NC State Feature Stories

Stories From 2009 — Page 4

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.

Making Your Career Recession-Proof

Last fall, as the country skidded into a deep economic recession, Rebecca Swanson read a panicky e-mail from an NC State alumnus. "He was a middle manager and in a heartbeat he had been laid off," Swanson said. "He had no job, no skills that were in demand, and two kids to support. So he turned to his school for help."

A Chat with the Chancellor

Before he took the stage in front of members of the NC State family gathered Tuesday afternoon for a standing-room-only welcome celebration, our new chancellor Jim Woodward spent a few minutes speaking with us on camera. Watch the video — the first of many to come from Chancellor Woodward as he keeps his promise of openness and transparency.

Welcome Home

From the youngest undergrad to members of the university’s Board of Trustees, members of the NC State family gathered Tuesday afternoon for a standing-room-only celebration to officially welcome former professor Jim Woodward back to the university as chancellor.

Planting for the Future

Brent Droege, a senior in NC State's College of Management's bachelor of accounting program, is working to help troubled youth in his community begin to realize their potential by giving them real-life work experience. Droege recently launched a seasonal lawn care business – The Agape Lawn Company – to help young people between 14 and 22 develop landscaping skills, earn money and get a taste of entrepreneurship.

Ready to Lead

After a long, distinguished career in higher education, Jim Woodward found himself quite comfortable in retirement – a career choice that allowed the former UNC-Charlotte chancellor an opportunity to relax the days away (sans jacket and tie, of course) with his wife, Martha, and their new puppy. Then came a Sunday afternoon phone call from UNC system president Erskine Bowles, who asked if Woodward – whose teaching career began at NC State in 1968 – would be interested in returning to campus as the university’s chancellor. It was the only position, Woodward recalled earlier this week, capable of luring him out of retirement.

About NC State Feature Stories

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