About the Lovelace Fund for Discovery
Each year, the Lovelace Fund for Discovery empowers scholars to pursue opportunities that push their boundaries-ventures that might otherwise be out of reach.
Through educational enrichment grants, the fund helps scholars accelerate their academic or professional growth, explore new ideas, develop practical skills, and connect with the global Morehead-Cain community.
Inspired by the concept of Small Bets-that timely, targeted investments can yield extraordinary returns in personal and professional growth-the Lovelace Fund serves as a catalyst for discovery. Whether launching a creative project, attending a specialized workshop, or conducting independent research abroad, scholars use these "small bets" to take big leaps forward.
Every project funded through the Lovelace Fund carries the same spirit of curiosity and initiative that defines the Morehead-Cain experience, and an invitation to say "yes" to discovery.
Facts and Stats
Shiva Rajbhandari '27: Leading with Curiosity
For Shiva Rajbhandari '27, Summer 2025 became a season of extraordinary exploration. With thoughtful advance planning of his Professional Experience summer and study abroad semester, he opened up space to pursue three Lovelace Fund for Discovery projects, an ambitious undertaking that reflects both his drive and his deep sense of purpose.
Across finance, political history, and outdoor adventure, Shiva used the Lovelace Fund to test new ideas, build meaningful skills, and expand his understanding of public service.
Charting New Territory at Carolina
In Washington, D.C., Shiva led a delegation of nine UNC-Chapel Hill students to visit the Georgetown University Alumni & Student Federal Credit Union, meet potential funders, and tour the National Credit Union Administration. The goal: take concrete steps toward chartering a student-run credit union at Carolina.
"This trip crystalized my understanding of our mission and my ownership of my role as a leader. It's something I never anticipated working on in college-and it's already changed how I think about leadership and public service."
Investigating Resistance and Resilience
That same summer, Shiva traveled to Montevideo, Lima, and Mexico City to study resistance movements against late-twentieth-century authoritarian regimes. His research, including conversations with sixteen experts and visits to five museums, now forms the foundation of a C-START course he developed called Resistance to Authoritarianism. Shiva will begin teaching that course in Spring 2026.
"Beyond any one fact I learned, the experience made me realize how real and imminent authoritarianism can be. That lived understanding will shape my future in public service for the rest of my life."
Discovering Freedom on the Slopes
During his study abroad in Santiago, Chile, Shiva traveled to Parque Nacional Conguillio for a two-day backcountry skiing and avalanche safety course.