Theo Andersen ‘26 Named a Morehead-Cain Scholar

Academy President Theo Andersen ‘26, a boarding student from Westminster, Massachusetts, has been named a recipient of the prestigious Morehead-Cain Scholarship at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Established in 1945 as the first merit scholarship program in the United States, the Morehead-Cain is awarded to students who demonstrate a rare combination of academic achievement, physical vigor, and a selfless drive to lead. We sat down with him in early May to discuss the selection process and reflect on his four years at Govs.

Govs: The selection process for the Morehead-Cain Scholarship is known for being very rigorous. What were the key elements of the selection process, and where do you believe you differentiated yourself?

Theo: The process started in May of my junior year with Govs nominating me. Govs nominated two students this year. The application includes completing many essay questions, submitting a counselor recommendation, transcripts, and standardized test scores in the fall of my senior year. Last December, I became a semi-finalist and had to answer four interview questions by video in two minutes or less each. It's like doing another college interview, except you're not talking to a specific person. The applicant pool is then whittled down to 190 students who are flown down to Chapel Hill for a weekend in March. Finalists stay in Carolina’s on-campus hotel, meet current Scholars and alumni, and participate in a series of interviews and group activities. I attribute a good amount of what set me apart in the group of finalists to Govs and its focus on good communication—whether that be writing, speaking, interviewing, or just talking in a casual conversation. Once you get to the final round, it really comes down to how well you tell your story because everybody's impressive. I met a kid who was on American Ninja Warrior and a kid who knew 314 digits of pi! Everybody has their own unique thing. Govs taught me how to tell my story well and gave me the confidence to do so.

Govs: The Morehead-Cain Scholarship looks for more than academic achievement. The Scholarship looks for leadership that makes a difference. Looking back at your time here at Govs, is there a specific project or moment where you felt you truly grew as a leader?

Theo: In the finalist round, I talked about how my time in the Winter Musical helped me succeed in my role as Academy President. I had never done the musical before my Junior Year. Nuer (Bol ‘25), whom I knew from StuCo (Student Council), helped me see how I could transfer the confidence I was gaining on stage to my leadership role in StuCo. In my interview, I was able to look back on my experience in the Winter Musical for two years, my time in Student Council, and my experience as Academy President to discuss my leadership at Govs and beyond.

Govs: At Govs, students interact with adults in the classroom, dorm, field, and stage. Is there an adult at Govs who encouraged or mentored you in your leadership journey here?

Theo: A lot of adults have mentored me at Govs, but Mr. Norton and Mr. Quigley come to mind first. The Morehead-Cain application offers an opportunity for you to submit an artistic or writing work. I sent them my AP US History thesis from my junior year. I never would have been in a position where I'd be able to write something that long, well thought out, well researched, and edited if it wasn't for Mr. Quigley's class. I feel like he played a significant role in getting me to be a Scholar as both my teacher and my advisor for two years. There was a point during course selection for my junior year when he actually told me not to take a course. He thought I was going to stretch myself out too far. I'm really grateful for that advice from him because it gave me more time to spend on my other classes, like US History, and my leadership roles. I never would have thought to do the Winter Musical had I not been at a karaoke night one weekend, and Mr. Norton came up to me and said, “Have you ever considered doing the Winter Musical?” He encouraged me to try out and open myself up to doing something new. A big part of the Winter Musical is that you have to embrace it and be willing to show up every day. Mr. Norton is really the embodiment of the “show up and have a good time” kind of attitude. I am grateful that he encouraged me to get in the door and helped me succeed.

Govs: One of the most unique aspects of this scholarship is the Summer Enrichment Program, which includes outdoor leadership, global travel, civic collaboration, and professional internships. Which of these four summers are you most excited to explore?

Theo: I'm really looking forward to the civic collaboration summer, which will happen between my freshman and sophomore years. The way the program works is you're placed in a random city around the country with four or five other scholars. Cities reach out to the Morehead-Cain Scholarship Foundation and share a problem that they would like students to help them fix. For example, in recent years, there have been a lot of projects about integrating AI into city systems. What excites me about the civic collaboration summer is that I have done a lot of work like this before. This past summer, I interned with State Representative Jonathan Zlotnik in Gardner, Massachusetts. They created a new youth center in Gardner, so I was there helping to clean it up. There was another day that I rode the city buses to count riders to help with a City Council study about peak and off-peak ridership. I find working in local government really interesting, and so I’m excited to have another experience working in local government.

Govs: UNC-Chapel Hill offers a vast array of opportunities. Beyond the scholarship program itself, what are you most looking forward to experiencing as a Tar Heel at UNC-Chapel Hill?

Theo: A large portion of the finalist weekend in Chapel Hill is spent acquainting students with the university, because a good amount of the kids, even if they aren't selected for a scholarship, will end up going there, because of how great the weekend was. I'm really excited for the school spirit at UNC. Carolina has some of the best school spirit for athletics in the country. I actually got to go to a baseball game when I was there in March. I'm definitely excited to meet new people during my four years at UNC and experience a community much larger than Govs.

Govs: As Academy President and a dorm proctor, you’ve set a wonderful example for younger students at Govs. What advice would you give to underclass students who want to pursue high-level opportunities like this but might be hesitant to take that first step?

Theo: One of my big beliefs is that you have to be willing to embrace things that you're not necessarily the best at. There's a certain expectation in the world these days that you have to be the best at something to do it. And if you're not the best at it, then you need to stop doing it. I was not the best actor in the musical by far. I wrote an essay about how I've played JV baseball for all four years at Govs despite not being very good. I just like being a part of the team and having a good time playing. There are these opportunities that come up in not being the best at something that you can apply to things that you are good at. For example, mentoring younger players on JV Baseball helped me with my approach to being a dorm proctor this year. Even though I may not have good baseball skills, it's the things associated with it that have helped me develop into something that I am really good at.

Govs: You graduate in two weeks. What will you remember most fondly about your Govs experience?

Theo: It’s easily the people I’ve met here. I know it's a very cliché answer, but I have a lot of great relationships at Govs with faculty, students, and people whom I would never have met anywhere else.  At Govs, there’s a lot of dedication to an individual's craft. I’ve met people who are fantastic at the arts, at athletics, at math…and it is super cool to meet those people and hear their perspectives. I have also made great friends here who will be a part of my life forever. These relationships are the strongest memories that I’ll take away from this place.

Congratulations, Theo, and we wish you well at UNC!