NC State Feature Stories

Recent Academics Stories — Page 8

No Fear

Although no university had ever won the Urban Land Institute's national design competition on its first attempt, a team of grad students fielded by NC State had ideas of doing just that. And when the dust settled, the quintet's family-centered plan earned top honors, rising above 116 entries - including those from Ivy-League heavyweights Penn and Harvard.

Stand and Deliver

Each semester, one NC State student is selected to speak on behalf of the entire graduating class. Before the 2010 spring commencement ceremony, we sat down with biological sciences and international studies double major Lianne Gonsalves, who reflected on everything from the Krispy Kreme Challenge to anthropological research in Guatemala.

Hooked on Science

On April 27, Dr. Trudy Mackay became our ninth current faculty member to gain election to the National Academy of Sciences, an honor that speaks to the significance of her 22 years of work at NC State. Today, she discusses her passion for science and her ability to equip students with the knowledge they need to succeed both in and outside the laboratory.

Promising Future

Political science major Ericka Aiken will graduate with no debt, armed with a slew of offers from some of the nation's top law schools. She, along with 84 of her fellow graduates, is part of the inaugural class of NC State's Pack Promise program, which guarantees qualifying students 100 percent of financial aid requirements.

Skeleton Crew

The renovated Park Shops building has everything NC State students need to dig into the past: new workspaces, spacious anthropology labs and plenty of skeletons - in the closet and elsewhere. Now, students can bone up on even the most minute details in pursuit of careers ranging from forensics to archaeology, with little concern of classroom overcrowding.

It Takes Two

In helping students cope with tight economic times, NC State leaders have formed a dual-degree program with Campbell Law School that will allow students to earn their Master of Public Administration and Juris Doctor degrees in just four years - saving them serious tuition dollars while getting them into the workplace a year sooner than their future colleagues.

Time Traveler

In video games, the concept of the "do-over" is familiar to players: replaying a level or situation again, using knowledge from previous tries to get it right. Doctoral student Chris Hazard has taken that idea to the next level with his groundbreaking game Achron, generating buzz with gamers and interest from the U.S. Army.

On the Record

In this third installment of an occasional series of conversations, Chancellor-elect Randy Woodson discusses his assimilation into the Wolfpack family, the importance of collaboration between NC State's colleges and departments, and some of the best ways to get to know students, faculty, staff and alumni.

A Wolfpack Welcome

On Wednesday, Feb. 17, we welcomed Chancellor-elect W. Randolph Woodson and his wife, Susan, to the NC State family with a pep-band-fueled, high-energy celebratory event at Reynolds Coliseum. Dr. Woodson, who met hundreds of students, faculty, staff and alumni after the festivities, will officially join NC State as chancellor on April 5.

On the Record

In this second installment of an occasional series of conversations with Dr. Randy Woodson, the chancellor-elect discusses his top priority upon arriving on campus, getting to know NC State faculty and staff members, and more.

About NC State Feature Stories

Whether developing technological breakthroughs or shaping the leaders of tomorrow, NC State is a transformational university. Learn more about the impact our work has on the world.