C.B. Aycock senior earns scholarships
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on April 14, 2014 1:47 PM
Myra Waheed
PIKEVILLE -- A Charles B. Aycock High School senior has been awarded two prestigious scholarships, the Morehead-Cain and the Park Scholarship, offering full rides to UNC-Chapel Hill and N.C. State University, respectively.
Myra Waheed actually applied to six colleges, in addition to the multiple-step process involved in the two very competitive awards. Students vying for the Morehead-Cain and Park scholarships must first be nominated by their high school.
The youngest daughter of Dr. Waheed Akhtar and Shabana Anwar, Myra is already part of an academic legacy at CBA. Her older sisters have both been valedictorians in their respective classes. Anem, Class of 2005 and a graduate of East Carolina University, is now involved in her medical residency at the University of Virginia, and Nida, Class of 2007, is a student at UNC-Chapel Hill.
Myra said she has felt no pressure to continue the tradition and admitted she doesn't even know her class ranking.
She has preferred taking a more diverse route in high school, she said, pursuing an array of interests beyond just the academics.
"I enjoy politics," she said. "I participated in Teen Court as a volunteer for the past four years and was a Senate page my sophomore year (2012) with the General Assembly during budget time, so saw a lot of education cuts."
She's also been part of the Mayor's Youth Council and participated in soccer and cross country as well as the school's HOSA, or Health Occupations Students of America and Photography Club.
"I really enjoyed the fact that I was able to do something different and well-rounded," she said.
The Morehead-Cain scholarship funds all four years of college at UNC-Chapel Hill, including tuition, housing, meals, books and laptop and other miscellaneous supplies. Recipients also participate in summer enrichment programs designed to develop leadership skills and receive travel abroad opportunities. Dollar value of the award is $26,892 a year or $107,568 for the four years.
Officials at the college said this year it had more than 2,000 applicants from across the nation, with 126 finalists selected. The class of scholars for the fall is expected to be between 55 and 60.
The Park Scholarship is a four-year scholarship valued at $92,000 for in-state students and $149,000 out-of-state, including tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, travel and personal expenses. It also entails professional and personal enrichment experiences in scholarship, leadership and service.
Miss Waheed said she has appreciated being selected for both awards, but tipped her hand on which she will likely choose.
"I think I'm going to take the Morehead at UNC-Chapel Hill," she said earlier this week.
She said she is considering a major in political science and anticipates a double major in environmental studies and political science.