Wyatt Gildea '19 a Semifinalist for Morehead-Cain Scholarship
Know your interests, know your passions, and know what you believe.
Wyatt Gildea '19 offered this pearl of wisdom to the Christ School community with his Senior Speech in September. Wyatt's own ability to hone in has helped make the fifth-year senior a semifinalist for the Morehead-Cain Scholarship.
The Morehead-Cain is a four-year, full scholarship to the University of North Carolina and was the first-ever merit scholarship program established in the United States. Morehead-Cain Scholars not only attend UNC-Chapel Hill at no cost, but have access to summer programs that are free of charge. Leadership, character, scholarship, and physical vigor are the criteria for applicants. It is estimated that only one in five become Morehead-Cain semifinalists.
"Obviously I'm very grateful. Christ School has really prepared me for this by giving me leadership positions in areas where I want to learn more," Wyatt said. "That has given me a chance to give back to the school and the community, and those were important factors in my application."
Wyatt, who hopes to pursue a medical degree in college, has built a stellar résumé since beginning his Christ School experience in the eighth grade. The National Honor Society member is co-chair of the Servant Leadership Council, a student leader with the Honor Council, one of the senior editors of The Struan arts magazine, and co-founded the Global Issues Forum. Last April, Wyatt was one of four boys to represent Christ School at the Small School National Championship Quiz Bowl tournament in Chicago. It was the first time a Greenie Quiz Bowl team had competed on the national level.
The next stage of the Morehead-Cain selection process for Wyatt will be semifinalist interviews in January. Finalists will be determined in January and winners named in March. Christ School presently has two alumni who are Morehead-Cain Scholars at UNC-Chapel Hill – Conrad Ma '15 and Devon Johnson '16.
Wyatt said that a number of faculty members have been instrumental throughout his time at Christ School, with special thanks to Olga Mahoney, Father Kirk Brown, Ben Dowling, Emily Pulsifer, and Kirk Blackard.
