The Morehead-Cain Foundation is pleased to announce the members of its class of 2029, who will begin their undergraduate journeys at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC–Chapel Hill) in the fall of 2025.
The seventy-five scholars represent twenty-two North Carolina counties and nineteen U.S. states and territories (including North Carolina). They are from six countries and were nominated by schools in eight countries (including the United States). Their academic interests range from biology and political science to literature, languages, and the arts.
They join a thriving cohort of thinkers, leaders, creators, and adventurers at UNC–Chapel Hill, empowered by the Morehead-Cain Program to set their potential free. In addition to a fully funded undergraduate scholarship to one of the nation’s foremost public research universities, scholars gain access to a network of peers and mentors, challenging internships and summer experiences, and an opportunity to travel the world.
The process of selecting the new class occurs over the course of six months and includes application review, virtual and in-person interviews, and other activities. The selection process relies on the expertise of Foundation staff and hundreds of alumni interviewers and volunteer evaluators. Candidates enter the process via nomination, either from their school or on their own. The UNC Office of Undergraduate Admissions also refers strong Early Action applicants as candidates for the process.
“At a time in which bold and ethical leadership is required across our global society, we welcome the Morehead-Cain Class of 2029 with a moment of celebration and a call to action,” said Chris Bradford, president of the Morehead-Cain Foundation. “These scholars were selected for their intellect and moral force of character, and we recognize their potential to lead lives of purpose and impact. In joining Morehead-Cain, they embrace a lifelong commitment to strengthening our University, state, nation, and world.”
Since its founding in 1945, the Morehead-Cain Program has been a model for countless merit scholarships throughout the United States and across the world. These include the University of Virginia’s Jefferson Scholars Program, Duke University’s Benjamin N. Duke Scholars Program, and Emory University’s Woodruff Scholars Program.