Darlington senior Rachel Gideon has been named a Morehead-Cain Scholar and will attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the fall. The scholarship includes four years of full tuition, housing, meals, books, technology, student fees and four summer programs.
"The Morehead-Cain Scholarship is the most prestigious college scholarship program in the United States," said Sam Moss ('63), dean of college guidance. "Darlington is the only school in northwest Georgia that can nominate students for the scholarship, and we couldn't be more proud of Rachel's accomplishments."
The program honors the accomplishments of scholars that exemplify leadership, a strong character and a commitment to physical fitness and an active lifestyle.
While at Darlington, Gideon has rowed crew and has been a junior racer for the Frazier Cycling road team. Last spring, the avid cyclist became the Regional Criterium Champion at the USA Cycling Southeastern Regional Championships and earned silver at the State Road Race Championships and State Criterium Championship. Over the course of two summers during high school, Gideon cycled across the U.S. and France.
"The Morehead-Cain Scholarship was made for Rachel—her physical vigor, her incredible intellect and curiosity. She is a voracious learner," said Ivy Brewer, Darlington's associate dean of college guidance.
The AP Scholar holds membership in the National Honor Society, La Sociedad Honoraria Hispanica and French Honor Society. Gideon has also been honored with the University of Georgia Certificate of Merit, National French Exam Certificate of Honor and Phi Kappa Beta Book Award. She has been recognized on the Headmaster's List for every year that she has attended Darlington. She is also a 2014 graduate of the Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce’s High School Leadership Rome program.
Since entering Darlington as a sophomore, Gideon has been honored with E.L. Wright Scholastic Awards for Spanish 4, AP U.S. History and AP Spanish Literature. Before beginning her senior year, Gideon studied microeconomics and macroeconomics at the Harvard University Summer School program.
During her time as a boarding student in Rome, the Tennessee native has served as leader of team activities at the Boys and Girls Club West, member of the Honor Council, Cooper House academic prefect, Admission Tiger Expert, Advancement Liaisons Team president, French Club president and Spiritual Life liaison. Gideon is a resident in Regester House.
In 2012, Gideon founded Band Together, a company that creates and sells hair ties and headbands to benefit the Nashville International Center for Empowerment (NICE). The student produces over 1,000 pieces inside her dorm room each week, and all sales support the mission of NICE, which helps refugees through social service and education programs.
The Morehead-Cain Scholarship is the oldest merit scholarship program in the U.S. It was established in 1945 and modeled after Oxford University's famous Rhodes Scholarship. The program is touted as "the first merit scholarship at the first public university."
As a part of the program, each recipient participates in four summer enrichment programs that include a focus on outdoor leadership, public service, inquiry and exploration, and private enterprise. Gideon will begin her Morehead-Cain experience this summer at the National Outdoor Leadership School in Canada's Yukon Territory.
Each year 800 nominees from the U.S. and around the globe are nominated to participate in the program. A total of 100 are chosen to compete at Chapel Hill. From that 100, only 50 go on to be named Morehead-Cain Scholarship winners.
Darlington is in the company of only a select few other academic institutions in the United States and worldwide that have the ability to nominate for the Morehead-Cain program, including Deerfield Academy, Groton School, Harrow School and Phillips Exeter Academy.
In addition to Gideon, Darlington has produced three other Morehead-Cain Scholars since 2002, including Jeff Hortman ('02), Anna Kreuger ('07) and A.J. White ('10).
