Binyam ’26 earns prestigious Morehead-Cain Scholarship

Binyam Dunne '26 has earned the Morehead-Cain Scholarship at the University of North Carolina, perhaps the most difficult scholarship to earn, along with the Jefferson Scholarship at the University of Virginia, among the many heralded merit scholarships at universities around the country.

He is one of 69 scholars representing thirty-three North Carolina counties, 15 states and the District of Columbia, and seven countries. Their academic interests span the sciences, health professions, public policy, business, and the humanities, from biomedical engineering and environmental science to philosophy, languages, and music. In addition to a fully funded undergraduate scholarship to one of the nation’s foremost public research universities, Binyam and scholars gain access to a network of peers and mentors, challenging internships and summer experiences, and an opportunity to travel the world.

As a 2025 Lois McMullan Scholar at USN, Binyam is among a small group of seniors who have led the school community during their final year. He serves as Student Council Secretary, Community Action Day Committee Co-Chair, Secretary General of Tennessee Model United Nations, as a Floor Leader for Youth in Government, and as a Tennessee delegate to the U.S. Senate Youth Program. He is a Peer Educator and Assistant, and he captains the state runner-up Mock Trial team and track & field team. Earlier this year, he spoke on the Senate floor of the Tennessee General Assembly about his experience with the Tennessee Center for Civic Engagement. He will also serve on the Tennessee delegation to the Conference on National Affairs this summer before beginning his time as a Morehead-Cain Scholar. Through the Morehead-Cain Program, he will take an international gap year before he returns to study global studies and peace, war, and defense at Carolina.

The process of selecting the new class of Morehead-Cain Scholars occurs over the course of six months and includes application review, virtual and in-person interviews, and other activities. The selection process relies on the expertise of foundation staff and hundreds of alumni interviewers and volunteer evaluators. Candidates enter the process via nomination from a partnering school or program (all eligible in-state students may apply through self-nomination). The UNC Office of Undergraduate Admissions also refers strong Early Action applicants to the process.

“We welcome the newest Morehead-Cain Scholars at a moment when principled leadership has never mattered more,” said Chris Bradford, president of the Morehead-Cain Foundation. “These scholars were chosen not only for their intellect and capacity for leadership, but for the strength of their character. By joining the Morehead-Cain Program, we challenge them to pursue lives defined by moral ambition, not just achievement.”  

Since its founding in 1945, the Morehead-Cain Program has been a model for countless merit scholarships throughout the United States and the world. These include the University of Virginia’s Jefferson Scholars Program, Duke University’s Benjamin N. Duke Scholars Program, and Emory University’s Woodruff Scholars Program.