *Jeffrey Yong Tang of Greensboro, from the North Carolina School of Science & Mathematics, Durham
• *Richard Edward Francis Valitutto II of Greensboro, from Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School, Kernersville
• Stephen Legrande Vance of Greensboro, from Southeast Guilford High School

• Allen Joseph Cameron of Broadway, from Western Harnett High School
• Kathryn Grey Hardison of Coats, from Triton High School

• Patrick Joseph Madigan of Waynesville, from Tuscola Senior High School
• Elizabeth Ann Overcash of Waynesville, from Tuscola Senior High School

• *Anna Louise Hinshaw of Arden, from West Henderson High School
• Katherine Helen Rogers of Hendersonville, from West Henderson High School

• *Marshall Alexander Ahearn of Mooresville, from the North Carolina School of Science & Mathematics, Durham
• Cameron Leigh Jordan of Statesville, from Statesville High School

• Cara Elizabeth Wittekind of Cullowhee, from Smoky Mountain High School

• Rachel Ann Bauer of Kinston, from Kinston High School
• Abigail Ruth Irvin of Kinston, from Kinston High School
• *Landon Charles Meekins of New Bern, from Arendell Parrott Academy
• *Alison Donnelly Rotondo of Greenville, from Arendell Parrott Academy
• Meghan Tatiana Scott of Kinston, from Arendell Parrott Academy

• Matthew David Goodson of Lincolnton, from Lincolnton High School
• John Michael Griswold of Denver, from East Lincoln High School
• *Amanda Rose Mason of Denver, from the North Carolina School of Science & Mathematics, Durham

• Kaila Dean Ramsey of Franklin, from Franklin High School

• Daniel James Goble of Marion, from McDowell High School
• Jordan L. Laney of Marion, from McDowell High School

• Andrew Stewart Daub of Huntersville, from North Mecklenburg High School
• Matthew James Drohan of Charlotte, from David W. Butler High School
• Catherine Ashley Eason of Huntersville, from North Mecklenburg High School
• Colston Arthur Edgerton of Charlotte, from Charlotte Country Day
• Sophia Marie Estrada of Charlotte, from East Mecklenburg High School
• Christopher Michael Granger of Pineville, from Harding University High School
• George Bennett Hodgin of Charlotte, from Charlotte Country Day
• Christian Tyler Kirkland of Charlotte, from Charlotte Latin School
• *Aneesh Vaman Kulkarni of Charlotte, from the North Carolina School of Science & Mathematics, Durham
• William Thomas Marks of Charlotte, from Providence Day School
• Anna Koester Marshall of Charlotte, from Myers Park High School
• Samson Zebene Mesele of Charlotte, from Charlotte Catholic High School
• Nick John Miller of Matthews, from East Mecklenburg High School
• Euphemia Wang Mu of Charlotte, from Myers Park High School
• Scott Michael Myers of Charlotte, from North Mecklenburg High School
• Charisma Joy Nelson of Charlotte, from Harding University High School
• Sydney Elizabeth Owens of Charlotte, from Myers Park High School
• Rachel Kathryn Rose of Matthews, from East Mecklenburg High School
• Margaret Moore Savage of Charlotte, from Charlotte Latin School
• *Noah Patrick Setzer of Matthews, from Weddington High School, Weddington
• Courtney Lynn Skibbe of Charlotte, from David W. Butler High School
• Allie Michelle Wassum of Charlotte, from Harding University High School

• *Evelyn Ann Greene of Cameron, from Fayetteville Academy, Fayetteville
• Christopher Mark Nelson of Whispering Pines, from Pinecrest High School
• Michael Guion Pratt of Southern Pines, from Pinecrest High School
• Allison Caroline Weis of Pinehurst, from O'Neal School

• Alexander Ray Brinn of Rocky Mount, from Rocky Mount Senior High School
• Jonathan Edward Kralick of Rocky Mount, from Rocky Mount Senior High School
• Kyle Andrew Minges of Rocky Mount, from Rocky Mount Academy

• Edith Hanes Harris of Wilmington, from New Hanover High School
• Caroline A. Holcomb of Wilmington, from John T. Hoggard High School
• Patrick Stephen Lahue of Wilmington, from Cape Fear Academy
• *Ying Liu of Wilmington, from the North Carolina School of Science & Mathematics, Durham
• Joshua Dennis Meyer of Wilmington, from John T. Hoggard High School
• Morgan Patricia Pope of Kure Beach, from Eugene Ashley High School
• Maya Leah Salwen of Wilmington, from John T. Hoggard High School
• Caitlin P. Sanders of Wilmington, from John T. Hoggard High School
• Jillian Leigh Simmerman of Wilmington, from New Hanover High School

Onslow

• Diana Andreea Gliga of Jacksonville, from Northside High School
• Robert Duane Mills Jr. of Jacksonville, from Jacksonville Senior High School
• Michael John Sachtleben of Camp Lejeune, from Lejeune High School
• Tiffany Yvonne Wallace of Jacksonville, from Southwest Onslow High School

