News Release

Editors: Winners are listed below. An asterisk indicates a
double listing. Photos of all recipients are at http://www.unc.edu/news/archives/mar06/moreheadphotos2006.htm 

CHAPEL HILL – Fifty-three young leaders from high schools nationwide and in Great Britain – including 29 from North Carolina – have been named Morehead Scholars at 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 costs of a laptop computer and four summer enrichment experiences.

The value of the Morehead is about $80,000 for each in-state student and $140,000 for each out-of-state student.

The winners, announced today (March 10) by the trustees of the John Motley Morehead Foundation, were selected through a nomination and interview process that began last fall. Some 1,620 high school seniors nationwide and in Great Britain were nominated by their high schools or applied for the Morehead.

From those nominees, the foundation and regional committees chose 126 finalists: 68 in-state, 54 out-of-state and four from Great Britain. The process concluded with interviews of the finalists in Chapel Hill Monday and Tuesday (March 6–7).

"It was an honor to have this outstanding group of young leaders visit the UNC campus this week," said Charles E. Lovelace, Jr., executive director of the Morehead Foundation. "It was a challenge to select only 53 Moreheads from among so many well qualified finalists."

Selection criteria are leadership, academic achievement, moral force of character and physical vigor. Morehead recipients are chosen by merit and accomplishments, not financial need. Winners have until April 14 to accept the Morehead.

Instituted as the first non-athletic merit scholarship program in the country, the Morehead has evolved into an experiential learning program with lifelong expectations, Lovelace said. The distinguishing feature of the scholarship is the extensive summer enrichment program, which 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 contribute to the university community in their areas of talent and interest and to continue to do so in their communities as Morehead alumni, he said.

"These are dynamic young leaders looking for a challenge," Lovelace said. "That eagerness to give to others and to their communities is what we are seeking in Morehead Scholars."

For the past four years, Morehead Scholars have won Rhodes Scholarships to England’s Oxford University, one of the world’s most competitive and prestigious awards for graduate study. Karine Dubé won in 2002, Liz Kistin in 2003, Rachel Mazyck in 2004 and Kate Harris last fall. Since the Rhodes program began in 1902, 39 UNC students have received the honor.

The first class of Morehead Scholars graduated from UNC in 1957; of UNC’s 24 Rhodes Scholarship winners since 1962, 21 have been Morehead Scholars.

Morehead Scholars in UNC’s classes of 2005 and 2006 produced a George L. Mitchell Scholar and a Harry S. Truman Scholar. In the past decade, eight Morehead Scholars have won the Truman, six have won Luce Scholarships and five, Fulbright Grants. The awards are among the nation’s most generous and distinguished for graduate study.

Currently, 170 Morehead Scholars study on campus, making outstanding contributions in many areas of university life. For example, Morehead Scholars in UNC’s classes of 2005 and 2006 included editors of five campus publications; a vice chair of the Undergraduate Honor Court; a cabinet coordinator of the Campus Y, UNC’s largest student organization; two senior class marshals; and four members of the Order of the Golden Fleece honorary society.

Also in those two classes, Morehead Scholars were presidents of the following organizations: the UNC Student Government, Phi Beta Kappa, the Black Student Movement, the Asian Students Association, the Korean American Students Association and the Carolina Union. Two were presidents of the UNC Dance Marathon, an annual event that is the university’s largest charity fund-raiser.

For more information, visit http://www.themorehead.org or call the Morehead Foundation at (919) 962-1201.

The 2006 Morehead recipients are listed below, alphabetically by N.C. county, state and country. Winners listed in more than one place are noted with an asterisk.

Alamance

• *Jessica Lauren Lynch, from the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics in Durham , daughter of Elliott Lynch of Burlington and Cheryl Jeffries of Mebane.

• James Joseph Waters, from West Carteret High School in Morehead City, son of Jim and Barbara Waters of Morehead City.

• Hadley Alisha Heath, from Shelby High School in Shelby, daughter of Scott and Angela Heath of Shelby.

