Charlie Dockendorf ’25 Named Morehead-Cain Scholarship Finalist

Charlie Dockendorf, a senior at Colorado Rocky Mountain School, has been named a finalist for the highly esteemed Morehead-Cain Scholarship, the oldest merit-based scholarship program in the United States. This recognition places Charlie among a select group of students competing for one of the most coveted awards in higher education.

The Morehead-Cain Scholarship, offered by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, provides recipients with a fully funded, four-year undergraduate experience. Beyond tuition, the scholarship includes opportunities for summer enrichment programs, global travel, and leadership development. For decades, the program has fostered scholars who demonstrate exceptional academic achievement, leadership, moral force of character, and physical vigor.

The journey to becoming a Morehead-Cain finalist is no small feat. Candidates undergo a rigorous application process, which includes multiple rounds of essays, interviews, and opportunities to showcase their leadership, service, and intellectual curiosity. Finalists are ultimately invited to the UNC campus for further evaluation before the final selections are made this spring. 

When asked to reflect on his application and interview experience, Charlie shared how he believes that his experiences at CRMS uniquely prepared him for the highly competitive process, and helped him to stand out from the typical Morehead-Cain applicant.

“I’m a North Carolina resident [like the majority of applicants], but I’ve had this experience [at CRMS] away from North Carolina and the opportunity to see other things, but I still want to return to North Carolina, because I love it.”

“So many of the things I was able to share [about my high school experience] were through CRMS and the opportunities it has provided me. Number one, the support of so many people—Betsy [Bingham-Johns, Director of College Counseling], Eliot [Taft, English faculty and Charlie’s advisor], Julie [Wiley, Associate Director of Admission] all helped me so much. The other thing is just so many opportunities: CRMS literally lets you do anything and take off with it. I was able to put student body president and dorm head, Wilderness leader, just all these leadership roles that make me much more unique than an average high school student. I was able to lead a 10-day backpacking trip, and I meet with administrators and faculty on a weekly basis to discuss ideas—stuff like that makes CRMS students more well-rounded and prepared for post-graduation and post-college experiences. If you’re bringing up issues to Jeff [Leahy, Head of School] every day, you’re going to be confident in talking to adults and confident in your ideas and opinions. It gives you this experience that a lot of people don’t get until they’re in college or in the workforce, which I think is really awesome.” 

As part of the application process, Charlie was also required to submit a piece of artwork, which he thought was a unique part of the process. Passionate about silversmithing at CRMS, he chose to share two silver rings he had handcrafted in the CRMS Jewelry Hogan. 

Candidates are also asked to identify a teacher who has had a significant impact on their academic journey. For Charlie, that teacher is Eliot Taft, a member of the English faculty. Known for his engaging teaching style and dedication to his students, Eliot has played a crucial role in both Charlie’s academic and personal development. When asked about him, Charlie was effusive in his response:

“Eliot is just…the guy. He has done so much for me. He has been present in every aspect of my CRMS career; he’s my advisor, my dorm-team leader, he was my Wilderness leader, my AP language teacher, and now my Independent Study teacher. I volunteer for the Roaring Fork Kayak Club and I teach kayaking with Eliot, who is the head coach. I’m on the bike and kayak teams with him—literally everything! We also have very similar interests. He’s a very intelligent guy who is easy to talk to, he loves literature and reading, like me. He’s an outdoorsman and loves skiing, biking, kayaking… what I love about Eliot is that he’s a friend. He’s always available to students and always has something exciting and interesting to say. He’s been a really supportive person at CRMS, and I’m very thankful for him.”

The Morehead-Cain Scholarship has long been recognized for the opportunities it provides recipients and for the community it creates among scholars. Former winners have gone on to become influential leaders across industries, including government, business, the arts, and education.

Charlie’s selection as a finalist is a testament to his hard work, leadership, and dedication as a CRMS student, and the support of the CRMS community. As the selection process continues, Charlie’s peers and mentors will be cheering him on.

Congratulations to Charlie Dockendorf on this significant achievement and best of luck as he moves forward in the Morehead-Cain selection process!