Park Ambassadors Talking Points

18 Pages·2017·0.72 MB·English

by  Lauren Elizabeth Caddick

Slide 1

Welcome!
Fall 2017

Introduction
• Your (or your student’s) hometown
• Your (or your student’s) graduation year
• Your (or your student’s) academic major and interests
• Your connection to the high school or organization where you’re presenting, if applicable

Photo: On April 1-2, 2016, about 150 Park Scholars, alumni, faculty, families, and friends came together on the NC State
campus for the first biannual sPark. The two-day leadership and networking symposium provided participants an
opportunity to think big, discuss relevant issues, and celebrate 20 years of Park Scholars’ accomplishments. Pictured
here are sPark participants from the Classes of 2016-2019.
Slide 2

NC State and Raleigh

NC State is the largest four-year institution in the state, with about 34,000 total students (about 25,000 undergraduates)
and 9,000 faculty

The university is comprised of 11 schools and colleges:
• College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
• College of Design
• College of Education
• College of Engineering
• College of Humanities and Social Sciences
• College of Natural Resources
• Poole College of Management
• College of Sciences
• College of Textiles
• College of Veterinary Medicine
• The Graduate School

Students have opportunities to pursue dual degrees.

NC State is located in Raleigh, the state capital of North Carolina, and part of the Research Triangle area. Bloomberg and
BusinessWeek recently rated Raleigh as the #1 best city to live in the US. Located about two hours from the beach and
three hours from the mountains, Raleigh is popular for its entertainment and cultural activities, sports events, educational
resources, thriving business climate, employment opportunities, and mild weather.

Photos: The Memorial Belltower and part of NC State’s North Campus, as viewed from the corner of Hillsborough Street
and Pullen Road; downtown Raleigh at night, as viewed from Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard.
Slide 3

Campus Life
• Vibrant campus & school spirit
• 600+ student clubs and organizations
• NCAA Division I athletics

Campus Life

In addition to being located in a fantastic city, NC State’s campus is a vibrant place with lots of school spirit, a
great social scene, and NCAA Division 1 sports.

You can become involved in any of NC State’s 600+ student clubs and organizations; for example, I
______________.

Photo: Packapalooza™ is an all-day block party and street festival capping off Wolfpack Welcome Week at the
start of the academic year. The annual event, which welcomes about 65,000 attendees, features great music,
activities throughout the day, and entertainment for students and the broader Raleigh community.
Slide 4

Enrichment
Opportunities
• University Honors &
Scholars Programs
• Undergraduate Research
• Fellowships Advising
• Study Abroad

Enrichment Opportunities

NC State offers high achieving students numerous opportunities for intellectual exploration outside the
classroom.

•The University Honors Program stimulates, supports, and empowers its students to participate in NC State’s
missions of research, extension and engagement.

•The University Scholars Program introduces students to the visual and performing arts; encourages them to
consider critical issues drawn from the sciences and contemporary affairs; offers them opportunities to connect
their academic and personal goals; and empowers them to be informed citizens, ethical leaders, and active
contributors to society.

•The Office of Undergraduate Research supports and promotes excellent undergraduate opportunities in
discovery-, inquiry-, and creativity-based scholarship through mentored research and creative experiences with
NC State faculty and other national and international scholars and professionals.

•The Fellowship Advising Office works with students interested in applying for many prestigious national
fellowships and scholarships, such as the Rhodes, Goldwater, Fulbright, and Truman.

•NC State offers 400+ study abroad programs in more than 60 countries. (*If applicable: For example, I
____________.)

Photo: Last summer, Sydney Grice ‘17 participated in the Petra Archaeological Field School, a NC State Study
Abroad program in Jordan.
Slide 5

Program History
• Named in honor of Roy
H. Park ’31
• Established in 1996 by
the charitable Park
Foundation
• 18 classes of Park
graduates, to date
• ~35scholarships will be
awarded for the Class of
2022

History of the Park Scholarships Program

The Park Scholarships program has as its namesake an individual synonymous with achievement and
success: Roy H. Park '31, a native of Dobson, NC. At NC State, Park served as editor of The Technician, the
school newspaper. His media interests culminated in his establishment of Park Communications Inc., which
owned and operated newspapers and radio and television stations across the United States. Roy Park brought
great honor to NC State through his remarkable achievements throughout a long life of service.

After he died in 1993, his charitable Park Foundation (based in Ithaca, NY and dedicated to education,
environment, and the media) approached NC State with a desire to invest in the lives of young people. The
Park Scholarships program was then established in 1996 to fund an inaugural class of 25 scholars.

The Park Scholarships program is among the most innovative and prestigious undergraduate scholarships in
the US. Nearly 2,150 highly qualified candidates applied for the Park Scholarships during the 2016-2017
application cycle. From that pool, 400 candidates were selected to advance to the Semifinalist stage. From
there, 112 candidates were selected as Finalists. This year’s numbers will be similar. Ultimately, we plan to
award approximately 35 scholarships for the Class of 2022: about two-thirds to North Carolina residents and
one-third to out-of-state students.

