Jeffrey Y. Sun described as a future United Nations ambassador.
By: Gwen McNamara
Paying for college these days is quite expensive, but one junior at West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North has a head start on funding his future.
Jeffrey Y. Sun, a West Windsor resident, recently became one of nine national winners of a $27,500, 2003 Discover Card Tribute Award Scholarship. He won in the Arts and Humanities category and was one of more than 8,000 students applying for a Tribute Award Scholarship this year.
Jeffrey will be recognized, along with the other eight winners, at an awards ceremony Thursday at the Discover Card Financial Services’ headquarters in Illinois.
"I really didn’t expect to win," he said. "It was a real surprise."
The scholarship program, sponsored by Discover Card in cooperation with the American Association of School Administrators, honors high school juniors who exhibit excellence in many areas of their lives, not just academics.
Jeffrey had to write an essay about his achievements in three of four areas leadership, special talent, community service or overcoming obstacles. He chose leadership, special talent and community service.
According to Joanna Gountanis, Discover spokeswoman, Jeffrey’s diplomacy skills and activist spirit made him the top candidate for the Arts and Humanities award.
"If the United Nations ever establishes an internship program for future ambassadors, Jeffrey Sun’s credentials would put him on the short list of candidates," she said.
For example, in his freshman year, Jeffrey co-founded High School North’s Amnesty International Club, which focuses on protecting human rights. As vice president this past year, he organized several activities, including a "lock-in" in which club members fasted for 30 hours to call attention to hunger and human rights abuses.
Jeffrey, a self-described "political enthusiast," has been president of his class for the past two years, a student council member and member of the school’s Site-Based Council, an advisory group to school administrators made up of parents, students, faculty and administrators.
He also represented the high school at the New Jersey Governor’s School of Public Issues and worked in the campaign office of U.S. Rep. Rush Holt. In 2000, he was named a People to People Student Ambassador and traveled to Italy, Austria, Switzerland and France to promote peace and world friendship.
Outside of politics, Jeffrey enjoys playing the viola and is principal violist for the Greater Princeton Youth Orchestra. He and several of his friends also formed the Four Seasons String Quartet to play at weddings and parties.
He also is a volunteer member of the March of Dimes Chain Reaction Leadership Council and leads Friday Night Fellowship as well as group trips and activities at his church, the Princeton Christian Church, where he is a member of the Youth Servant Team.
"I like working in our yard pond and playing with my dog when I’ve got some free time," the 17-year-old added.
After graduating from high school, Jeffrey says he’d like to study either political science or business and will be using the scholarship money for whatever college he decides to go to.
"I’m still so young, so I’m not exactly sure what I’d like to do," Jeffrey said. "But I love to keep up with current events and every day read the news online or in the paper when I get home from school."
Taking part in his school’s Model United Nations Club has opened his eyes up to international diplomacy, something he wouldn’t rule out as a future career possibility.
"My main interest is in the world, international affairs," Jeffrey said. "So you never know."