• Janel Natasha Monroe, from Terry Sanford High School in Fayetteville, daughter of Harry and Sandra Monroe of Fayetteville.
• *Michael James Mahoney, from Western Harnett High School in Lillington, son of Kathleen Mahoney of Spring Lake .

• *Jessica Rae Hanson, from the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, daughter of Mat and Kerstin Hanson of Raeford in Hoke County.
• *Jessica Lauren Lynch, from the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics in Durham , daughter of Elliott Lynch of Burlington and Cheryl Jeffries of Mebane.
• *Calvin Young, from the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, son of Winston and Karen Young of Apex in Wake County.

• Scott Davis Gallisdorfer, from Forsyth Country Day School in Lewisville, son of Jeff and Sherry Gallisdorfer of Lewisville.
• Colleen Shannon McGary, from West Forsyth High School in Clemmons, daughter of Fred and Karen McGary of Lewisville.
• *Jasmine Renee Mitchell, from Ben L. Smith High School in Greensboro , daughter of Randolph Mitchell of Winston Salem and Carol Shepherd of Greensboro .

• Clarence Lanier Gobble III, from Louisburg High School in Louisburg, son of C. L. and Kathy Gobble of Louisburg.

• Sebastian Cain Williams, from Robbinsville High School in Robbinsville, son of Kent and Francine Williams of Robbinsville.

Guilford

• *Jasmine Renee Mitchell, from  Ben L. Smith High School in Greensboro, daughter of Randolph Mitchell of Winston Salem and Carol Shepherd of Greensboro .

Harnett

• *Michael James Mahoney, from Western Harnett High School in Lillington, son of Kathleen Mahoney of Spring Lake .

• *Jessica Rae Hanson, from the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics in Durham, daughter of Mat and Kerstin Hanson of Raeford.

• Emily Dare Carter, from South Johnston High School in Four Oaks, daughter of Ric and Kitty Carter of Garner.
• Raj Krsna Persaud, from Clayton High School in Clayton, son of Charlie and Mohinie Persaud of Clayton.

• Portia Janel Boone, from Kinston High School in Kinston, daughter of Robert and Perchrista Boone of Kinston.

• Alex Wolfe Lassiter, from Providence Senior High School in Charlotte, son of John and Beverly Lassiter of Charlotte.
• Michael Christopher O’Connor, from Charlotte Latin School in Charlotte, son of Christopher and Phyllis O’Connor of Charlotte.
• Courtney Elizabeth Patterson, from Providence Day School in Charlotte, daughter of Pat and Flora Beth Patterson of Charlotte.
• Gregory Richard Smith, from Myers Park High School in Charlotte, son of Gregory and Vicki Smith of Charlotte.

• Vikram A. Dashputre, from John T. Hoggard High School in Wilmington, son of Ajay and Anjali Dashputre of Wilmington.

• Catherine Shepherd Burns, from Chapel Hill High School in Chapel Hill, daughter of Gary and Jami Burns of Chapel Hill.
• Ashley Chaunte Harrington, from East Chapel Hill High School in Chapel Hill, daughter of Paula Harrington of Chapel Hill.

• Timothy Guy Campbell, from South Rowan High School in China Grove, son of Steven and Karen Campbell of China Grove.
• Thomas Varkey Thriveni, from Salisbury High School, son of Pius and Nice Thriveni of Salisbury.

• Kaitlin Marie Carr, from Clinton High School, daughter of Bill and Nancy Carr of Clinton.

• William Aaron Manning, from Columbia High School, son of Bill and Marcia Manning of Columbia.

• Aparna Maya Chatterjee, from Cary Academy in Cary, daughter of Sanjoy and Benu Chatterjee of Raleigh.
• Kevin Robert Kiley, from Green Hope High School in Cary, son of Edward and Patricia Kiley of Cary.
• Charlotte Jo Lloyd, from William G. Enloe High School in Raleigh, daughter of Mark and Cathy Lloyd of Cary.
• *Calvin Young, from the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics in Durham, son of Winston and Karen Young of Apex.

