The Park Scholarship: A Comprehensive Guide to Criteria and Application

The Park Scholarship is a prestigious merit-based award offered at NC State University. This article provides an in-depth look at the scholarship's criteria, application process, and other important aspects.

Introduction

The Park Scholarships program aims to attract exceptional students to NC State, acknowledging their accomplishments and potential in scholarship, leadership, service, and character. The program nurtures Park Scholars in these areas, preparing them to make lifelong contributions to the campus, state, nation, and world. The scholarship, a four-year award, covers tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, travel, and personal expenses.

The Core Principles: Scholarship, Leadership, Service, and Character

At every stage of the selection process, the Selection Committee evaluates all candidates based on four key criteria: scholarship, leadership, service, and character.

Scholarship: Park Scholars are intellectually curious students who excel academically and seek learning experiences beyond the classroom.
Leadership: Park Scholars listen well, lead by example, take risks, and champion original ideas.
Service: Park Scholars dedicate themselves to making a positive difference for others.
Character: The program seeks dynamic individuals who can contribute to society in a multitude of ways.

Strong applicants should describe their experience and potential in these four criteria in their essays.

Application Process: A Step-by-Step Guide

To be considered for the Park Scholarships, candidates must submit all materials - including both the application for admission to NC State and the Park Scholarships application (including recommendations) - by 11:59 pm EST on Nov.

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Submit a complete Park Scholarships application by Nov.
Submit an application for admission to NC State by Nov. Note that ACT or SAT scores are not required for your Park Scholarships Application.

Recommendations

The best recommendation letters are from people who know you well and can provide specific examples of how you meet the selection criteria. At least one of your recommenders should be someone familiar with your academics. The Selection Committee will only see the recommendation letters submitted as part of your Park Scholarships application; they will not see recommendation letters submitted as part of your application for admission to NC State. You may use the same recommenders if at least one meets the criteria above. Recommendations are due by 11:59 pm, November 1. If recommendations are not submitted by the Nov. 1 deadline, your application will not be eligible for consideration in our process.

Essays

The two essay prompts for the 2025-2026 selection cycle (the Class of 2030) are:

Think about a time when your curiosity led you to not just learn, but to act. How did you learn more, and what tangible steps did you take as a result of what you learned? What insights about yourself, others, or the world did you take away from this process of learning and doing?
Park Scholars make a positive difference for others. What meaningful civic contributions have you made? Why did you engage in this service?

Your essays should delve beneath the surface and reveal insights about your candidacy based on the four selection criteria: scholarship, leadership, service, and character. Your written application is our first introduction to who you are! Stay true to yourself and focus on the four pillars of the Park Scholarships program: scholarship, leadership, service and character. Check out these great tips from the Common App that can help guide you through the Activities section and Essay prompts.

Selection Timeline and Process

Applications are reviewed by Regional Selection Committee members, and from those applicants, semifinalists are selected each year to participate in Semifinal Interviews. After those interviews, finalists are selected and invited to participate in Final Selection Activities.

Semifinalist Interviews: Semifinal Interviews are held via Zoom. Semifinalists speak for 20-30 minutes with members of the Park Scholarships community.
Final Selection Activities: During Final Selection Activities, Park Scholarships finalists learn about the opportunities that await them at NC State. Each finalist will participate in an interview and an additional evaluated group task, but the majority of our Final Selection Activities are designed to allow finalists to get a full understanding of what it’s like to be part of NC State and the Park Scholarships community.

Park Scholarships recipients are notified in early March. All Park Scholarships Finalists receive automatic admission to the University Honors and Scholars Program.

Interview Insights

Interviews usually last 20-30 minutes and are conducted by a panel of 2-4 alumni and faculty Selection Committee members. Students should expect questions related to the selection criteria and their applications. Candidates do not need to study for interviews but should review their applications beforehand. We regret that we cannot reschedule interviews. Hundreds of alumni, faculty, and current Park Scholar volunteers are involved with Semifinalist and Finalist interviews; thus, we are unable to arrange alternate dates.

Financial Aspects and Additional Funding

The Park Scholarship is a merit-based award, and financial need is not a selection criterion. Park Scholarships candidates should also apply for need-based aid if they think they may be eligible.

Park Scholars who have applied for and receive Federal Pell grants, grants from the state of North Carolina, or university grants to meet their demonstrated need will have the Park Scholarship reduced appropriately to keep the student within the Cost of Attendance.

Additional Funding for Activities

Park Scholars can receive additional funding for activities. Park Scholars spend time on service and program activities.

Renewal of the Park Scholarship

The Park Scholarship is renewable for a total of eight semesters at NC State. If you have received scholarship money from outside the university, it is up to that funding source whether or not you are eligible for its scholarship. With respect to need-based financial aid, we highly encourage Park Scholars to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) annually so they may receive the need-based aid for which they are eligible.

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Deferral Policy

Yes; in fact, we encourage students to defer their university studies for one year to travel or work abroad or to engage in some other “gap year” activity.

Park Faculty Scholars

Park Faculty Scholars are two NC State professors who meet regularly with each class of Park Scholars and assist them in organizing their enrichment activities.

PURA: Park Under-Resourced Assistance

Park Under-Resourced Assistance (PURA) is a student-run initiative to help under-resourced candidates through each phase of the selection process. Under-resourced students are defined to include applicants who are first-generation, are from low-income backgrounds, attend overpopulated schools, are from rural areas or who are from other socio-economically disadvantaged areas. PURA essay submission instructions and resources will be available in October.

Stamps Scholars Program Partnership

The Stamps Scholars Program partnership begins with Class of 2029, selected in March 2025. The class will include 10 students who will be both Park Scholars and Stamps Scholars, with support for their scholarships coming from Stamps and from NC State. Approximately 38 scholarships will be awarded this year to outstanding entering freshmen for undergraduate study in any discipline at NC State.

A Legacy of Excellence

The Park Scholarships program was established to honor the legacy of the late Roy H. Park ’31, a distinguished alumnus of NC State and founder of Park Communications. The charitable Park Foundation helped launch the Park Scholarships program through a series of grants and a $50 million gift to start an endowment for the program. Today, students, alumni, families, faculty and friends have joined the effort to fully endow the Park Scholarships program.

The Park Scholarships program is 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 people who merit the intellectual challenge of a distinguished faculty and a superior university.

Impact and Outcomes

Park Scholars attend prestigious graduate and professional programs at institutions including Cambridge, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, MIT, Oxford and Stanford. They work for Fortune 100 companies, launch their own businesses and engage in public service through programs like Teach For America and the Peace Corps.

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