Goldsboro High Student gets top scholarship offers
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on March 15, 2005 2:12 PM
Goldsboro High School senior Ashelyn Nicole James has been named the recipient of two prestigious college scholarships, the Morehead Scholarship to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the Park Scholarship to N.C. State University.
In all, 43 students from high schools nationwide and in Great Britain -including 24 from North Carolina -were named Morehead Scholarship recipients. Winners were announced Friday by the trustees of the John Motley Morehead Foundation. Selection was made through a nomination and interview process that began in the fall, when approximately 1,560 high school seniors were nominated by their respective high schools or applied directly.
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 programs. It is valued at approximately $80,000 for each in-state student and $140,000 for each out-of-state student.
The Park Scholars program is also among the most sought after undergraduate merit scholarship programs in the country. Valued at about $55,000 for North Carolina residents and $103,000 for out-of-state students, it pays expenses for four years of study at N.C. State and includes a stipend for each student to buy a personal computer system.
Miss James is the daughter of Elvin and Mary James. She has been a class representative, president of the National Honor Society, the History Club and the Future Teachers of America. She has served as captain of the girl's basketball, volleyball and track teams, and was twice named the most valuable player on the volleyball team. She has also been selected as an all-conference choice in two other sports and has volunteered in many community service projects.
Miss James was nominated for both scholarships by Goldsboro High. She also has received academic scholarship offers from another in-state school and two out-of-state colleges.
The weeks since being nominated for the honors have been busy, Miss James said. Interviews for both scholarships were held on the same day, with her traveling to Fayetteville in the morning to meet with Morehead representatives, and to Wilmington in the afternoon to meet with Park representatives.
When contacted by the News-Argus on Monday, she said that even though she had been notified of the offers almost a week ago, it had not registered yet.
"It's an inexplicable feeling," she said. "You work hard throughout high school and at some point you know it's going to benefit you. Despite that, you're not prepared for something like this."
Miss James said she has until April 4 to decide which scholarship to accept. She is said she is interested in pursuing a career in technology, particularly in the area of marketing techniques. She said she plans to study a mix of engineering and business, with a possible emphasis on international studies.
Pat Burden, the principal at Goldsboro High, said the school's staff and student body are proud of Miss James and her accomplishments.
"She has worked very hard throughout her secondary career and the achievements and the efforts that she has put forth led her right into this great honor," Mrs. Burden said. "She is very deserving."
Describing Miss James as a well-disciplined student and a strong leader, Miss Burden said "She reaches beyond the walls of a classroom ... she is a well-rounded young lady and has served as an outstanding role model for the students of Goldsboro High School.
"I think that's what is so satisfying about these two honors that have been bestowed on her."