An East Rowan High School graduate is attending N.C. State University thanks to a Park Scholarship.
Jacob Michael Shuping, son of Jody and Kim Shuping of Granite Quarry, is studying biomedical engineering at N.C. State. He attended the Summer Ventures in Mathematics and Science program for academically talented students.
While at East, Shuping was a member of Junior Civitan International, vice president of the National Honor Society and vice president of Sigma Phi Gamma, a science honor society. He received several honors, including the East Rowan Leadership Award, the Outstanding Senior Award, the “Most Dedicated” Senior Superlative, the SAT Award, the Duke Energy Scholarship Award, the North Carolina’s Reader’s Association Youth Authors Award and the President’s Award for Educational Excellence.
Shuping had perfect attendance during his four years at East and was also named a Rowan-Salisbury All-County Scholar, an AP Scholar with Honors, a Scholar Athlete and Civitan Scholar. He served as a Junior Marshal and on the Student Council and was a member of Future Farmers of America.
An Eagle Scout, Shuping landscaped and planted a garden in front of Granite Quarry Elementary as his project. He was a Four-Star Recipient of the God and Country Award in 2008 and also received the Cub Scout Arrow of Light Award.
Shuping participated in varsity soccer, track and cross country at East Rowan. He was named the Most Improved Athlete for track and cross country and received the Coach’s Award for cross country.
A member of Wittenberg Lutheran Church, Shuping provides special organ and piano music for the services. He has worked part time at Country Garden Produce and helps on his family farm and vineyard.
The Park Scholarships program is among the nation’s most prestigious undergraduate merit scholarship programs. The scholarships pay expenses for four years of study at N.C. State and include a computer stipend and funds for academic enrichment activities.
The awards are valued at about $80,000 for North Carolina residents. The scholarship winners were selected from a pool of more than 1,000 qualified applicants.
Selection criteria for the Park Scholarships include academic achievement; personal qualities such as character, integrity and motivation; exceptional leadership potential; and commitment to the betterment of one’s community. The scholarships are renewable each year, based on a student’s academic achievement and personal conduct.
The Park Foundation of Ithaca, N.Y., established the scholarships at N.C. State in 1996 with an initial gift to support 25 Park Scholars. The scholarships are named in honor of the late Roy H. Park, who was a distinguished alumnus of N.C. State and president of Park Communications Inc., a conglomerate of newspapers, television and radio stations that, at one point, reached one-third of all American homes.