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The Harvard Club of the Research Triangle awarded the Harvard Prize Book Award to outstanding high school juniors during the month of May 2024. Our recipients spanned our region from the Triangle to the coast. Peruse the descriptions below (provided by each student's high school) to learn about some of the amazing things these rising high school seniors have done. Fantastic!
While the Award Sponsors and Book Prize committee usually strive to personally award the book at the school’s award ceremony, this year, some awards were presented in person and some were presented virtually. Thanks to all our sponsors!
Jacquelyn Regan
Wakefield High School (Raleigh)
Jacquelyn Regan has earned the Harvard Book Award because she is dedicated to the craft of writing. Jackie takes the time to understand a topic deeply before she decides to write. When she puts words to paper, she is deliberate, nuanced and creative. Jackie's influence in the classroom inspires her peers to believe that the words of an eleventh-grader can have lasting impact.acquelyn Regan has earned the Harvard Book Award because she is dedicated to the craft of writing. Jackie takes the time to understand a topic deeply before she decides to write. When she puts words to paper, she is deliberate, nuanced and creative. Jackie's influence in the classroom inspires her peers to believe that the words of an eleventh-grader can have lasting impact.
Alison (Ali) Cherry
Broughton High School (Raleigh)
Ali is a leader in and out of the classroom at Broughton. According to her English teacher, she provides exceptional insight in her work as well as classroom discussions. She is a 3-year member on the Executive Cabinet of our Student Government and was given the “Broughton Leadership Award” last year as a 10th grader. She is a member of our Academy of Hospitality and Sports Marketing, Key Club, National Honor Society, Service Club and Caps Camp staff. She is the F.I.T. Club President and the president of Habitat For Humanity.
Ali is not just an excellent student. She is a community advocate, athlete and leader. She serves outside of school at her church as an Acolyte and active member in her youth group, volunteers with organizations like Note in the Pocket and Habitat for Humanity, and competes in and out of school as a Level 9 gymnast. Ali truly cares about every endeavor she takes on and her peers and adults look to her leadership and insight. Her contributions in and out of the classroom are truly significant for such a young leader and we are proud to have her represent our school as this year’s Harvard Book Prize recipient.
LILY BEASLEY
 JH Rose High School (Greenville)
Lily Beasley is an outstanding student who continuously excels in the academic classroom and
in her extracurricular involvement. She takes the most demanding courses offered at our school,
and she is in the top three percent of her class. Although her grades and test scores are truly
outstanding, the thing that makes Lily stand out from her peers is her love of learning and her
intrinsic motivation. Lily engages in the classroom, actively participates in discussions, and is
more concerned with learning and growing than letter grades. She also excels in her
extracurricular activities which include Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA), varsity
soccer, and mock trial. In her junior year, Lily led her mock trial team to a regional championship
and a second place finish in the state championship. Lily Beasley is a young person of
exceptional scholarship, leadership, and character.
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maggie pearcy
Heritage High (Wake Forest)
Maggie Pearcy, this year’s recipient of the Harvard Club Book Prize, stands out for her exceptional talent in English. Her essays consistently exhibit deep and sophisticated levels of analysis, reflecting a profound understanding of literature and an impressive ability to engage with complex texts. Maggie’s writing is not only well-structured and articulate but also demonstrates a remarkable depth of thought and insight. Her passion for reading and analytical prowess sets her apart as an outstanding student who continually strives for excellence. Outside the classroom, Maggie’s dedication to her community and her diverse interests further highlight her exemplary character. She has volunteered hours at the Northeast Regional Library, contributing to her community and fostering a love for literature among others. Additionally, as a member of the Science Olympiad Club, Maggie balances her literary talents with a keen interest in the sciences, showcasing her versatility and commitment to academic and personal growth. Maggie Pearcy truly embodies the qualities honored by the Harvard Club Book Prize, and her achievements are a testament to her hard work, intellect, and community spirit.
abigail emrich
Northwood High School
Abigail Emrich is currently a junior at Northwood High School. She involves herself both athletically with the high school swim team and academically in various clubs. This includes FFA, HOSA, National Honor Society, National Spanish Honor Society, and Days for Girls. When she's not at school, she spends a large portion of her time at her club swim practices. Abigail is currently committed to swimming at William & Mary to pursue her academic and athletic career. She is an outstanding Northwood community member and sits at the top of her class.Abigail Emrich is currently a junior at Northwood High School. She involves herself both athletically with the high school swim team and academically in various clubs. This includes FFA, HOSA, National Honor Society, National Spanish Honor Society, and Days for Girls. When she's not at school, she spends a large portion of her time at her club swim practices. Abigail is currently committed to swimming at William & Mary to pursue her academic and athletic career. She is an outstanding Northwood community member and sits at the top of her class.
