Congratulations
to Crosby Scholar
Sami Atassi
who was awarded the Park Scholarship and has enrolled at
N.C. State University!
Six years ago, Sami and his family moved to the United States from war-torn Syria with only the bags they could carry on the airplane. He spoke little English when he enrolled as a 6
th
-grader at Clemmons Middle School, and he took ESL classes for three years. He will graduate this year from Early College with his Associate’s Degree.
“My parents have been vital throughout this process by motivating and believing in me,” Sami said. “My teachers believed in me and supported me from the beginning. This also would not have been possible without them.”
Sami especially appreciated Crosby Scholars providing him mock interviews.
“Applying for the Park was a rigorous and stressful application process,” Sami said. “There were two major interviews. For each, I reached out to Crosby Scholars to have a mock interview. These were crucial in helping receive the scholarship.”
He also requested Crosby Scholars to review his essays, and his Near Peer Advisor guided him through the application process. Sami encourages other students to utilize Crosby Scholars resources.
“I would tell them to not just worry about getting the required hours turned in, but to go a step beyond that: check the portal and take it seriously,” he said. “I think Crosby Scholars ignited a sense of service in me.”
Sami plans to pursue a career in medicine, and he looks forward to the opportunity to explore a variety of science fields when he majors in Life Sciences at NCSU.
He hopes his story inspires other students.
“I remember going on the Park website months ago, reading about the Park Scholars,” Sami said. “That seemed extremely far-fetched—I couldn’t imagine becoming a Park Scholar. The biggest thing I’ve taken away is to
never think something is not possible
.”