EWHS student receives Morehead, Trinity scholarships
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on March 24, 2008 1:45 PM
Eastern Wayne High senior Noelle Kelly has earned two prestigious college awards, the Morehead-Cain Scholarship and a Duke Trinity Scholarship.
The Morehead-Cain Scholarship program is one of the most competitive in the nation. Recipients will attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, funding all four years of college, and also participate in summer enrichment programs designed to develop leadership skills. They also have opportunities to travel abroad.
Approximately 1,500 candidates from North Carolina started out vying for the scholarship in the fall, competing against candidates from across the U.S., Great Britain and Canada. An estimated 85 scholarships were awarded.
Four Duke Trinity Scholarships are awarded annually to North Carolina students. Established in 1984, the scholarships are given on a rotating basis to gifted students residing within specific geographic areas of North Carolina. It is valued at more than $180,000 and covers the full cost of attending Duke, including tuition, room, board and stipends for travel or study-abroad programs.
In the scholarship program, Trinity Scholars are also linked with the donor responsible for the funding, providing the opportunity to develop unique mentor relationships with the alumni.
The daughter of Cynthia and Milas Kelly, Jr. of Goldsboro, Noelle is vice president of her school's chapter of Key Club and has directed such projects as the annual fundraiser for the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life campaign and its annual Trick-or-Treat money drive for UNICEF. Ms. Kelly is also captain of the Eastern Wayne girls' varsity basketball team. She has volunteered at Wayne Memorial Hospital for the past three summers and participated in the Junior Leadership Wayne County program.
Christa Coates, Eastern Wayne school counselor called Noelle a "wonderfully well-rounded young woman who excels in academics, athletics and community involvement.
"I am extremely proud of her commitment to academics. She is setting a wonderful example for other students at our school."
Dr. Steven Taylor, schools superintendent, also applauded Ms. Kelly's accomplishments.
"She has worked hard to earn these scholarships, and has proven that hard work does pay off," he said. "We wish Ms. Kelly all the best as she now takes on her next major academic challenge, deciding which university to attend, Duke University or UNC-Chapel Hill."