Helling Named Morehead-Cain Scholarship Finalist

Gigi Helling ’26 has advanced to Finalist status in the highly competitive Morehead-Cain Scholarship program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, placing her among a small group of exceptional students nationwide vying for one of the most prestigious undergraduate merit scholarships in the U.S. Helling was first named a Semifinalist for the Morehead-Cain Class of 2030, an honor achieved by only 20% of nominees. She now moves to the final stage of the selection process, with scholarship recipients to be announced in March. As part of the Morehead-Cain process, Helling named Dr. John Cordell as her Impact Educator, recognizing the profound influence he has had on her academic and intellectual growth.

Established in 1945, the Morehead-Cain is the nation’s first merit scholarship and provides a full undergraduate scholarship to UNC-Chapel Hill. Beyond financial support, the program emphasizes leadership development, experiential learning, global engagement, and lifelong connection to an active alumni community. Scholars are selected for their character, leadership, moral character, and commitment to making a positive impact in the world. Students outside of North Carolina, Canada or the United Kingdom must attend a nomination school or affiliate program to be considered for the Morehead-Cain Scholarship and be nominated by that school. This year, Associate Director of College Counseling Sarah Casarez nominated Helling. “Gigi epitomizes the Morehead-Cain criteria, particularly in her initiative to prioritize summers for exploration and growth. Because she is already a self-directed learner, she is perfectly suited to maximize Morehead-Cain's four-year path of discovery. She is ready to tackle the challenges of civic collaboration and global inquiry, supported by the program's outstanding alumni network,” Casarez said.

Helling’s selection as a Finalist reflects her extraordinary record of leadership, intellectual curiosity, and service heart. A driven and engaged student, she has served as Student Body Vice President for three consecutive years, where she modernized meeting structures and introduced new systems for communication and announcements. She is also a leader in TEAM Service, a student-led volunteer organization, known for her willingness to take on the behind-the-scenes work to ensure projects succeed.

Her passion for neuroscience and community engagement inspired her to serve as a Co-President of Brain Buddies, a 200-plus-member student service organization focused on neuroscience and psychology education. As Co-President and Director of Community Engagement, she designs lessons and hands-on activities for fourth-grade students at FWCD. She also founded the Brain Fair, a large-scale event launched in spring 2025 that engaged 250 elementary-aged children through 17 interactive stations run by 50 trained Upper School volunteers.

Helling’s represents Fort Worth Country Day beyond campus. She has been involved with Fort Worth Sister Cities International since her freshman year and now serves as Youth Board President. Her commitment to global understanding began when she hosted international exchange students in her home and has been further shaped by travel to France and Japan.

Selected as a Bank of America Student Leader, Helling was one of just 315 students chosen from more than 12,000 applicants nationwide. Through partnerships with Bank of America and the Ronald McDonald House of Fort Worth, she completed full-time summer internships in marketing, communications and finance. Her interest in business and economics also led her to become the youngest private equity intern at Satori Capital in 2024, where she studied investment strategy alongside college interns. She later co-founded FWCD’s Business Club and established the city’s first chapter of the Young Investors Society. She was also selected as one of fewer than 20 student lobbyists nationwide at the National Student Leaders Summit, where she spoke publicly in a congressional simulation, debating proposed legislation.

A strong communicator, Helling has been part of The Falcon Quill newspaper for four years as a reporter, serving as copy editor in 10th and 11th grades before becoming Co-Editor-in-Chief as a senior. 

In addition to her academic and leadership pursuits, Helling has been a four-year member of the track team, competing in the 100- and 300-meter hurdles, and has been dancing ballet for over 13 years.

With the final stage of the selection process ahead, Helling’s advancement to Finalist status already places her among an elite group of student leaders nationwide. She certainly embodies the Morehead-Cain ideals of courage, curiosity, and lasting positive impact.