Methodist University Announces Third Class of Wright Scholars

Methodist University announces the latest recipients of the Wright Scholarship, funded by a $5 million endowment from Dr. Harvey T. Wright II ’70 and his wife, Mary Fermanides Wright ’68. The full-tuition scholarships provided by this fund benefit five new students each year.

The students selected for the third class of Wright Scholars are:

• Faith Bowen, Goldsboro, N.C. – North Johnston High School
• Thomas Dean, Louisburg, N.C. – Bunn High School
• Anthony Furr, Morehead City, N.C. – West Carteret High School
• Larkin Gross, Center Cross, Va. – Essex High School
• Keith Hardie, Oxford, N.C. – South Granville High School of Integrated Technology and Leadership

“The Wright Scholars Program is a distinguished merit program for students who demonstrate high academic achievement, strong leadership qualities, commitment to community service, and good citizenship,” said Jamie Legg, dean of admissions at Methodist University. “This scholarship is the most prestigious academic honor for incoming Methodist University freshmen. Every student who applied for this scholarship is an outstanding example of the type of student that we hope to enroll at Methodist University, but these five students really embody the characteristics that the Wright Scholars Program strives to recognize.”

Ninety-eight students applied for these prestigious awards. The average high school grade point average (GPA) for the applicants was 4.33 and the average Critical Reading and Math SAT score for this group was over 1200. From this group of 98 applicants, the five Wright Scholars were selected, along with a group of finalists and semifinalists. The five Wright Scholars had an average GPA of 4.65 and an average Critical Reading and Math SAT score of 1386. Semifinalists for the award received a $1,000 per year scholarship through the Academic Achievement program, while finalists received $2,000 per year through the same program. On top of these awards, the University also awarded each of the finalists and semifinalists a Presidential Scholarship worth between $12,250 and $27,250 per year. In total, the University awarded more than $2 million in total scholarship funds for these 98 students.