As Morehead-Cain celebrates 50 years of the Summer Enrichment Program, we asked scholars to share a few of their highlights from the past year. This episode is hosted by Allyson Horst ’27 of the Scholar Media Team.
As Morehead-Cain celebrates 50 years of the Summer Enrichment Program, we asked scholars to share a few of their highlights from the past year. This episode is hosted by Allyson Horst ’27 of the Scholar Media Team.
First up, we hear from Sahil Kapadia ’28 about his Outdoor Leadership expedition trekking around Lake Superior, followed by Carolina Hoyt ’28 and her expedition in the Talkeetna Mountains of Alaska. Next, Amanda Jesuca ’27 shares about making surprising connections during her Civic Collaboration summer working at Policy Bridge in Cleveland, Ohio.
Charles Konkolics ’26 and Stella Smolowitz ’26 take us to snow-capped mountains in New Zealand on their Global Perspective, where they stumble upon some unexpected creatures along the way.
Finally, we hear about the Professional Experience summer from Owen Gast ’25, who worked at Chicago Public Schools, and Jake Rose ’26, who designed 3D-printed prosthetics in Salt Lake City, Utah.
You can hear more stories like these in Morehead-Cain’s forthcoming Year in Review, releasing later this December.
Music credits
The episode’s intro song is by scholar Scott Hallyburton ’22, guitarist of the band South of the Soul.
How to listen
On your mobile device, you can listen and subscribe to Catalyze on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. For any other podcast app, you can find the show using our RSS feed. You can let us know what you thought of the episode by finding us on social media @moreheadcain or you can email us at communications@moreheadcain.org.
(Allyson)
Welcome to Catalyze. I’m Allison Horst in the class of 2027. As Morehead-Cain celebrates 50 years of the Summer Enrichment Program, we asked scholars to share a few of their highlights from this past year. First up, we hear about the Outdoor Leadership summer, where scholars spend several weeks in the wilderness on a leadership course that tests their limits and inspires self-discovery. Here’s Sahil from the class of 2028, sharing about his experience in Lake Superior.
(Sahil)
As a cold rain began to pour, we stood on the pebble-strewn shore of Lake Superior, the chill seeping through our soaked kayak shoes. The exhaustion from our 15-mile kayak journey weighed heavily on us, each drop of rain adding to our fatigue. The air was dense with the scent of rain and the earthy aroma of the forested shoreline. Just as the gloom seemed all-consuming, we lifted our weary eyes to a breathtaking sight. A vivid double rainbow arched across the sky, its colors growing against the dark stormy backdrop. It felt like a promise from Mother Nature, a beacon of hope amidst our struggles. The water, cold and unyielding, lapped at the shore, its icy touch a stark reminder of our harsh journey. Yet, the sight of the rainbow brought a glimmer of warmth, a hint that perhaps the sun would soon break through the clouds, offering a much-needed respite.
(Caroline)
My name is Caroline Hoyt from the class of 2028, and I’m on my Outdoor Leadership summer in the northern Talkeetna Mountains of Alaska. Right now, I’m watching my fellow Skittles-colored scholars scout a good path for us to head down a drainage. Shout out to Naila Moloo, who is currently sitting with me as we take a break from wreaking absolute havoc on our bodies. It’s raining, and these Goretex pants should be ashamed of themselves. We are all completely soaked. The thick fog is making today quite the challenge. There’s not much of a view to admire currently, but at least the company couldn’t be better. Shout out to Noah, Randy, Vicky, Ryan, and Naila for being the absolute best hiking group.
(Allyson)
The second summer is Civic Collaboration, where teams of scholars embed themselves in cities throughout North America to investigate community challenges and propose real solutions. Here's Amanda from the class of 2027, sharing about her work at Policy Bridge in Cleveland, Ohio.
(Amanda)
Under the backdrop of a warm summer night in Cleveland, you run back into an event just to see one person getting ready to go into the car. I turned and I see one of my Civic Collaboration team members, Giang, bringing a young black gentleman towards us. He later introduces himself as Peter Lawson Jones, an actor who is starring opposite Tom Hanks in A Man Called Otto. Those moments would lead us to a whirlwind of experiences with Mr. Jones, including hearing his legacy as a congressman representing Ohioans and even joining us for our final presentation. Through that one act of kindness from my team member to bring joy to another one of my team members who was interested in acting space, it sparked a joy and curiosity that would stay with us for the entire summer.
(Allyson)
The third summer is Global Perspective, where scholars travel around the globe to dig into an area of personal interest. Here's Charles and Stella from the class of 2026 sharing about their time in New Zealand.
(Charles)
Picture this: 8:00 a.m. Wānaka, New Zealand. The sky lights up pink as the sun slowly rises behind the snow-capped mountains. Our ten-mile hike up Roy’s Peak led to this moment.