• *John Raymond Stevenson, from the McCallie School in Chattanooga, Tenn., son of John and Mary Stevenson of Birmingham.

• Tiffany Kim Dixon, from Mira Mesa High School in San Diego, daughter of Kevin and Christina Dixon of San Diego.
• Ying Hua, from John Marshall Fundamental Secondary School in Pasadena, daughter of Xiping Hua and Qingwen Shen of Pasadena.

• Mikhail Mikhailovich Belikov, from the Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, son of Mikhail Belikov and Marina Belikova of New York, N.Y.
• Michael Niekrash Morrill, from Choate Rosemary Hall in Wallingford , son of Douglas Morrill of Simsbury and Christine Niekrash of Farmington .

• *Philip Jad Daniel, from Saint Albans School in Washington, D.C., son of Jad and Maha Daniel of Potomac, Md.

• Ronald Jayson Nemeyer, from the Bolles School in Jacksonville, son of Tyrie and Lori Boyer of Jacksonville.

• Stephen J. Crawford, from North Gwinnett High School in Suwanee, son of Vincent and Zena Crawford of Suwanee.
• Alexander Maxwell Stephens, from Clarke Central High School in Athens, son of Rob and Carolyn Stephens of Athens.

• Dale Louis Hoff, from New Trier Township High School in Winnetka, son of David and Nanette Hoff of Wilmette.

• Andrew Montgomery Sawyer Noland, from DuPont Manual High School in Louisville, son of Tom Noland and Vivian Sawyer of Louisville.

• *Philip Jad Daniel, from Saint Albans School in Washington, D.C., son of Jad and Maha Daniel of Potomac.

• Anthony Rees Sweeney-Taylor, from Groton School, son of Hoyt Taylor and Mary Ellen Sweeney of Groton.

• Nathan Charles Strauss, from the John Burroughs School in St. Louis, son of Michael Strauss and Karen McCray of St. Louis.

• Anne Lewis Baer, from St. Paul's School in Concord, daughter of Kathy Baer of North Salem, N.Y.

• Anne Lewis Baer, from St. Paul's School in Concord, N.H., daughter of Kathy Baer of North Salem.
• Mikhail Mikhailovich Belikov, from the Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Conn., son of Mikhail Belikov and Marina Belikova of New York.

• Henry Lawlor Spelman, from the Hill School in Pottstown, son of John (deceased) and Rosalie Spelman of Swarthmore.

• *John Raymond Stevenson, from the McCallie School in Chattanooga, son of John and Mary Stevenson of Birmingham, Ala.

• Elizabeth Blair Longino, from the Hockaday School in Dallas, daughter of Joseph and Gwen Longino of Dallas.
• Julia Marie Weiser, from Saint John’s School in Houston, daughter of Mary Ann Weiser of Houston.

• Terrence Levon Wilson, from St. Christopher's School in Richmond, son of Charles and JoAnn Wilson of Richmond.
• Anna Jo Bodurtha Smith, from St. Catherine's School in Richmond, daughter of Tom Smith and Joann Bodurtha of Ashland.
• Christopher Knight Sopher, from Annandale High School in Annandale, son of Terry and Harriet Sopher of Annandale.

• Lynzentia Anka-Lufford, from The Latymer School in London, daughter of Eva Anka-Lufford of London.
• Marion Celia Boulicault, from Henrietta Barnett School in London, daughter of Pascal and Nancy Boulicault of London.
• Alexander Lim, from Winchester College in Winchester, England, son of James and Clare Lim of Oxford.
• Eve Stefanie Georgia McTurk, from Mainholm Academy in Ayr, Scotland, daughter of Steven and Margaret-Anne McTurk of Ayr.

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

News Services contact: Lisa Katz, (919) 962-2093 or lisa_katz@unc.edu