RALEIGH, NC – North Carolina State University has named 53 Park Scholars for the Class of 2014, including Wade Leland Colburn, son of Steven and Karen Colburn of Fallbrook.

These exceptional young women and men were selected based on their potential in the areas of scholarship, leadership, service and character. The Park Scholarship is valued at $80,000 for residents of North Carolina and $135,000 for students from other states.

Colburn will graduate from Fallbrook Union High School where he has served as student body president, the Southern Region Future Farmers of America vice president, and the Fallbrook Outstanding Senior Boy of the Year. He started his own service project, Operation: Backpacks, where he supplied 600 needy children with fully supplied backpacks. Wade is a National Advanced Placement Scholar and a Chargers Champion recipient. He plans to major in biomedical engineering.

Park Scholarship recipients were selected from over 1,300 candidates. Over 100 finalists participated in Advertisement

[ Chatton and Associates ] selection activities during Finalist Weekend at the Dorothy and Roy Park Alumni Center at NC State on February 19-20. During their time on campus, finalists were hosted by Chancellor Jim Woodward along with faculty, administrators, alumni and current Park Scholars. Final selection activities were evaluated by more than 60 NC State faculty and alumni, one-third of whom were Park Scholar alumni. The finalists previously participated in regional interviews conducted by over 200 NC State alumni around the state and the country.

The Park Scholarships program provides an enhanced educational experience for talented and well-prepared individuals where students develop as scholars in their chosen fields and as leaders prepared to address the problems that face humanity. Each year, approximately 50 scholarships are awarded, with two-thirds going to North Carolina residents, to outstanding high school seniors for undergraduate study in any discipline.

For more information about Park Scholarships, visit

www.ncsu.edu/park_scholarships.