Taking on the World - Hutchison's Morehead Cain Scholars

At first, it was a little daunting to reach Caroline Orr ’12, Gaby Nair ’14, and Gabi Stein ’15 this past summer.

 

The three Hutchison graduates were traveling across the globe, meeting and working with new people, adjusting to unfamiliar environments, and practicing their teamwork and leadership skills. 

They weren’t all in the same place, but they share a special connection: they are all Morehead- Cain Scholars at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Orr is starting her senior year, Nair is in year two, and this will be Stein’s first year. Hutchison is one of only two schools in the country to produce three out-of-state Morehead-Cain Scholars in the past five years.

Modeled after the Rhodes Scholarship, the Morehead-Cain funds all expenses for four years of undergraduate study at UNC, plus four summer enrichment experiences. Gabi Stein spent 30 days hiking in Alaska as part of a NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School) course. Gaby Nair lived in Cape Town, South Africa, for two months working at an urban farm. And Caroline Orr worked with the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., which took her to India to conduct research.

“We are so proud of our Morehead-Cain scholars. It is a highly selective program and reflects well on the school, but beyond that, these girls truly represent the benefit of a Hutchison education,” said Dr. Annette Smith, head of school. “They are independent thinkers, resilient, intellectually curious, and not afraid of failure. They will go far in their lives and careers, no matter where their passions take them.” 

Before Morehead-Cains have even started at North Carolina, they spend the summer taking part in an outdoor leadership experience. Scholars are typically hiking and camping in remote areas with guides, braving the elements, and testing their leadership roles … not to mention how to use a compass. “There’s a lot of group dynamics and mentally it’s very challenging,” Stein said of her trip to Alaska.

The second summer is a summer of service. This is what Nair was doing in South Africa. She worked in an urban farm organization’s office helping to coordinate and sell weekly produce boxes to families in Cape Town. She also wrote newsletters and emails, and sold vegetables at the market on Saturdays. “It doesn’t matter so much what you’re doing, what matters is who you are working for,” said Nair.

The third summer experience is an internship. Last year Caroline Orr interned at Christie’s auction house in New York. For her fourth summer this year, she “independently curated” her experience, which Morehead-Cain often encourages. After interviewing with a curator at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., Orr traveled to India to do research for a future Smithsonian exhibit. She had spent her service summer in India teaching. “India really captured my heart,” Orr said. In fact, she shifted her college focus because of her time there. “I decided to pair tracks in my BFA in Art with Entrepreneurship. Eventually I’m interested in finding intersections between art and maybe humanitarian work or social innovation.”

“Really take a look at what you’ve done in the past four years and see the connections that you can make and see where your passions lie,” Stein said.

Nair offered sage advice on the college interview process: “Be genuine,” she said. “Don’t say what you think they want to hear. And don’t be afraid to be a little bit vulnerable in an interview. I think they want to know that you are a real person.”