NC State Feature Stories

Recent Students Stories — Page 19

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.

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.

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.

What’s in the Bag?

One NC State student who sampled Stop Hunger Now’s fortified rice-soy meal said it tastes like Ramen Noodles – indeed, a residence-hall staple almost every college student could identify with. Others say it’s more “Rice-a-Roni,” and toss in extra spices, tofu or meat to the dish, to make it even heartier. And, at just 25 cents per serving, the meals-in-a-bag are cheaper, and much more nutritious, than their store-bought counterparts.

The Million Meal March

When NC State students return to campus for the fall semester the first thing they’ll do, before unpacking their Frisbees and firing up their PlayStations, will be to help package a million meals for Stop Hunger Now, an international relief organization that provides nutritious pre-packaged meals throughout the developing world.

Calm, Cool and Collected

One of the main reasons NC State sophomore Matt Hill has been so successful this season is his calm, even-keeled demeanor the golf course. Well, even Hill got a little excited Thursday afternoon when his birdie putt on his 53th hole of the 112th-annual NCAA Men’s Golf Championship fell in the cup, all but guaranteeing him NC State’s third individual national championship this spring.

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