(Stella)
We started at 5:00 a.m., when we quietly packed our hiking bags and tied our boots, careful to not wake up the others in our hostel. We start trekking in the pitch black when suddenly I see pairs of glowing white eyes staring back at me. Ah! Freaked out, I grabbed Charles.
(Charles)
Stella, there are no predators in New Zealand. I shine my headlamp on the eyes and see a long, pointed nose. Of course, a sheep. Did you know that sheep outnumber Kiwis eleven to one in New Zealand?
(Stella)
Phew. Let’s keep going. Soon, I’m sweating as the trail continues to climb. The crunch of the snow under our boots doesn’t make it any easier. Luckily, the views distract us as the sun starts rising over the Wānaka peaks. Excitedly, we realized we might make it to the lookout before the sun rises.
(Charles)
Quick, we’re almost there. Stop taking pictures. We hike for fifteen more minutes, anticipating the TikTok-famous photo spot. We arrived just in time to see the orange streaks start to pepper across the pink sky. For two yappers, we were speechless.
(Stella)
From the lookout, we can see Lake Wānaka and feel small compared to the mountains fully surrounding us. In every direction, purple mountains reflect the rising sun.
(Charles)
Amidst our “oohs” and “aahs,” I start to juggle, continuing my tradition of juggling on peaks I summit. At 5,177 feet, we tower over the clouds.
(Allyson)
Finally, in the Professional Experience summer, scholars begin to explore the transition from Carolina to the working world by pursuing a professional internship.
(Owen)
My name is Owen Gast. I’m from the class of 2025, and for my Professional Experience summer, I worked in the central office of Chicago Public Schools. Since coming to Carolina, I’ve become fascinated by education policy and decided to pursue a career in school district administration. My Professional Experience summer allowed me to experience firsthand what it’s like to work in this environment. Chicago Public Schools is the third largest school district in the United States, employing around 41,500 professionals who serve over 323,000 students throughout the city.
I was honored to work with the talent office on several projects related to performance management, professional development, and leadership opportunities for educators. During my summer, I did a lot of work around performance management practices and produced deliverables to help employees set smart goals at the beginning of each year. I also helped streamline the FAQ page, email communications, and application materials for a district-wide continuing education program for teachers. My internship allowed me to immerse myself in the CPS community as I volunteered at outreach events in several different Chicago neighborhoods to help distribute backpacks and school supplies to families. I was also able to experience high-level debates around key district issues by attending CPS board meetings and public negotiation sessions with the Chicago Teachers Union.
It was fascinating to discuss my takeaways from these experiences with my coworkers and how district leaders think about issues I’ve studied in my classes. This was a hugely impactful summer for me. I left CPS with a strengthened passion for public education and a renewed sense of purpose in the fight for equitable high-quality schools. I came to Chicago in the midst of a complex budget crisis, major union negotiations, and a transition to a partially elected school board. The leaders around me navigated these difficult circumstances with skill and determination and never lost sight of the larger mission to serve students and families. I am inspired by their efforts and remain committed to joining them in this important work. I am extremely grateful, of course, to the Morehead-Cain Foundation for making this, and so many other opportunities, possible for me.
(Jake)
I’m Jake Rose from the class of 2026, and over the summer, I had the incredible opportunity to immerse myself in two worlds that are dear to my heart: design and development engineering and healthcare, and exploration and outdoor adventure. As an intern with Handspring, a cutting-edge prosthetic clinic in Salt Lake City, Utah, I worked alongside leading prosthetists to develop custom prosthetics using 3D-printing methods. It was exhilarating to see the impact of her work firsthand as patients, such as an ice climber with an upper limb difference, were able to enjoy activities once thought impossible without restrictions.
One moment that stood out, in particular, was when we designed a rapidly adaptable 3D-printed arm for a patient who wanted to mountain bike. Seeing her ride through the scenic trails of the southwest with a huge smile on her face was truly inspiring. It reminded me of why I’m passionate about this field.
But my experience wasn’t just limited to the clinic. It was also an opportunity for personal exploration and growth. As part of my professional experience, I traveled to 12 national parks and four state parks, including Zion, Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, and many more.
The scenery was awe-inspiring as well as an incredible opportunity to practice my photography. But what struck me most was the sense of freedom that came with being outdoors, unencumbered by worries or limitations. As I hiked through those parks, I couldn’t help but think about the parallels between exploration and innovation. Both require a willingness to venture into the unknown and push beyond boundaries.
It’s not often that you get to explore your own passions and interests while also developing skills and expertise. But this summer, I was able to do both. As I reflect on that experience now, I realize it’s not just the places we visit or the technologies we develop that shape us but also the people we meet and the skills we learn along the way.
(Allyson)
Thank you for listening to Catalyze. I’m your host, Allyson Horst from the class of 2026. You can let us know what you thought of this episode by emailing us at communications@moreheadcain.org or by following us on social media @Morehead-Cain.