NC State Feature Stories

Stories From July 2009

An On-Course Education

Many golfers already know that NC State's Lonnie Poole Golf Course was designed by the legendary Arnold Palmer, and they can't wait for their chance to hone their skills on the 250-acre, Centennial Campus masterpiece. But the course will grow into a into another role as a 250-acre outdoor classroom and "living laboratory" for students and faculty, some of whom don't even play golf.

Helping Those Who Need it Most

At a time when families are more worried than ever about the cost of college, NC State’s Pack Promise is helping approximately 1,000 new and continuing students get the education of their dreams. For families with limited financial resources, Pack Promise covers up to nine semesters of college, using a combination of scholarships, grants, federal work-study jobs and need-based loans of no more than $2,500 per year.

Charting Her Course

Going to a university with three times as many students as her hometown’s entire population meant a big change for Crystal Stroman. But after a 36-hour orientation to campus life – registering for classes, staying overnight in a residence hall, meeting faculty and staff, and making friends – she felt eager to join NC State’s largest-ever freshman class. "I’m more excited now than nervous," she said.

Building a Better Battery

Amid corporate restructuring plans, car czars and a waning economy, the struggling automotive industry is tasked with providing more efficient and economical options for car buyers. While foreign markets have been quick to move into hybrid and electric vehicle space, the United States has been slower to adapt. That's where NC State comes in.

Disney’s Next Generation

Working at Walt Disney Imagineering may rank as one of the planet's most sought-after dream jobs, especially for creative professionals. Four students from North Carolina State University got to sample the magic this summer as finalists in Disney's ImagiNations Design Competition, winning a 10-day trip that took them from the small world of Raleigh to the fantasyland of Imagineering's Southern California studios.

A Pirate’s Tale

Students in computer science and industrial design at North Carolina State University have developed a game that lets kids experience history anew in "Blackbeard’s Escape." The game is fun way for kids to learn about the Queen Anne's Revenge, Blackbeard's flagship which ran aground off the North Carolina coast in 1718. Players of "Blackbeard’s Escape" are able to experience the action of interactive ship battles through flashbacks to the 1700s, learn about good diving practices, and explore artifact recovery and conservation.

Biomedical Marvels

Even before she heads off to med school, NC State's Kat Sauer has a medical device invention to her credit. Then again, so does every other student who has taken the senior design course in the Department of Biomedical Engineering (BME) in the last two years. Course director Andrew DiMeo’s efforts to make the course more entrepreneurial in that time have produced 17 invention disclosures and a new partnership with Wake Medical Center.

A Yellow Ribbon Campus

As we take time to celebrate our nation's independence this weekend, we also reflect on the fact that our continued freedom exists because of the men and women who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. In an effort to show both respect and gratitude for their efforts, NC State is participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program, a dollar-for-dollar matching program that picks up where the existing G.I. Bill may fall short, potentially limiting any financial roadblocks in our veterans' pursuit of education on campus.

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