Humphreys is UNC Morehead-Cain nominee

Evans Humphreys, a senior at Whiteville High School, is a nominee for UNC Chapel Hill’s Morehead-Cain Scholarship. He is the 17-year-old son of Kathryn Humphreys. 

Evans is interested in molecular biology and biomedical engineering, and he hopes to become an orthopedic surgeon. 

Evans is the grandson of Dr. and Mrs. W.S. Ogden. “My grandfather was an orthopedic surgeon,” Evans said, “and watching videos of him performing surgeries inspired me to pursue the same career.” Evans has learned more about the work he hopes to pursue by shadowing Dr. Ron Walters of Walters Medical Associates in Whiteville. 

Evans has inclinations that would help him in an orthopedic career: “I’m very dexterous; I love carpentry, building things and putting anything together,” he said. Outside school, if not doing carpentry, he spends his time exercising, hanging out with friends and playing music. He performs at First Presbyterian Church of Whiteville and in the community with his mother and his sister, Izzy Humphreys, in their group, the Family Band. He also plays in a group with friends. His instruments include upright bass, electric bass, harmonica, French horn and “a little bit of guitar.”

With the encouragement of his high school math teacher, Lendon Ellis, Evans applied and was admitted to the online program of the N.C. School of Science and Math.  

“Each semester,” he said, “I have a choice of one or two classes. Once a week we have a Zoom meeting and talk about our assignments.” During the spring semester he is taking an agricultural biotechnology course.

“Getting in [to NCSSM’s remote classes] gave me confidence in my academic abilities, and Mr. Ellis is to thank for that,” Evans said. 

He said that his mother has also encouraged him to be the best he can be. “She has always motivated me to study, make good grades and to be involved in my community. She is the reason that I was able to be nominated for the Morehead-Cain Scholarship.”

In addition to UNC Chapel Hill, Evans has applied to N.C. State University, The University of Virginia, Harvard and Yale.