Samuel Benson
Lejeune High School
Samuel Benson is a dedicated, hard-working student who endeavors to do his best at whatever he attempts. He can be counted on to complete assignments on time and with excellence. Although he exudes a reserved and quiet manner, he can be counted on to work well with others; he is a supportive classmate to his peers.Samuel Benson is a dedicated, hard-working student who endeavors to do his best at whatever he attempts. He can be counted on to complete assignments on time and with excellence. Although he exudes a reserved and quiet manner, he can be counted on to work well with others; he is a supportive classmate to his peers.s
LILY WILLIAMS
Jordan High (Durham)
Lily is an excellent example of character, dedicated to intellectual rigor and success, and is committed to seeing their communities thrive. From an academic perspective, she is one of the strongest students in the building. Through her junior year, she will have taken 10 AP Exams (with a plan of taking 6 more as a senior, totaling 16). She has earned a 5 on al the exams she has taken thus far, including Human Geography, Language, Seminar, US History. As her AP Seminar (and now AP Government teacher) I can tell you that she works extremely hard academically, possesses and amazing work ethic, is naturally curious, and wants to learn for the sake of learning. Her excellence has resulted in invitation/membership to the National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society, Tri-M Music Honor Society, and Rho Kappa (Social Studies) Honor Society.
Lily believes strongly in her community! She earned the Mayor's Award in both 2022 and 2023, a recognition from the Triangle Nonprofit and Leadership Center, for her community service involvement over summer break. She spends a great deal of her time working as an active volunteer for the Foundation of Hope completing office work, special projects, and single-handedly created and packaged over 1,000 holiday ornaments each year. As a result of her efforts, she was chosen as their 2023 "Changemaker" ( https://walkforhope.com/changemakers-lily/). She is also active on and off campus. She has participated in Tennis as a member of the Jordan Tennis Team (top 6 singles and doubles player), gives UNC Faculty Club tennis lessons, and engages in the Duke Nike Tennis Camp. Additionally, she is an active dancer on a competition team and a member of the Jordan Advanced Mixed Chorus. , she is not only a member of but also serves in elected leadership positions on our school's Student Government. She also serves as a student ambassador and has her own sewing business. She is an amazing, well-rounded, academically impressive, and extremely thoughtful student and represents the very best our Junior Class has to offer.
Teresa Fang
NCSSM (Durham)
Teresa Fang is a brilliant student, committed journalist, and an active and thoughtful participant in a variety of communities. In the Research Experience in Humanities course, she is always well-prepared for class, as evinced in her consistently thoughtful remarks on often difficult and obscure literary, historical, and theoretical texts. She listens carefully to her classmates, responding to their observations with wonderful tact and generosity; in short, she makes the class better. Teresa's wonderful abilities as an artist are no less evident in her writing, which is beautifully composed in its form and brilliant in its argument. Her research addresses the historical work of local newspapers in their efforts to create social and political change. In particular, she is looking at Alexander Manly's The Daily Record, a newspaper which was destroyed in the Wilmington massacre and coup of 1898. She wishes to understand its role in
the black community's thriving social life before the coup and its intellectual defense of that life in the face of legal and extralegal violence.
As president of the Chapel Hill Youth Council, a youth liaison for the Town of Chapel Hill Planning Commission, and a journalist, Teresa dedicates much of her time to community organizing, working with leaders to develop city plans that center equity, conservation, and access, and telling the stories of people who aren’t often heard. In her own words: “Today, I have even more capability and enthusiasm to impact and serve my community. My experiences are far more than those of my age. I have learned to think deeply about issues and differences. I feel responsible and passionate for my community and dare to take on new perspectives. Every time one human meets another, there is an opportunity to learn and understand. Like I hope to continue standing on podiums, I hope to continue standing up for perspectives in my community and beyond.”
Christopher Pedro
NCSSM (Morganton Campus)
Christopher is an academically and civically engaged student. He works as a student correspondent for the local newspaper in Morganton, North Carolina, and in that capacity, he regularly interviews peers and administrators for articles that appear in the newspaper. Christopher’s dedication to encouraging individuals and communities to shape their own narratives stems from his background. Christopher is part of the Mayan diasporic community of Morganton and is attuned to his community's history, culture, and struggles. Christopher has a strong desire to engage in research that benefits his community, rather than just studying it. He is in the process of conducting an oral history project on community memories of the Guatemalan Civil War. Christopher demonstrates academic integrity, a willingness to learn, and honoring people’s dignity and perspectives.
zuri tomas-cabanas
Jordan Matthew High (Siler City)
Zurisaddai (Zuri) Tomas-Cabanas. Zuri is a student who excels in and outside of the classroom at Jordan Matthews High School. She has a deep love and devotion for her family, community and her church. Zuri is a member of Jordan Matthews LEO club, BETA club and she is a link crew leader.
Zuri has participated in various community service projects including PTA work nights, ringing the bell for the salvation Army, tutoring other students through BETA club and assisting with her church’s outreach program, donating food, clothes, and school supplies to those in need.
Zuri’s affection and fondness for the children in her church has led her to volunteer to be the youth ministry teacher. Zuri is an exceptional leader and role model for youth and the community.
Zurisaddai (Zuri) Tomas-Cabanas. Zuri is a student who excels in and outside of the classroom at Jordan Matthews High School. She has a deep love and devotion for her family, community and her church. Zuri is a member of Jordan Matthews LEO club, BETA club and she is a link crew leader.
Zuri has participated in various community service projects including PTA work nights, ringing the bell for the salvation Army, tutoring other students through BETA club and assisting with her church’s outreach program, donating food, clothes, and school supplies to those in need.
Zuri’s affection and fondness for the children in her church has led her to volunteer to be the youth ministry teacher. Zuri is an exceptional leader and role model for youth and the community.
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