• Emily Elizabeth Buress of Chapel Hill, from East Chapel Hill High School
• *Yueqi Lucie Guo of Chapel Hill, from the North Carolina School of Science & Mathematics, Durham
• Jeffrey D. Hoffmann of Chapel Hill, from East Chapel Hill High School
• Jorge E. Izquierdo of Chapel Hill, from East Chapel Hill High School
• *Paula Rosine Long of Carrboro, from Saint Mary's High School, Raleigh
• William Ryan Meyer of Chapel Hill, from East Chapel Hill High School
• *Caitlin Meriwether Prillaman of Chapel Hill, from Carolina Friends School, Durham
• *Eleanor Farley Saunders of Chapel Hill, from Charles E. Jordan Senior High School, Durham
• Christina Jaeun Synn of Chapel Hill, from Chapel Hill Senior High School

• Thomas Francis Gardler of Rougemont, from Person Senior High School
• *Derek DeVon Paylor of Roxboro, from the North Carolina School of Science & Mathematics, Durham
• Rachel Celeste Pointer of Semora, from Person Senior High School

• Adam Ryan Ballance of Greenville, from Junius H. Rose High School
• Jamieson Lindley Hardee of Greenville, from D. H. Conley High School
• Jacinta Darnae Jones of Bethel, from North Pitt High School
• *Alison Donnelly Rotondo of Greenville, from Arendell Parrott Academy, Kinston
• Aisha Ihab Saad of Greenville, from Junius H. Rose High School

• *Johnny Quinn Alston of Greensboro, from Eastern Randolph High School
• Casey Alan Cox of Ramseur, from Eastern Randolph High School
• Matthew D. Leach of Asheboro, from Asheboro High School
• *Ryan Reynolds Neely III of Asheboro, from the North Carolina School of Science & Mathematics, Durham
• Zachary Lee Ziegler of Asheboro, from Southwestern Randolph High School

• Jerry Adam Efird of Saint Pauls, from St. Pauls High School
• Lucia Anne Parker of Lumberton, from Lumberton Senior High School

• Mary Margaret West of Reidsville, from Reidsville Senior High School

• Kathryn Joanne Hall of Mount Ulla, from South Rowan High School
• William Weaver Kesler III of Salisbury, from North Rowan High School
• Joyce Lillian Ritchie of Salisbury, from Salisbury High School

• Joseph McCormick of Rutherfordton, from Rutherfordton-Spindale High School
• Pamela Della Valle of Forest City, from Rutherfordton-Spindale High School

• Bradford Kyle Held of Clinton, from Clinton High School

• Alexander Preston Tilley of Mount Airy, from Mount Airy High School

• Danielle Maria Allen of Monroe, from Monroe High School
• Holly Marie Antony of Monroe, from Sun Valley High School
• Mackenzie Elizabeth Gibbons of Weddington, from Weddington High School
• *Noah Patrick Setzer of Matthews, from Weddington High School

• Joseph Carlton Poythress III of Manson, from Northern Vance Senior High School
• AtLee Taylor Darr Watson of Oxford, from Kerr-Vance Academy

• Annalee Hooper Bloomfield of Raleigh, from W. G. Enloe High School
• Yelena V. Bondar of Cary, from W. G. Enloe High School
• Anastasia Caton of Fuquay-Varina, from Fuquay-Varina Senior High School
• Kaylan Alyssa Christofferson of Cary, from Green Hope High School
• Mark Joseph Godfrey of Garner, from Garner Senior High School
• Amanda Noel Hayden of Raleigh, from Leesville Road High School
• Phillip James Hurm of Raleigh, from Raleigh Charter School
• Ryan M. Jamiolkowski of Cary, from Cary Academy
• *Paula Rosine Long of Carrboro, from Saint Mary's High School
• Andrea Grace Mitchell of Cary, from Cardinal Gibbons High School
• Sarah Christine Nicholls of Raleigh, from Wakefield High School
• Rachel Elizabeth Northeim of Cary, from W.G. Enloe High School
• David Onuscheck Jr. of Raleigh, from Ravenscroft School
• Matthew Patrick Owens of Raleigh, from Millbrook Senior High School
• Eleanor Rousseau Oxholm of Raleigh, from Needham B. Broughton High School
• Daniel Gerard Randolph of Raleigh, from Needham B. Broughton High School
• Erin Fisher Sagester of Holly Springs, from Fuquay-Varina Senior High School
• Emily Susan Schrag of Raleigh, from W.G. Enloe High School
• Molly Elizabeth Tully of Wake Forest, from Wake Forest-Rolesville High School
• Andrew Donald van der Vaart of Raleigh, from Saint David's School
• Theresa Eileen Viera of Morrisville, from Cary Senior High School
• Guangyuan Zhu of Cary, from Green Hope High School

• Ashley Ann Saunders of Plymouth, from Plymouth High School

• Jacob Joseph Bathanti of Vilas, from Watauga High School

• Ashelyn Nicole James of Goldsboro, from Goldsboro High School
• Amanda Jo Knutson of Goldsboro, from Wayne Country Day School
• David Gregory Sullivan of Goldsboro, from Sullivan Christian Academy
• Anem Waheed of Goldsboro, from Charles B. Aycock High School
• Laura Elizabeth Ziemer of Goldsboro, from Wayne Country Day School

• Elijah Boothe Rabek of Burnsville, from Mountain Heritage High School

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Morehead Foundation contacts: Charles Lovelace or Megan Mazzocchi, (919) 962-1201

News Services contact: Deb Saine, (919) 962-8415