BOONE—Four high school seniors have been selected to receive Appalachian State University’s Wilson Scholarship, the university’s most prestigious full-ride, merit-based scholarship.

They are Cary Academy senior Samuel P. Hines, son of Eugene and Ava Hines of Sanford; Chapel Hill High School senior Sophie K. Kahn, daughter of Kevin and Michelle Kahn of Chapel Hill; Madeline G. Hamiter, a senior at Collaborative College for Technology and Leadership in Statesville and daughter of Mark Hamiter of Asheville and Holly Hamiter of Mooresville; and Alia K. Dahlan, a senior at the N.C. School of Science and Math, daughter of Ahmed Dahlan and Siti Kusujiarti of Swannanoa.

The Wilson Scholarship was established in 2013 with a $3 million gift from Brad and Carole Wilson of Raleigh, who are both 1975 graduates of the university. Brad Wilson is CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina and Carole Wilson is a member of the Appalachian State University Board of Trustees.

Hines has been involved in many service and leadership activities while at Cary Academy. He has been active in the Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA), Students against Dangerous Decisions (SADD) and participated in the National Student Leadership Conference (NSLC). He has attended numerous design camps. He also is a three-season athlete in soccer, wrestling, and track and field.

Kahn has been involved in organizations with a strong social justice focus, working with iNSIDEoUT, a non-profit organization for LGBTQ+ youth in North Carolina, and serving as co-president of the Queer Straight Alliance, which runs workshops to educate students on LGBTQ+ issues. Kahn has studied art at the North Carolina Governor’s School West and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Kahn is a member of the National Arts Honors Society.

Hamiter has been a member of the Model United Nations and the National Society of Leadership and Success, from which she received the National Excellence in Leadership Award. She also has helped raise funds for cancer research and been an Operation Christmas Child volunteer. She has been a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society since 11th grade through her coursework at the Collaborative College for Technology and Leadership. She also has received academic excellence awards in British literature, U.S. history, biology and math.

Dahlan has been involved with civic organizations such as the Junior Civitan Club and was vice president of her high school math club while a student at Charles D. Owen High School. She also was a member of the marching band. While attending the N.C. School of Science and Mathematics (NCSSM), she was a member of the Key Club, Red Cross Club, active with Rotary Interact and selected to participate in the NCSSM Research Symposium. She also attended the Martha Guy Summer Institute at Appalachian State University and Vanderbilt University’s Summer Academy.

This year’s recipients were among more than 1,800 incoming freshmen at Appalachian who applied for the scholarship.

About the scholarship

The Wilson Scholarship, totaling $14,347 a year, covers tuition, fees, book rental, and room and board for four years based on the recipient maintaining a minimum 3.45 grade point average. In addition, scholars receive $2,500 annually to pursue academic and service projects of their own conception. The incoming class will also take a week-long academic trip to Paris, France, this August.

Students are invited to apply for the Wilson Scholarship. Final selection is based on the student’s academic achievement as well as their service and leadership in their community and school.

Wilson Scholars receive a personalized educational experience in and outside the classroom designed in partnership with their faculty director. As a Wilson Scholar, students also learn to incorporate their passions with their life and career goals.

Students participate in specially designed seminars, engage in international experiences and design capstone projects. Each year, Wilson Scholars focus on an area of community and self-discovery as they pursue a Certificate in Civic Engagement as part of their education at Appalachian. The certificate functions like a “minor” that gives students academic recognition for significant participation in service projects over the course of their college education. Internships, research and study abroad are also part of the Wilson Scholars experience.

Members of the inaugural class of Wilson Scholars, who are now sophomores at Appalachian, are Sarah Aldridge from Concord, Juliet Irving from Batesburg, South Carolina, Emma Labovitz from Salisbury and Lily Shaw from Chapel Hill.

For more information about the Wilson Scholars Program, visit http://wilsonscholars.appstate.edu.

About Appalachian State University

As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, affordable education for all. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.

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