Six students were selected this year as 2026 recipients of the Class of 1938 Fellowship to explore innovative, self-directed learning opportunities that promote peace and mutual understanding beyond the UNC-Chapel Hill campus.
Members of the Class of 1938 came of age during World War II, an experience that profoundly shaped their worldview. Having witnessed firsthand the devastation of global conflict—including the loss of classmates and loved ones—they developed a deep conviction in the importance of mutual understanding between nations. Motivated by these experiences and by ongoing international tensions, the Class of 1938 has chosen to invest in future generations through this endowment. Their gift, endowed in 1975 and awarded to generations of students since, supports the University’s mission to cultivate globally informed leaders equipped to navigate and address complex international challenges. Class of 1938 members Dr. Charles and Margaret Witten extended this amazing fellowship program by establishing the Witten award in 1992 in the same spirit.
Meet the 2026 Class of 1938 Scholars:
Nathaniel Burchette, class of 2027, is majoring in biology with minors in environmental microbiology and chemistry and is on the pre-veterinary track. For his fellowship experience, he plans to volunteer at Rescue Center Costa Rica, which is a highly acclaimed, non-profit wildlife rehabilitation center in Guácima, Costa Rica. Nathaniel will be volunteering there for six weeks, working with resident animal handlers, veterinarians, and other volunteers to clean the facilities, feed, care, and enrich the animals, as well as gaining invaluable veterinary knowledge and animal handling experience.
Theo Esmond, class of 2027, is majoring in environmental science with minors in urban studies and geographic information sciences focused on climate-adaptive urban design, sustainable transportation, and equitable mobility. Theo has conducted pedestrian and transit corridor studies, heat vulnerability analyses, and sustainable site redesign projects, combining GIS, field observation, and design visualization. With the support of the Class of 1938 fellowship, Theo will study heat-resilient walking and transit corridors in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Tainan, exploring how design strategies can support comfort, accessibility, and public life under extreme urban heat.
Sunhee Frecker, class of 2027, majors in peace, war, and defense and economics. Her academic interests study the intersection of history, rational choice modeling, and culture in conflict. Her fellowship will follow the path of empire and its tension with democratic and republican ideals of peace. She will travel across Europe, including Athens, Rome, Berlin, and London to track the continuity of peace, institutions, and territorial expansion across time. As she visits these iconic cities full of rich history, she will consult with museums, local universities, archival centers, and historical site excursions to take a first-person insight into these locations.
Audrey Scott, class of 2028, is from Durham, North Carolina, and is majoring in global studies, with a thematic concentration in transnational cultures, identities, and arts. She holds a strong interest in music, history, and museum studies. Through the Class of 1938 Fellowship, she will explore the folkloric music traditions of three distinct regions of Spain: Andalusia, Galicia, and Catalonia. She will engage with museums, experts, and live performances to discover the origins, characteristics, and influences of folk music across Spain. She aims to challenge the perceived homogeneity of Spanish culture by exploring a diverse multitude of folk genres found throughout the country.
Zuri Trice, class of 2027, is from Chapel Hill, NC and majoring in history and archaeology. Her academic interests focus on material culture, cognition, and public history, particularly how objects shape memory and historical understanding. Through this project, Zuri seeks to investigate how Viking material culture is presented and engaged in Norway, comparing living-history environments and institutional displays to better understand how objects mediate interpretations of the past and the people.
The Witten Fellowship was awarded to Olivia Metelo, class of 2027, is from Raleigh, North Carolina, and is studying political science with minors in public policy and journalism. She has a deep passion for exploring narratives to pursue a more just political future. For her fellowship experience, Olivia will compare undergraduate students’ perceptions of economic anti-globalization in Italy and the Netherlands by interviewing students and analyzing their experiences in the context of their political and educational environments. Olivia is eager to understand what factors influence students’ perceptions and how these findings can be used to improve economic policy and education for future generations.
Read more about Honors Carolina global fellowships here.
Honors Carolina contact: Gina Difino, (919) 962-9680, Gina_Difino@unc.edu
Communications and Public Affairs: (919) 445-8555, mediarelations@unc.edu
