Senior Sara Holley was recently selected as a recipient for the Morehead-Cain scholarship to UNC Chapel Hill. Holley was nominated by the school last fall and became a finalist late January. Holley found out Mar. 11.

“My mom and I were sitting together and we were so happy and elated. She started crying, she was so excited. I was really touched by that,” Holley said.

The Morehead-Cain is an incredibly prestigious scholarship that offers a full ride to Chapel Hill, including housing, books and supplies and access to Discovery Funds.

Holley wants to use this opportunity to major in Global Studies, as well as excelling in either social entrepreneurship or foreign diplomacy.

“I’m really interested in learning about what makes the world go ‘round and what makes people tick,” she said.

The Morehead-Cain selection process consists of five steps, ending with a Final Selection Weekend at Chapel Hill, where applicants travel to for an interview. Holley is the first recipient from East Meck of this scholarship in at least 15 years.

“Everything that I’ve done in these four years, I did it because I wanted to do it, and if you do that and you really follow what you’re interested in, college will come naturally,” Holley said, “It comes from your inner drive.”