This past weekend the Park Scholars program hosted interviews for class of 2022 finalists at NC State, continuing the program’s dedication to creating exceptional students who are committed to the NC State mentality of “Think and Do.”

The Park Scholars program was founded in 1996 by the Park Foundation to develop students’ potential in scholarship, leadership, service and character. The program provides a four-year full-ride scholarship to NC State and grants for study abroad, research projects, service activities and other enrichment activities. Eva Feucht, director of the Park Scholars program, described the program’s participants as very bright students.

“They all have demonstrated academic excellence in their disciplines,” said Feucht. “They take that ability as a way to lead and to serve.”

This past weekend, 112 finalists from over 100 high schools across North Carolina, as well as from other states and countries, visited NC State for their final round of interviews. However, it was not an easy process for the Park Scholars program to decide on these 112 finalists.

The process began in early October when 2,120 students applied for the program, then whittled down to 390 semifinalists who were interviewed in early January. Mike Mullen, vice chancellor and dean for the Department of Academic and Student Affairs, has been involved with the finalist interviews for three of the past five years.

“The whole [Park Scholars program] is predicated on scholarship, leadership, service and character,” said Mullen. “[The finalist interviewers], as a group, are looking across those four pillars to find the students with the right combinations. You never really know until you see them sometimes.”

For finalists, the interviews can be nerve wracking. Maggie Deweese, a fourth-year studying human biology and a Park Scholar, recalled her experience during finalist interviews.

“[Finalist weekend] was definitely a nervous-filled weekend,” said Deweese. “Overall, there are pieces of it that I remember were really fun, a lot of what I learned about NC State helped to solidify my position to be here on campus.”

Notable alumni of the Park Scholars program include Vishwas Rao, from the class of 2017, who won the Fulbright Program Award for studying the chemistry of antibiotic resistant enzymes. Wilson White, from the class of 2003, is another Park Scholars program alumni who now serves as public policy counsel for Google and sits on the NC State Friends of the Library Board of Directors. 

Feucht said that it is commonplace for Park Scholars to accomplish major achievements after their college career, believing that the program helps amplify their abilities to do so.

“A common thread is that you have high achievers who are absolutely on a trajectory to have outstanding careers,” said Feucht. “Combine that with the people who have a heart to use that for the good of others.”

Kelley Anderson, a fourth-year studying industrial engineering and a Park Scholar, believes that Park Scholars do exceptional things during and after their college careers because of how the program is structured.

“When you get the Park scholarship they frame it as an investment, not as a reward,” said Anderson. “It’s not enough to just have done things in the past, but it’s really about cultivating skills to do bigger things in the future.”

Jeffery Braden, dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, has had an opportunity to meet many of the Park Scholars because many of them pursue a second major within the college. He believes that Park Scholars are the epitome of the NC State mentality of “Think and Do,” because of their exceptional skills and desire to serve.

“I’m just always so impressed that the Park Scholars really want to take what they are doing at the university and do something that will have impact beyond [NC State],” said Braden. “They’re not just looking at padding their resume, they really want to make a difference, and I think that is the kind of thing that this university does better than any I’ve been to.”

The Park Scholars program will select 35 to 40 of the finalists to receive the Park scholarship for the class of 2022 in early March.