NC State University Announces 98 Park Scholarships Finalists
North Carolina State University has named 98 students as finalists for the 13th class of Park Scholars. These prestigious awards are valued at about $59,000 for North Carolina residents and $107,000 for out-of-state students. The Park Foundation has committed $4 million to be awarded to 50 of these outstanding students by March 1. The remaining finalists will receive a $10,000 ($2,500 per year for four years) scholarship.
The list of Park Scholarship finalists can be accessed on the Web at: http://www.ncsu.edu/park_scholarships/news/index.php.
The Park Scholarships program is among America’s most prestigious undergraduate merit scholarship programs. The scholarships pay expenses for four years of study at NC State, and include a computer stipend and funds for academic enrichment activities.
A student with a 2400 on the SAT; a developer of a chemotherapeutic delivery system; and an author of a medical journal article on the impact of ultraviolet radiation on young adults are among this year’s Park Scholarships finalists. They have contributed to their communities by founding service organizations, as well as volunteering in soup kitchens, environmental organizations, and the Boys and Girl Club. Several finalists have received awards for their outstanding community service, including the Congressional Award Gold Medal, Prudential Spirit of Community Award and the President’s Volunteer Service Award.
“This is truly an outstanding group of young community leaders, who bring the diverse skills and assets needed to improve the lives of others in a tangible way,” said Laura Gail Lunsford, director of the Park Scholarships program. “This year we received a record number of applicants – more than 1,000 – and it was extremely difficult to select 98 finalists from this talented pool.”
The Park Foundation of Ithaca, N.Y., established the scholarships at NC State in 1996 with an initial gift to support 25 Park Scholars. The scholarships are named in honor of the late Roy H. Park, a distinguished alumnus of NC State and president of Park Communications Inc., a conglomerate of newspapers, television and radio stations that, at one point, reached one-third of all American homes.
Selection criteria for the merit-based Park Scholarships include academic achievement; personal characteristics such as character, integrity and motivation; exceptional leadership potential; and commitment to the betterment of one’s community. The scholarships are renewable each year, based on student academic achievement and personal conduct.
Chancellor James Oblinger will be the host for a special dinner in honor of the finalists on Feb. 22. The finalists will participate in selection activities at the Dorothy and Roy Park Alumni Center the following day.
