By Kathrine Helms and Chloe Corley

For Gray Stone Day School 

MISENHEIMER — Several Gray Stone students have been nominated for two prestigious scholarships. Students Parker Jenkins and Dmitry Tereshenko were nominated for the Morehead Cain Scholarship, and students Sam Lanning and Maria Kanawati were nominated for the Park Scholarship.

The Park Scholarship at North Carolina State University is a four-year scholarship awarded to students who display accomplishments through leadership, scholarship, good character and service to their community. Nominees must earn excellent grades, seek learning experiences outside of the classroom, uphold leadership roles, make differences in the lives of others through service and set positive example for others by exhibiting outstanding character.

The scholarship amounts to $107,000, which includes room and board, tuition, fees, travel, books and various personal expenses. If the Park Scholarship is awarded to the nominee, they will also gain enriching experiences through faculty mentoring and participating in various retreats where they will gain leadership experience and continue to promote their ideas through community service. Approximately 120 of 2,000 nominees are chosen as finalists for this scholarship.

“I am truly honored to be nominated to apply for the Park Scholarship at N.C. State. It has always been my goal to be as successful as I can throughout my high school career,” Lanning said.

Lanning displayed leadership in many positions such as freshman class treasurer, sophomore class president, student body president and cross country team captain. He has participated in several mission trips with his church, served meals at the Community Table and volunteered with the Uwharrie Running Club to keep the sides of roads in Badin free of litter.

“I want my example to carry on even after I graduate high school,” he said.

Kanawati has held several leadership roles as a peer mentor, the treasurer of the National Honor Society at Gray Stone and the event coordinator of the United Muslim Relief, a community nonprofit organization. Kanawati also volunteers at her local hospital, acting as a guide for patients and their families, as well as completing many tasks in the maternity wing.

“It was truly an experience I will never forget. I learned the importance of being kind to all that I meet because you never know what they’re going through,” she said.

The Morehead Cain Scholarship at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill provides full funding for tuition, student fees, housing, meals, books, a laptop, and supplies. It also gives each recipient a four-year summer enrichment program, private enterprise and various leadership opportunities. To be eligible for nomination, a student must show leadership, good character, participate in an active lifestyle and demonstrate hard work in their classes.

Jenkins is one nominee for the Morehead Cain scholarship. He participates in many extracurricular activities including theatre, spring and winter track and cross country. He also displays leadership throughout the school by being a mentor to rising freshmen and tutoring his peers. Due to his leadership skills, Jenkins was chosen to be a part of the student senate this year and is a member of the National Honor Society.  Jenkins also volunteers at his church every Sunday with audio and Children’s Church.

Tereshenko is Gray Stone’s second nominee for the Morehead Cain Scholarship. He is the current president of National Honor Society and is heavily involved in the Friends of Rachel Club. Tereshenko also teaches students at Zenith Gymnastics in Charlotte, where he is also a participant himself. However, due to a recent back injury, Dmitry is no longer able to compete in gymnastics. Instead of letting his injury get the best of him, he decided to become an instructor. He helped organize a free gymnastics class for severely disabled and wheelchair-bound children of the Charlotte area.  He has also enjoyed being involved at school as a peer mentor and at church as a youth leader.

 At Gray Stone, the Scholarship Council is comprised of a group of teachers and the college counselor, Sarah Ince, to take part in the nomination process.

Kathrine Helms and Chloe Corley are students in Gray Stone Day School’s marketing and journalism class.