The Morehead Scholarship
What is the Morehead?
The Morehead is a four year full scholarship to the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill by definition, but in reality, it is much more. Modeled after the Rhodes Scholarship, the Morehead grants it's scholars (simply referred to as "Moreheads") access to limitless academic and professional opportunity through a fully funded summer enrichment program, a community of very gifted and committed leaders to interact with and a challenge to lead a life of exceptional challenges and rewarding behavior. The tangible benefits include:
-Full tuition to the University for four years
-An annual stipend that covers all other normal expenses including student fees, housing, meals, books, supplies, travel, laundry, etc.
-Laptop computers for all freshmen
-A four year Summer Enrichment Program, beginning the summer before the freshman year.
The total monetary value for the Morehead is $140,000 for out of state students and $80,000 for in-state residents.
Moreheads also benefit from the staff of the Morehead Foundation where each Morehead is assigned an individual staff mentor who is available for consultation on any imaginable topic. Also, the Morehead alumni network is vast and easily accessible to each scholar, providing a very strong support network of friends, contacts, and mentors.
History
The Morehead Scholarship was founded by John Motley Morehead in 1951. John Motley Morehead graduated from Chapel Hill in 1891 and is best known as a successful businessman, engineer, and chemist. The program has expanded many over many years and is currently the oldest merit based scholarship in America.
Summer Enrichment
Each summer every Morehead is given the opportunity to participate in a summer enrichment program. These programs are customized by the scholar to specific tastes and desires. Four themes are associated with each summer.
-Freshman Year: Outdoor Leadership. The student is given the opportunity to choose from over 50 Outward Bound or NOLS courses all over the country. From scaling the tallest peak in Wyoming to traversing the raging waters of the Colorado, these experiences teach the students about themselves and about group dynamics.
-Sophomore Year: Public Service. A chance to give back to the world; scholars are invited to design their own public service projects or participate in many successful programs all over the world. Typically eight weeks long, students have done everything from helping families in Chile build homes to demonstrating technology skills in Namibia.
-Junior Year: Travel Study. From examining the plight of Burmese refugees in Thailand to following the trail of Che Guevara through Latin America, the scholars design a summer where they can enrich their studies, complete an honors thesis, or simply educate themselves about the world.
-Senior Year: The Enterprise Experience. This eight to twelve week experience allows scholars an opportunity to get their foot in the door. Though internships with companies all over the world scholars get their first taste of the real world. Companies such as Goldman Sachs in London and National Geographic have offered intensive internships to students.
How do I get it?
The four main criteria used to select Morehead Scholars are as follows:
-Capacities to lead and motivate fellow students
-Scholastic ability and extracurricular attainments
-Moral force of character
-Physical vigor as shown by participation in sports or other activates.
For more information and an in-depth look at the scholarship, visit the website [1] (http://www.moreheadfoundation.org).
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