A UNC Morehead-Cain scholar, Brook Cheuvront, who went missing while hiking in South Africa, has been found dead.
Cheuvront, a member of the class of 2026, disappeared while hiking on Table Mountain in Cape Town. She was reported missing on
Saturday after her tracking app stopped updating, and her friends could not reach her. South African National Parks (SANParks) initiated
a search, but initial efforts were unsuccessful. On Sunday, a helicopter was deployed and discovered her body on the slopes of Devil’s
Peak, a treacherous area that can become dangerous in windy or rainy weather. Weather conditions on the day of her hike were reportedly windy.
SANParks has stated that the circumstances surrounding her death are still under investigation, and an autopsy has been
scheduled to determine the cause. “SANParks extends its sincere condolences to the family of the deceased during this difficult time,” the
organization said in a statement. Avery County High School, where Cheuvront graduated in 2022, offered counseling services on Monday for students affected by her death. The school also
canceled its sporting events out of respect for Cheuvront’s family, including her mother, April, a science teacher at the school. Students and
staff were encouraged to wear blue to show their support. , who had been in South Africa for over a month as part of an internship through
her Morehead-Cain Scholarship, was working with Justice Desk Africa. Her role involved educating young boys about gender-based
violence and toxic masculinity. She also took classes focused on urbanization and conservation in South Africa. In her social media posts, she shared her excitement about her experiences, including hiking, safaris, and attending a rugby match.
At the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Cheuvront had been active at the Morehead Planetarium, where she worked under the direction of Todd Boyette. Boyette described her as an engaging and enthusiastic presence at the planetarium, noting that she was particularly passionate about astronomy.
Cheuvront was the valedictorian of Avery County High School’s Class of 2022, where she also captained a Science Olympiad team. She was known for her academic excellence and received the prestigious Morehead-Cain Scholarship to attend UNC, where she was interested in studying astrophysics, environmental justice, and creative writing.
The UNC community, particularly those at the Morehead Planetarium, is mourning her loss, with plans to honor her memory in the coming days.