Hatherley Armfield Awarded with the Morehead-Cain After Years of Dedication

Morehead Cain scholar Hatherly Armfield. Photo credits to Hatherley Armfield. 

Ella Jennings, Community Desk Lead

Hatherley Armfield, senior, was recently awarded the Morehead-Cain scholarship. This fund is given to a group of successful emerging leaders attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The scholarship includes full tuition, room and board, dining fees, four summer experiences, and extra funding for study abroad opportunities. Armfield has been a stellar student, a dedicated leader, an exceptional athlete, and well-loved by her teachers, friends, and peers throughout all four years of her high school career. 

Receiving the Morehead-Cain is not an easy accomplishment. Armfield shares that her application consisted of several components: three long essays, four short responses on physical vigor, three short responses on “beyond the labels” (highlighting five additional things that speak to the applicant as a person), a portfolio, a video essay, a one-sided interview, and an in-person panel interview with a written assessment, and a group activity. 

“Receiving this scholarship is a dream come true. Furthermore, it is fueling me to deepen my passions in college. Morehead-Cain teaches its scholars to be impactful, not just impressive,” said Armfield. “Staff and alumni go above and beyond to fit scholars' passions and personalities with the path best suited for them.”

This impressive achievement did not come without hard work. Armfield was Class President her first three years of high school and now serves as Student Body President. She serves as the National Honors Society Vice President, has won awards for her success in DECA, and played tennis all four years of high school making her way up to co-captain this past season. Her other extracurriculars include her participation in Athletes for Good and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Overall, Armfield concludes that her involvement in Student Council (StuCo) has been one of the most valuable experiences.

“Morehead-Cain's core values of leadership, character, scholarship, and physical vigor are something that I unknowingly followed throughout high school,” said Armfield. “But the most crucial to my development has been Student Council. I feel that a large part of my character is the importance that community has had in my life, pushing me to found the Elayne Bishop Love Run, lead a hygiene products drive, and most recently my work with Mrs. Walker in helping with new anti-substances initiatives.”

Every year, StuCo hosts the Elyane Bishop Love Run to honor Elayne, who lost her life to breast cancer. The 5K run raises money for local breast cancer patients and survivors. 

“Hatherley's sophomore year she was in charge of the Love Run our second year doing it,” said Brittany Maggard, StuCo adviser. “I remember thinking about how mature she was and how she handled that job so well as a sophomore. The sophomores usually have to have a bit more guidance, but she just took it and never even had a question for me.”

Maggard is not only the advisor for Watauga Student Council but also the National Honors Society. She’s mentored Armfield all four years of high school as she’s grown into her role as a leader. 

“What a stellar kid. She’s so well-rounded; she’s athletic, she’s an academic, she’s social but personable. She hits every mark as far as being a great human goes,” said Maggard. “She works hard, she cares about other people, and I think those are the things that got her to where she is now. It’s all of those qualities combined that make her so well-loved by teachers and her friends.” 

Armfield will begin her journey at UNC this fall, where a boundless and exciting future awaits for her. 

“As of now, I plan on being a lawyer. I feel that both Morehead-Cain and UNC will help me channel my traits of leadership and compassion into a form that is prepared to embrace law school,” said Armfield. 

Having successfully completed the process, Armfield offers some advice to those pursuing the Morehead-Cain or any other prestigious scholarship. 

“The best advice that I could give to anyone hoping to pursue a Morehead-Cain scholarship is to be yourself,” said Armfield. “They aren't looking for copy-and-paste individuals. They are looking for leaders who are personable and passionate about a variety of things.”