Dacula High School graduate Morgan Lundy will join the University of South Carolina’s incoming freshman class as a McNair Scholar.

According to a press release from the University of South Carolina, the McNair Scholar award is the most prestigious scholarship for out-of-state students.

“The Carolina Scholar award is the flagship scholarship at the state’s flagship university, and the companion McNair Scholar award is nationally competitive, each attracting the best and brightest students from our state, region and nation,” said Scott Verzyl, USC’s associate vice president for enrollment management and director of undergraduate admissions, in a released statement. “These students come to USC with many accomplishments and talents, and our goal is to help create the conditions for these outstanding students to achieve the highest levels of academic success here at USC and beyond, wherever their careers may take them. We have high expectations for our top scholars, and not surprisingly they usually exceed them.”

Lundy is one of 20 McNair Scholars. In total, more than 2,200 students applied for the McNair Scholar award and its in-state equivalent, the Carolina Scholar award. Ninety finalists competed for the 20 McNair scholarships and 21 Carolina scholarships.

The McNair Scholarship is valued at $15,000 per year for four years. The program began in 1998 and is funded through a $30 million gift from university alumni Robert and Janice McNair. 

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