Morehead Scholarship choice of Ashelyn James
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on April 11, 2005 1:48 PM
Goldsboro High School senior Ashelyn James has made her decision between 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.
She said over the weekend that she had chosen to accept the Morehead Scholarship and will attend UNC in the fall.
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 in-state students and $140,000 for out-of-state recipients.
The Park Scholars program is valued at $55,000 for state residents, $103,000 for out-of-state students, and also pays all expenses for four years of study, as well as a stipend for a personal computer system.
Ms. James, the daughter of Elvin and Mary James of Goldsboro, was nominated for both scholarships by her high school. When the announcement was made last month, she admitted that she was a bit overwhelmed at the choice she had to make.
"But I'm at peace with my decision," she says now. She expressed appreciation for those behind the Park Scholarship and everyone she met during the interview process at N.C. State.
"They were wonderful and the people were very nice," she said. "You couldn't go wrong with either decision."
Perhaps the determining factor, she said, was the summer enrichment program offered through Morehead.
"I have always enjoyed travel and wanted to travel," she said. The idea of traveling abroad every summer during her college years was appealing, she said.
Ms. James has not declared a major, saying she will spend her first two years taking general college courses before choosing her field of study.