Incoming CCEE student Arjun Karthik Pandiaraja named NC State Park Scholar

Incoming CCEE student Arjun Karthik Pandiarajan was among 40 students named to the NC State Park Scholarships program’s Class of 2027 – the 28th class of Park Scholars.

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. The Park Scholarships program provides a four-year scholarship valued at approximately $117,000 for in-state students and approximately $215,000 for out-of-state students.

“Despite a singularly challenging high school journey, the Class of 2027 demonstrated remarkable resolve and resiliency to lead, serve and excel in their schools and communities over the past four years,” said Eva Feucht, director of the Park Scholarships program. “We are excited to welcome the newest class of scholars, selected from a pool of over 3,400 applicants, the most applications we’ve ever received. The Class of 2027 will join a vibrant network of 160 students on campus and almost 1,100 Park alumni around the world.” 

A Selection Committee comprising nearly 400 dedicated and accomplished NC State alumni, faculty and friends conducted application review, interviews and outreach. The Class of 2027 represents 13 U.S. states and Italy, and 14 North Carolina counties. 

Pandiarajan hails from Cary, North Carolina. He will graduate from Green Level High School, where he is a member of the National Honor Society, Senior Patrol Leader of BSA Troop 200 and the founder and captain of RoboGearheads, a two-time State Champion VEX Robotics team. He also founded Hike4Justice, a nonprofit that helps Black, indigenous, and people of color communities belong in outdoor high adventure. Pandiarajan organizes and teaches robotics summer camps at the Durham Teen Center, and he is an Eagle Scout. He plans to major in environmental engineering. 

The Park Scholarships program is named for the late Roy H. Park ’31, an NC State alumnus who created the charitable Park Foundation which is dedicated to education, media, and the environment. The Park Foundation has committed nearly $150 million to support the scholarship since launching it with an initial grant in 1996. This support includes their 2013 commitment of $50 million to begin a Park Scholarships endowment at NC State and a $10.8 million grant in 2018. 

A version of this story was originally published in Park Scholarships News.