Madyson Barber’s mom likes to joke that by the time she returned to work from parental leave, her daughter could already count to 10. Though this is perhaps an exaggeration, it is absolutely true that Barber flashed a natural aptitude for math and science from a young age. In high school, she wrote an extended essay for the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program on the viability of asteroid deflection methods.
“That was the course that really got me interested in astrophysics,” Barber said. “I thought that I would probably study math or engineering, but I guess I just became fascinated with space and realized that was going to be my direction.”
Barber’s high school work was so superlative that she applied for and received a scholarship from the Chancellor’s Science Scholars program, a scholarship, training and leadership program to attract talented high school students to Carolina. For a student who grew up wanting to go to UNC-Chapel Hill, the scholarship was a dream come true.
“It meant that I got into my first school and had a way to pay for it, along with all the other help that comes with being a Chancellor’s Science Scholar,” Barber said.
Read the complete Carolina Story…
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string(1648) "When she was a child, Paloma Ruiz ’22 would often spend long summer days immersed in a book. She treated a pamphlet of reading recommendations from the library like a checklist to be completed, and she was determined to finish every title listed. These lengthy reading sessions sparked an interest in writing and literature.
“My dad is a scientist and I think my parents hoped I would study science, so maybe all the writing and books was my way of rebelling,” Ruiz said with a laugh. “But staying in touch with my artistic and literary side has always been very important to me.”
As she grew older, though, Ruiz realized she had both a knack and a love for science and math. Working with her father in high school gave her hands-on experience in a lab, which she found exciting. A summer session at the Governor’s School of North Carolina exposed her to theoretical math and nudged Ruiz toward studying quantitative biology, which is now her major at UNC-Chapel Hill.
Ruiz came to Carolina with a scholarship from the Chancellor’s Science Scholars program, which offers merit-based financial support, opportunities to participate in cutting-edge research, professional development, leadership training, mentorship and other programming designed to pave the way for academic success and future achievement.
“CSS has been an amazing support system,” Ruiz said. “My class has been through a lot at UNC with COVID and everything, and it means a lot for me to be able to rely on the people in the CSS program.”
Read the complete Carolina Story..."
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A group of Chancellor’s Science Scholars conduct a chemistry experiment in the lab of Dr. David Nicewicz at UNC-Chapel Hill.
The Morehead-Cain Foundation has partnered with the William R. Kenan Jr. Charitable Trust to give a total of $750,000 to an innovative program at Carolina: the Chancellor’s Science Scholars (CSS) program.
The CSS program seeks out the next generation of leaders in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields and prepares them for top graduate programs and careers during their time at Carolina. According to Chuck Lovelace ’77, executive director of the Morehead-Cain Program, supporting the CSS program is a “natural extension of the Morehead-Cain founders’ vision” to enable talented and exceptional students to pursue their academic interests.
“In order for the country to remain at the forefront of STEM-related research and innovation, opening access for bright students to participate in research is crucial for our success,” said Dr. Thomas Freeman, executive director of the Chancellor’s Science Scholars Program. “We’re grateful for the Morehead-Cain Foundation’s investment in strengthening the diverse and highly trained STEM leadership of tomorrow.”
Read the complete Carolina Story…"
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Ashleigh Henry ’22 had varying aspirations and career goals when she was younger — but the underlying theme was always science.
Now a Chancellor’s Science Scholar majoring in environmental health sciences within the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, Henry’s love for science is stronger than ever. Specifically, she has become especially interested in the ways in which environmental changes affecting health could be applied to human health.
“Last semester, I was able to take an introduction to environmental health, and I found it to be a great interdisciplinary field that incorporated both my environmental science and medical interests,” said Henry. “The genuine excitement I feel when researching these topics continues to be unmatched by any other major.”
Read the complete Carolina Story for a Q&A with Ashleigh Henry…"
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