NC State Selects 39 Park Scholars for Class of 2019

North Carolina State University’s Park Scholarships program has named 39 students to its Class of 2019.

Recipient biographies, listed by N.C. county, state and nation, are available via PDF.

“The Class of 2019 has the distinction of being the 20th class of Park Scholars at NC State,” said Park Scholarships director Eva Feucht. “These students will join a vibrant community of more than 900 Park Scholars and alumni – along with families, friends, and NC State faculty and staff – who will mark this milestone throughout the coming academic year as we recognize the significant impact Park Scholars have made over the past two decades.”

The new class was selected from a record number of nearly 1,800 outstanding candidates who submitted applications by the Nov. 1 deadline. A selection committee comprising more than 300 NC State alumni, faculty and friends conducted application review, interviews and outreach.

The Park Scholarships Class of 2019, representing 10 states, is an accomplished group whose members include student body presidents, varsity athletic team captains, Eagle Scouts, Girl Scout Gold Award recipients and National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists. They are improving the lives of others by serving as tutors, peer mentors and volunteers at hospitals, food pantries, animal shelters, libraries and senior centers. One is editor-in-chief of his school newspaper; another conducted research on naturally antibacterial surfaces; one interned with a small business that provides technology for the Department of Defense; and another taught English in Peru. Many have served on advisory boards for their schools, communities and special interest groups, and one received a service award from her city’s mayor. One founded a nonprofit to aid sea turtles; another is a pilot. The class also includes a flautist, a saxophonist, vocalists in a cappella and chamber music ensembles, and debaters.

The Park Scholarships program brings exceptional students to NC State based on outstanding accomplishments and potential in scholarship, leadership, service and character. The program develops and supports Park Scholars in these areas, preparing them for lifelong contributions to the campus, state, nation and world.

Park Scholarships include opportunities for innovative enrichment activities such as grants for undergraduate research and study abroad, making this award one of the most prestigious and comprehensive undergraduate scholarships in the nation.

The Park Scholarships are named for the late Roy H. Park ’31, an NC State alumnus who created the charitable Park Foundation, which is dedicated to education, media and the environment. In 1996, the Park Scholarships were established at NC State with a generous grant from the Park Foundation. Since the inaugural class of 25 scholars, the number of Park Scholars on campus has increased to approximately 170. To date, the Park Foundation has committed nearly $140 million to support the scholarship, including its September 2013 commitment of $50 million to begin an endowment at NC State. This endowment, with others’ support, will sustain the program in perpetuity.

For more information, visit the Park Scholarships website.

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