The mission of the Park Scholarships program is to bring 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 university, state, nation, and world.
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. With a generous grant from the Park Foundation, the Park Scholarships program was established in 1996 to provide a superb educational opportunity for exceptionally talented and well-prepared young men and women who merit the intellectual challenge of a distinguished faculty and a superior university. To date, 20 classes of Park Scholars have graduated and have built a vibrant alumni network.
Approximately 40 scholarships will be awarded this year to outstanding entering freshmen for undergraduate study in any discipline at NC State. For more details about the program and recent accomplishments of Park Scholars and Alumni, please review the 2018-2019 Annual Report.
The Park Scholarship provides:
Exceptional Benefits
- Four-year scholarship valued at up to $111,000 in-state and up to $205,000 out-of-state, including tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, travel, and personal expenses
- Grants to fund professional and personal enrichment experiences, such as research projects, service activities, and conferences in the United States and abroad
- Early course registration
- Guaranteed invitation to join the University Scholars Program for all Park Scholarships Finalists
Personal and Professional Development in Scholarship, Leadership, and Service
- Mentoring: Park Faculty Mentors work individually with Park Scholars on preparation for undergraduate research, internships, graduate/professional schools, and national scholarships
- Freshman Seminar: Weekly seminar during the first year featuring distinguished guests, including former North Carolina Governor James Hunt and outstanding NC State faculty
- Retreats: Team-building retreats at the start of the freshman and senior years
- Learning Labs: Experiential learning opportunities to study leadership in the context of state and national issues
- Leadership Academy: A comprehensive, four-year program designed to develop Park Scholars’ leadership potential
- Civic Engagement Initiatives: Year-long projects with community agencies to develop strategies and implement solutions for issues facing the populations they serve
