2025 Outstanding Young Citizens
Congratulations to our Outstanding Young Citizens!
Evan Park
Winchester Thurston, 11
Parent(s)/Guardian(s):
Yongseork Park
Airong Luo
Academic Achievement
Gold Keys and Honorable Mentions, 2023, 2024, 2025, Scholastic Art and Writing Awards (Writing), Writing Awards Winner – 3 Years
Winner, 2025, Pittsburgh Concert Society Young Artists, 82nd Season; Selected as Emerging Musicians by School of Music, Duquesne University, 2025, Piano Competition Winner – 1 Year
1st Place (Contemporary Composer), 2024, Carmel Klavier International Piano Competition, Carmel, Indiana, Piano Competition Winner – 1 Year
1st and 2nd place, 2023 and 2024, Lois Streator and Lois Smith Memorial Award Competition; 1st and 2nd place, 2023 and 2024, Pittsburgh International Piano Competition; Outstanding Artist Award, 2024, Melanie Schmidt Memorial Fund and Steinway Society of Western Pennsylvania Young Artists, Piano Competition Winner – 1 Year
Extracurricular Activities
Competitive Chess Player, Often and Currently Ranked No. 1 in the U.S. for My Age Group, Top-ranked Chess Player – 3 Years
2024, National 11th Grade Chess Champion; 2023, National 9th Grade Chess Champion, National Champion – 2 Years
2023, 2024, Pennsylvania Scholastic Chess Champion, State Champion – 2 Years
International Master in Chess, Chess Title Earned – 4 Years
Community Involvement
Global Outreach, Chess Through Challenges (a nonprofit organization based in New York City), volunteer in person and remotely, President – 3 Years
Volunteer Coach, Winchester Thurston School, Chess Coach – 3 Years
Volunteer Coach, Salama Gachie Community School, Nairobi, Kenya, volunteer via Skype, Chess Coach – 3 Years
Young Artists Program, Steinway Society of Western Pennsylvania, Student Leader – 2 Years
Co-founder, Harmonic Haven (a nonprofit piano and music teaching organization dedicated to refugees and international newcomers in Pittsburgh), President – 2 Years
Plans
In the future, I intend to pursue college and a writing career. I will continue to practice and learn new piano pieces, as well as continue my competitive chess career. Above all, I strive to continue serving my community and sharing my passions with others by teaching chess and providing piano lessons.