A Roedean student has landed a prestigious American university scholarship whose previous recipients have included Pulitzer prize winners, prominent US judges and politicians, renowned scientists and celebrated journalists.
18-year-old Chaya Lynch learned that she had landed the all-fees-paid scholarship to study at North Carolina university after a gruelling seven-month, multi-stage selection process which assessed her around the organisation’s four flagship pillars of “physical vigour, leadership, character and scholarship.”
Around 2,000 young people from across the globe apply each year and this year 75 were successful but almost all were American. Only a handful of UK students land the scholarship per annual round.
Chaya, who is currently studying for A levels in politics, philosophy and English literature, said: “I originally heard about the Morehead-Cain through my godmother who was a scholar and thought I would be a good fit. My parents encouraged me to apply for it but I resisted at first because it seemed like such a long shot – but looking back I’m so glad I made the decision to apply. There were hoops to jump and I had to get the school to consider whether I should apply first. I had countless meetings with my teacher combing over every detail of my application. She was extremely helpful in guiding me to find the meaning in all my activities, and making my application feel more true and authentic to me.
I then had to do a long application and a video essay and eventually attend the semi-finals in London which led to an interview over Christmas which was very nerve wracking. I walked away from that interview thinking I’d tried my best and whatever happens happens, but a month later as I was about to leave for spin class I got the email about the finals, and they were flying me to North Carolina for the final selection experience.”
This included panel interviews and group and written tasks and again focused around the four pillars that the Morehead-Cain foundation seeks in their scholars.
But Chaya found out just three days after the trip that she had been successful.
She added: “There’s actually a very embarrassing reaction video to me finding out the news, and my immediate reaction was to cry. It was the culmination of seven months of hard work all coming to a head and I was honestly in disbelief. I was surrounded by my family when I found out and we were actually out for dinner celebrating my birthday at the same time. Before I found out, it felt like I had to come to terms with being rejected as the chances were so slim, especially for international students, and even now it hasn’t quite sunk in.”
Chaya has yet to make up her mind about taking a gap year before she starts in the US studying either Political Science or Public Policy.
She added: “The fact that the scholarship covers all the tuition fees and expenses is genuinely unbelievable. That a scholarship like this even exists is beyond me, and I’m so excited to see what doors this opportunity opens for me.”
Roedean deputy head Ross Barrand added: “We are incredibly proud of Chaya, our joint Head of School Prefect, for being awarded such a prestigious and highly competitive scholarship to study at the University of North Carolina. This scholarship fully funds her education and includes immersive summer experiences in outdoor leadership, public service, international research, and private enterprise, as well as mentorship, personalised coaching, and exceptional opportunities for growth. What an incredible opportunity.”
Categories: Roedean School
