Methodist University has selected five incoming students to participate in its Wright Scholars Program.

Each year, the merit scholarship program selects five students who demonstrate high academic achievement, leadership qualities, commitment to community service and good citizenship. The Wright Scholars Program provides full tuition scholarships to each selected student, which is made possible by a $5-million gift to the University from Dr. Harvey T. Wright II ’70 and his wife, Mary Fermanides Wright ’68.

The following students have been announced as recipients of the Wright Scholars Program for the 2023-24 academic year:

• John Adams:
  • Hometown: Point of Rocks, Md. (Brunswick High School)
  • Major: Business Administration with a concentration in PGA Golf Management
• Christina Herbert:
  • Hometown: Fayetteville, N.C. (Jack Britt High School)
  • Major: Occupational Therapy
• Savannah Hovander:
  • Hometown: Greensboro, N.C. (Southeast Guilford High School)
  • Major: Nursing
• Eli Osborne:
  • Hometown: Kings Mountain, N.C. (Kings Mountain High School)
  • Major: Exploratory
• Austin Rinzel:
  • Hometown: Columbia, S.C. (Ridge View High School)
  • Major: Forensic Science

The average cumulative, weighted GPA of the incoming Wright Scholars stands at 4.53, with an average SAT score of 1366 and average ACT score of 30.8.

“Thanks to the generosity of the Wright family, Methodist University is able to identify and reward five students who have gone above and beyond throughout their high school years,” said MU’s Dean of Admissions Jamie Legg in a press release. “We are excited to welcome these five students to campus and are eager to see what these outstanding students accomplish at Methodist University.”

For Herbert, the scholarship makes a major difference in her life.

“The Wright Scholars Program selection means a lot to me because it will allow me to further my academic and career goals,” she said in a press release. “I hope to become an occupational therapist, and this scholarship allows me to take a step towards my dream.”