Photo: Roy H. Park '31
Slide 6

Value of the Award
• Four-year award valued at:
• Up to $111,000 in state
• Up to $195,000 out of state
• Plus Park Enrichment Grants (PEGs)

The Value of a Park Scholarship

The Park Scholarship is a four-year merit scholarship currently valued at up to $111,000 for in-state students
and up to $195,000 for out-of-state students.

The scholarship covers the cost of attendance at NC State: tuition and fees, room and board, books and
academic supplies, and personal and travel expenses.

In addition, Park Scholars can apply for funding to pursue academic enrichment opportunities such as research
projects and study abroad. We’ll talk more about this in a few moments.

Photo: The Class of 2017, prepared for a day of rafting on the Upper Colorado River during their Senior
Retreat in Rocky Mountain National Park – Fall 2016
Slide 7

Program Emphases
• Scholarship
• Leadership
• Service
• Character

Program Emphases

But the Park Scholarships program goes beyond providing a financial award.

The program’s mission is to develop and support its students in four areas: Scholarship, Leadership, Service,
and Character.

What does it take to become a Park Scholar? The four criteria we use to select future Park Scholars match the
four pillars of the program: Scholarship, Leadership, Service, and Character.

All four are equally significant, so let’s look at each one in a bit more detail.

Photo: NC State’s 2015-2016 Student Body President Khari Cyrus ’16, Student Body Vice President Nate
Bridgers, Student Body Treasurer Karli Moore ’16, and Student Senate President Cody Long ’17 shortly after
their induction into office – Spring 2015
Slide 8

Scholarship
• In the classroom:
• Excellent standing
• Challenging courses
• Beyond the classroom
• Intellectual curiosity
• Seek learning
experiences

Sometimes when people hear the term “scholarship,” they equate it with grades and standardized test scores.
While these factors are important, our Selection Committee looks at applicants holistically and wants to know
what’s behind those grades and test scores – what is each applicant like inside and outside the classroom?

The Park Scholarships program is interested in students who have challenged themselves with the most
rigorous courses available at their high school, who have thrived in that academically rigorous environment,
and who have performed well on standardized tests. We’re looking for students who will be engaged
contributors in NC State’s classrooms and labs.

In addition to strong academic performance, our Selection Committee looks for candidates who will be lifelong
learners – those who demonstrate genuine curiosity and a desire to explore and apply their interests beyond
the four walls of a classroom.

Photo: Chris Cooper ‘17, recipient of the Churchill and Goldwater Scholarships and a National Science
Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, is a chemical engineering and economics double major from
Virginia Beach. In addition to serving as a race director for the 2016 Krispy Kreme Challenge, Chris studied
abroad in both New Zealand and France and completed internships as a researcher at Norfolk State University
and as a manufacturing intern for Campbell Soup Company.
Slide 9

Leadership
• Listen well
• Influence and support others
• Take risks
• Champion new ideas

Park Scholars’ leadership experiences are very diverse. Some have assumed formal leadership roles such as
team captain, student body president, or other elected officer positions in the school or community. Others are
leaders in academic, artistic, or entrepreneurial endeavors.

In all cases, the Park Scholarships program values student leaders who listen well, who understand when it’s
best to take a supporting role, and who influence and inspire others by setting a good example.

Leadership is also about taking risks and championing new ideas.

Photo: During halftime at the NC State Homecoming football game, Kati Scruggs ’18 was named the 2016
Leader of the Pack. Kati works closely with A PACKed Kitchen, a service-learning program that teaches
cooking and nutrition classes to low-income members of the Raleigh community. She has served as a
curriculum developer and instructor for The Empowerment Project – a confidence and leadership development
program for middle school girls, and as an instructor with Nutrition NUTS – a nutrition education program for at-
risk preschool children. Kati is also a race director for the 2017 Krispy Kreme Challenge, and is involved in the
University Scholars Program and NC State club swim team. (Kati is pictured here with Chancellor Randy
Woodson, Vice Chancellor and Dean for the Division of Academic and Student Affairs Mike Mullen, and
Associate Vice Chancellor for Alumni Relations Benny Suggs.)
Slide 10

Service
• Sincere concern for the needs of others
• Work to meet those needs
• Seek ways to improve lives of others

The Park Scholarships program is a community of people committed to effecting change and making a positive
impact on local, national, and/or global communities.

Park Scholars show genuine concern for others. They identify needs and find ways to meet those needs and
improve life for those around them.

Photo: Allyson Patterson ’18, Ryen Ormesher ’18, Evan Brooks ’18, Dani Winter ’18, Allie Dinwiddie ’18, and
Jacob Alfieri ’18 were among nearly 2,000 volunteers from NC State and the surrounding community who
came together to participate in Service Raleigh last spring. The 21st annual Service Raleigh will be held on
Saturday, April 14, 2018.