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Investing in the Future
Supporting the Scholars of Today and Tomorrow
Scholars make up less than 2 percent of the undergraduate student body, but their impact goes well beyond their numbers. The impact of alumni on scholars’ success is immeasurable.
Leaving a Lasting Legacy: Joseph “Joe” Craver ’63
In summer 2022, the Morehead-Cain community celebrated the life of Joseph “Joe” Craver ’63 of Shelby, North Carolina, who passed away on June 2.
Joe left a legacy of education, mentorship, and service. A professor and cardiothoracic surgeon at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, the alumnus performed more than 11,000 operations over three decades and trained eighty-five heart surgical interns.
Receiving the Morehead-Cain Scholarship allowed Joe to “pursue his dreams of becoming a physician and practice his vocation at the highest level,” said Amelia Wilson Craver, Joe’s wife of thirty years.
“It’s hard to imagine Joe’s life path without the Morehead-Cain,” she said, describing the Program as a lifelong honor and gift. “He was motivated by both the professional and personal opportunities the scholarship opened for him.”
In gratitude for the Morehead-Cain, Joe left a planned gift to support generations of scholars to come. The generosity was inspired by “following the successes of alumni and of the Program,” Amelia said. His friendships with Chuck and Karen Lovelace, Morehead-Cain’s executive director (from 1987 to 2021) and wife, respectively, also furthered his connection to and appreciation for the community.
“He always urged others to do their best at each level so that other opportunities would arise for them going forward, as they had for him,” she said.
As the son of two teachers, Joe placed an “extreme value on education,” the alumnus’ son, Bill Craver ’91, said.
“He believed education gave people the greatest opportunity to reach their full potential,” said the fellow Morehead-Cain, much like the Foundation’s original benefactors.
That mindset shaped his philanthropic choices, donating portions of his estate to the UNC School of Medicine, Joe’s alma mater, and the Program.
Morehead-Cain is deeply grateful to Joe and the Craver family for ensuring future scholars receive life-changing opportunities.
Read more about the late alumnus >
Making an Impact on the Morehead-Cain Day of Giving
In November 2022, the alumni community, senior class, and friends of the Foundation came together for another record-breaking Day of Giving! The Program received 1,264 gifts by the end of the Day, a new total marking 38 percent alumni participation.
We’d like to extend a special congratulations to the Morehead-Cain Class of 2023 for building on the success set by the last senior class and reaching 100 percent participation in record time. Andrew Buchanan ’23, the scholar representative on the Morehead-Cain Scholarship Fund Board, led the senior class gift campaign.
Your generosity ensures the Program can provide scholars with life-changing experiences, impactful connections, and the tools to become dynamic, purpose-driven leaders. Thank you for making this year so memorable!
How to support to Morehead-Cain >
- Hugh Patterson
- Class of 1960
Promise and Possibilities
A message from the MCSF Chair
Chair, Morehead-Cain Scholarship Fund Board
Ex Officio Trustee, Morehead-Cain Foundation
Dear Friends,
As we all reflect on a remarkable 2022–2023 academic year for Morehead-Cain, I’m genuinely amazed by the collective achievements and incredible support from our esteemed community of alumni and friends.
Morehead-Cain Alumni, the pillars of our legacy, have been instrumental in our journey. Your unwavering support, engagement, and contributions have significantly shaped the landscape of our progress this year. From mentoring the next generation of leaders to offering invaluable insights at scholar events and supporting initiatives such as Impact Educator and Food for Thought, your involvement has been nothing short of inspirational.
Together, we’ve made significant strides in fostering stronger bonds within our community. Through the 2023 Alumni Survey conducted by BCG (and generously facilitated by Mike Deimler ’86 and his team), the eighth triennial Morehead-Cain Alumni Forum, and fifteen regional alumni events around the country and Canada, we’ve rekindled connections, shared experiences, and continued to build upon the foundation of mutual respect, support, and a lifelong commitment to learning. The Morehead-Cain Staff does an incredible job of facilitating these opportunities and encouraging scholars to participate as well.
The alumni spirit of giving back has also been pivotal in advancing our mission. This past year, which concluded on June 30, 56 percent of alumni supported the Program financially. This is our seventh year at or above 50 percent and our third year at or above 55 percent. This phenomenal level of participation has a profound impact on the lives of current and future scholars, the University, and the world.
The future for Morehead-Cain is filled with promise and possibilities. Let’s continue this journey together, united by our passion for excellence and making an impact.
Thank you for being an integral part of our success story.
With gratitude,
Facts and Stats
Morehead-Cain Scholarship Fund
Morehead-Cain Scholarship Fund Board
Mr. Robert J. Bach ’84
Mr. Philip E. Berney ’86 Chair
Mr. Andrew J. Buchanan ’23
Dr. William M. Detmer ’82
Dr. Katherine Kirby Dunleavy ’91
Vice Chair
Ms. Rachelle A. Feldman
Dr. Thomas C. Freeman
Ms. Shana L. Fulton ’98
Mrs. Barbara Rosser Hyde ’83
Mr. Harvey L. Kennedy ’74
Ms. Janora McDuffie-Ryan ’99
Dr. Pamela Alston Oliver ’96
Mr. Raymond D. Sawyer ’13
Mr. Matthew L. Soule ’91
Mr. Robert J. Squire ’05
Mr. Brian G. Strong ’00
Dr. Otis E. Tillman, Jr. ’86
Mr. Antonio Ursano, Jr. ’87
Ms. Karina Vasudeva ’24
