Recent Asheville School graduate P.J. Eckerd (Asheville, NC) was awarded the North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s National Merit Scholarship, where he will begin as a freshman in the fall.

Students must notify the National Merit Scholarship Corporation that UNC Chapel Hill is their first choice to be considered for this $1,000 (on average) per year scholarship.

Head of school Arch Montgomery said, “It has been my good fortune to teach P.J. Eckerd so that I can say first hand that he is a particularly astute reader and careful thinker. His writing is clear, eloquent, and thoughtful. This is in a history class – particularly impressive since his real passion seems to be computer science. This is a versatile and talented young man.”