North Allegheny senior receives full scholarship

When Hannah Shin found out she was a Cameron Impact Scholar, one of 15 in the country to receive a four-year, full tuition, merit-based scholarship to the college of her choice, she didn’t hold back the tears.

The North Allegheny senior earned the prestigious scholarship through The Bryan Cameron Foundation named after philanthropist and founder Bryan Cameron of San Francisco.

More than 2,700 students applied for the scholarship from all 50 states and were narrowed down to approximately 100 finalists, before selecting the final Class of 2022, including Shin.

That means, when she decides to fully commit to her choice of Harvard University in the fall, her tuition will be fully covered.

Despite having an impressive resume of academic and extracurricular accomplishments — her weighted GPA is 4.71 — Shin was not expecting to receive the scholarship, so she didn’t get her hopes up.

“I seriously had no idea what to expect,” said Shin, who found out that she was a finalist last June. A thorough online interview followed in October conducted by foundation committee members. They called her with the news in December.

A self-described sentimentalist, Shin said one of the first things she did was get in her car and drive to Bradford Woods Elementary and Marshall Middle School, as an ode to her beginnings in the district. It made her think of all of the positive influences and support she had from school, mentors and family.

“If you take one person out of the picture it would fall apart,” she said.

The whole scholarship process was a challenge in itself, taking several days to fill out the online application, including several essays.

Shin is involved in a plethora of academic and charitable organizations, some of which include being state president of Pennsylvania DECA, a career and technical student organization; youth board co-chair, discussion moderator for World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh; and a HERLead fellow with Vital Voices Global Partnership, a nonprofit to empower women in politics, economics and human rights.

At North Allegheny, she is Tiger THON head captain, the student representative on the school board, co-president of the fencing club and Girls’ Fencing Team co-captain, and a first chair flutist and soloist of the North Allegheny Honors Wind Ensemble.

Shin, 17, lives in Franklin Park with her parents, “the most humble people I know,” and an older brother Joseph, who attends the University of Pittsburgh. She also lives with her grandmother.

She helps lead the North Allegheny chapter of Rotary International. Shin was selected as one of eight members and the only U.S. high school student to represent 350,000-plus youth to the Rotary International Board of Directors.

Shin said Rotary has been one of her most beneficial activities as it provides worldwide peer interaction.

Shin is founder and executive director for Elderly Embrace Care Network with her brother Joseph, where they lead a team of youths to build relationships with the elderly. Another project special to her volunteering with the nonprofit Emmaus Community of Pittsburgh, where she hosted “Story time with Hannah,” and reads classic books every week for adults with intellectual disabilities.

“I have intentionally involved myself in a charity that not only do I enjoy but refreshes my soul,” she said.

Shin has been a DECA International finalist and state first-place winner in the Buying and Merchandising Operations Research category; received a National Latin Exam Gold Medal and a President’s Gold Volunteer Service Award, bestowed by the President of the United States; and was a Pennsylvania Music Educators Association All-State Band Flutist. She also has been named a United States Youth Program finalist, a Coca-Cola Scholarship semifinalist and a National Merit Scholarship semifinalist, both of which are ongoing.

Though she has yet to declare a concentration, Shin plans to explore the social sciences and pursue the intersection of public policy and philosophy at Harvard.

Shin acknowledges she can be busy, but she doesn’t get overwhelmed because she sincerely enjoys everything she does. She credits the support of her parents, grandparents, family, friends and her Christian faith that keep her going.

Shin credits many educators in her life, including high school teachers Janelle Lombardi, Lance Rhinehart, Jill Spak, Carolyn Steele, and DECA Advisor Joanne Sullivan “for always, and I mean always, being there for me,” she said.

She has heartfelt appreciation for middle school teachers, especially Melissa Castner, Sheila Dattilo, and Daniel Williams, “who recognized and exponentially multiplied my love of learning early on.”

Shin deeply appreciates her middle, intermediate and high school experiences, including her principals, the district superintendent and the school board.

“All of them continue to prove how NA has won the lottery with its administration. Each and every one of them have impacted me and made me fall deeper in love with our school district,” Shin said.

Dr. Natasha Dirda, principal at NASH, said: “(Hannah) brings deep love, passion, and work ethic to her course work, her volunteerism, and her leadership both at North Allegheny Senior High School and the larger community.”

Cameron Impact Scholars exhibit “positive engagement in community service, strong leadership qualities, be active in extracurricular activities, and show strength in academics.”