Jolisa Canty
Staff writer
LUMBERTON — Two Robeson County high school seniors have won a Park Scholarship, which will pay all of their costs of education for four years at N.C. State University.
Zachary Jones of Red Springs High School and Daniel Harper of Lumberton Senior High School are two of the 45 students who were awarded the scholarship out of more than 1,300 applicants. The Park Scholarship, the most prestigious at N.C. State University, is valued at $88,000 — paying for tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, travel, and personal expenses; a computer stipend; grants to fund research projects, service activities, and conferences; early course registration; and an invitation to join the University Scholars Program.
Jones is a North Carolina Scholar, class salutatorian, an Eagle Scout and is an active member of the youth group at Harpers Ferry Baptist Church. Jones plays football, basketball and baseball, is the activity coordinator for the Beta Club and a member of the NASA Club, Future Farmers of America and the National Technical Honors Society.
The son of Wayne and Ramona Jones of Red Springs, Jones plans to major in mechanical engineering at N.C. State.
“It is an unbelievable honor to be awarded such a prestigious scholarship,” Jones said. “I hope I am able to live up to the expectations of such an award.”
Harper is ranked first in his graduating class. He is the co-captain of his school’s Science Olympiad Team, active in First Baptist Church of Lumberton’s Youth Group, an Eagle Scout, a member of the Beta Club and National Honors Society, and a member of the tennis team.
The son of Melanie and Eric Harper of Lumberton, he plans to study nuclear engineering.
“I thought it was a tremendous honor to be selected as a Park Scholar and it will be an invaluable experience for my education,” Harper said.
According to the Park Scholarship website, the program was named after the late Roy H. Park, an N.C. Carolina State alumnus who created the charitable Park Foundation. Park Scholarship candidates must provide two essays, the names of two people who would give the students a recommendation, one official transcript and information about Advance Placement or International Baccalaureate courses.













