Forty-one high school seniors have been named to the NC State University Park Scholarships Class of 2018.

Recipient biographies, listed by nation, state and county, are available via PDF: http://go.ncsu.edu/park-2018

The new class was selected from a record of nearly 1,700 outstanding candidates who submitted applications by the November 1 deadline. A network of nearly 250 Selection Committee members – dedicated and talented NC State alumni, faculty, and friends – participated in this year’s selection process. The Selection Committee assists with application review, interviews, and outreach.

“In this landmark year for the Park Scholarships and NC State, the Class of 2018 joins us at a transformational time,” said Park Scholarships Director Eva Feucht. “As the Park Foundation has launched a new endowment for the program with their extraordinary $50 million commitment this year, the Class of 2018 will be part of an exciting new chapter for Park Scholarships. They will build on the legacy of innovation, leadership, and service that more than 900 Park Scholars have established, and their ambitions to use their talents for the broader good will come to life at NC State.”

The Class of 2018 is an accomplished group whose members include numerous student government leaders, Eagle Scouts, and varsity athletics captains. One teaches horseback riding to a bilateral amputee; another teaches Hinduism to kindergartners. Two cultivate gardens and donate fresh produce to their local soup kitchens. Members of the class serve as editor-in-chief of their school’s scientific research publication, board member and instructor for Cotillion Club, and president of Young Political Leaders. Others have volunteered many hours in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and with the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. They perform in community theater and a nationally recognized show choir, serve as drum major of the marching band, and compete nationally in Science Olympiad tournaments. Members of the class have also founded programs to stop human trafficking, educate middle school runners on proper nutrition and hydration, and provide summer camp opportunities for disabled children.

The Park Scholarships program brings exceptional students to NC State University 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.

Approximately 40 scholarships are awarded each year. 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, 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 175, along with a growing network of alumni. To date, the Park Foundation has committed nearly $140 million to support the scholarship, including their September 2013 commitment of $50 million to begin an endowment at NC State. This endowment, along with others’ support, will sustain the program in perpetuity.