Kenan Excellence Scholarship

Kenan Excellence Scholarship

The Kenan Excellence Scholarship program was established at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA) in 2005 by the William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust and later endowed by the Trust in 2011 with a $6 million grant, the largest one-time private gift in the school’s history. In 2019, an additional $5 million gift was provided to expand support of the scholarship program. The most prestigious scholarship program at UNCSA, the Kenan Excellence Scholarship (KES) provides full tuition, fees, and room and board for up to five incoming students each year and is renewable for all four years of undergraduate education. This scholarship is a merit-based award and for which you cannot apply.

Program Criteria

The dean of each of the five arts schools nominates two excellent candidates for the KES each Spring term from among their best new admittees to the university. The KES Selection Committee reviews each nomination, considering criteria that include each student’s ability in the given arts discipline, capacity to lead and motivate, extracurricular achievement, grade point average, and standardized test scores. The committee then interviews the finalists for selection. Awards are made to the students judged to have the best potential as artist-scholars, regardless of the program in which they enroll or their area of residence.

2023-2024 Kenan Excellence Scholars
First-Year Class

Marissa Derric
Marissa Derrick
Design and Production (Stage Management)
Columbia, South Carolina
Hollyn Gambill
Hollyn Gambill
Filmmaking
Mooresville, North Carolina
Raquel Lebish
Raquel Lebish
Drama
Miami, Florida
Wyatt Martinez
Wyatt Martinez
Music (Trumpet)
Sealy, Texas
Stephen Olusemire
Stephen Olusemire
Music (Bassoon)
Lagos, Nigeria
 

 

Second-Year Class

Lydia Eldredge
Lydia Eldredge
Design & Production (Stage Properties)
Westford, Vermont
Devon Harbin
Devon Harbin
Drama
Boyle, Mississippi
Christian Moody
Christian Moody
Drama
Galivants Ferry, South Carolina
Chase Oncken
Chase Oncken
Music (French Horn)
St. Charles, Missouri
 

 

Third-Year Class

Alexandra Archipov
Alexandra Archipov
Filmmaking
St. Petersburg, Florida
Emma Fagin
Emma Fagin
Drama
River Ridge, Louisiana
Cort Laney
Cort Laney
Music (Piano)
Greensboro, North Carolina
Alexis Mundle
Aman Mundle
Design & Production (Costume Design & Technology)
Washington, D.C.
Bridgette Tran
Bridgette Tran
Design & Production (Scenic Design)
Cary, North Carolina
 

 

Fourth-Year Class

Mahalet Andargachew
Mahalet Andargachew
Design & Production (Stage Properties)
Louisville, Kentucky
Nathan Bowden
Nathan Bowden
Design & Production (Scenic Design)
Santa Ana, California
Ruth Kelley
Ruth Kelley
Music (Violin)
Kernersville, North Carolina 
Grace Quintanilla
Grace Quintanilla
Drama
Katy, Texas
  

Contacts

Kenan Excellence Scholars Liaison
Erin Edge
Phone: 336-726-6940
Fax: 336-770-3367

Campus Program Oversight
Patrick Sims, Provost