The Office of Admissions at Darlington School is pleased to announce that there are 11 Merit Scholars for the 2004-05 school year. Based on academic achievements, Merit Scholarships are divided into specific named scholarships.
“We are proud to have these 11 students at Darlington School and feel that they are very deserving of these scholarships,” said Casey Zimmer, director of admission. “Not only does each of these students exhibit outstanding academic ability; they are also very involved on campus and in the community, representing the School in an ideal manner.”
Established in 2000, The Cornwell Scholarship is awarded to the most qualified resident student, male or female, from the state of North Carolina, regardless of need. Cornwell Scholarship recipients include senior Gray Allen, of Albemarle, N.C.; junior Drew Beaver, of Charlotte, N.C.; and sophomore Brett Henson, of North Wilkesboro, N.C.
“When I first arrived at Darlington, I was fearful that I would have a hard time fitting in and adjusting to the new environment,” said Allen. “However, after the first month, I found my place in the Darlington community.” Allen has since been involved with the Discipline Committee, of which she was named the first-ever president; the staffs of the “Darlingtonian” and the “Jabberwokk,” of which she has been editor for two years; National Honor Society; intramurals; junior varsity soccer; varsity lacrosse; and has served as house relations prefect and head prefect of the Milford House. She has also participated in various community service projects.
Beaver has also made a name for himself in the Darlington community, being awarded the Darlington Parents Association Student Award for Freshman Boys in 2003-04 and named a founder of the Darlington Field and Stream Club. A member of the Social, Intramural and Religious Life Clubs for the Barnes House, Beaver also serves as Weekend Trip Coordinator, plays junior varsity basketball and varsity golf and has volunteered at Phonathons for the Development Office. “I have also been an admission host many times in that a prospective student comes to Darlington, spends the night in my dorm and attends class with me the next day,” he said.
Henson said he has tried to take full advantage of what the Darlington community has to offer by immersing himself in the life of the School. Some of his activities have included Scholar Bowl, Math Team, cross-country and track and field. “During my first weeks at Darlington School, I realized that there was a strong program not seen in many schools,” said Henson. “As I see the doors of my future open, I will continue to appreciate what Darlington has done for me.”
The Goizueta Scholarship, established in 2001, provides need-based assistance annually to Hispanic or Latino students whose family currently resides in the United States. Recipients are junior Maritza Mendoza, of Houston, Texas, and freshman Justin Smith, of Ft. Myers, Fla.
“Since I have been at Darlington, I have learned and been through many things,” said Mendoza. “I think that Darlington’s goodwill has helped me achieve my goals by allowing me to experience challenging education in preparation for college.” Mendoza is a prefect and a member of the Spanish Club, National Honor Society and House Senate. She has played soccer and volleyball, and is a captain of the varsity volleyball team this year.
Smith, a member of the Barnes House, has spent most of his time running cross-country, wrestling and playing soccer. He has also participated in band. “This scholarship has allowed me to meet people of different origins, and I am happy to be able to do so and to learn about their heritage,” he said. “I have made many great friends and hope that they will last a lifetime.”
The J. Ross McCain Honor Scholarship is awarded to male or female resident students from the Southeast, with Christian backgrounds, who display leadership qualities in school and in the community, and who demonstrate outstanding academic achievements and initiative in their lives. McCain Scholarship recipients include junior Mary Katherine Branham, of Atlanta; sophomore Ross Langley, of Hilton Head, S.C.; and freshman Mac Gilliland, of Staunton, Va.
“Erlandson House has become my second home, complete with more than 20 second sisters,” said Branham. “At the end of my freshman year, I chose to apply for the house relations prefect position. I just finished my first video … aimed at showing prospective students what it is like to be a part of Erlandson House. Making it was an awesome experience that has reminded me just how much I have loved my time here.” Branham is also an active member of the House Bible Study, German Club and girls’ lacrosse team manager.
Langley came to Darlington as a freshman ready to play football. However, his life at Darlington took an unexpected turn three weeks into school. An injury to his shoulder landed him in a sling, surgery and three months of intense physical therapy. “I got through it all, and before going home for Thanksgiving break, I decided to try out for the winter musical, ‘Cinderella,’” said Langley, a member of the Men’s Chorus. “Very unexpectedly, I was given the role of the Prince.” That year, in addition to his newfound love of performing, Langley also picked up a new sport, lacrosse, which he plans to continue playing throughout his career at Darlington.
An active member of Barnes House, Gilliland participates in Scholar Bowl and Darlington Soccer Academy. “Although I have been participating in extracurricular activities, I have still had plenty of time to study and get my work done,” said Gilliland. “My scholarship has motivated me to work hard and prove to myself and others that I deserve to be a McCain Scholar. I love being here at Darlington, and I am looking forward to a great Centennial year.”
Established in 2000 by the William S. “Billy” Morris III (’52) family, The Morris Scholarship is awarded to five boarding students on the basis of character, strength, leadership potential and academic ability. These awards are renewable, based on student performance. Morris Scholarship recipients include seniors Jody Milford, of Atlanta, and Cassie McCoy, of Pensacola, Fla., and sophomore Quincy Price, of Sharpsburg, Ga.
Milford has been a member of “The Inkslinger” staff, the Discipline Committee and the House Senate and has served as academic prefect and head prefect of Erlandson House. An active member of the Darlington Players, she has been involved in “Arsenic and Old Lace,” “The King and I,” “The Importance of Being Earnest,” “Cinderella,” “Dearly Departed” and, most recently, in “Othello.” “I have achieved my goal here at Darlington – to play a lead [role] in the fall play and compete in the One Act Competition,” said Milford. “The Morris Scholarship has enabled me to attend this school. Without the help of the Morris family, I would not have had this opportunity.”
When McCoy was granted her Morris Scholarship, she knew she had been given the chance of a lifetime and vowed to make the most of her time at Darlington. She got involved in a myriad of activities including National Honor Society, “Y” Cabinet, House Senate, French Club, Environmental Awareness Club, the “Inkslinger” (literary magazine), Ladies Chorale, Concert Choir, church choir and youth group, Habitat for Humanity, junior varsity volleyball, S.O.A.R. (an alumni fundraising group), Senior Leadership Committee and Academic Committee. She has also served as religious life prefect and academic prefect of Milford House. “I always wanted to be a student who had earned her scholarship,” she said, “so I made it my goal that during my time at Darlington, I would always be a student who exemplified what it was to be a Morris Scholar. I only hope now that my goals have matched those of others and that my time at Darlington has made an impression worthwhile of a Morris Scholar.”
Price is a member of the Honor Council, the “Darlingtonian” staff, Men’s Chorale, Concert Choir, Spanish Club and is treasurer of the Darlington Players. He is also a liaison assistant in Barnes House, team manager for the basketball team and participates in track and field. “Being part of the Darlington Players has meant the most to me because this is the field of study I wish to pursue after high school, and I feel that the fine arts department, especially the drama department, is very developed for such a small school,” he said. “The Morris Scholarship has given me this wonderful opportunity to come to Darlington to meet people and do things I probably would have never done.”
For more information about Darlington School’s Merit Scholarships, please contact the Office of Admission at 1-800-36-TIGER.
