Media Contact:
Tim Lucas, News Services, 919/515-3470

Feb. 16, 2004

Hood, McKinney, Younts to be Honored at Founders’ Day Dinner

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Three men with nearly 100 cumulative years of service to North Carolina State University will be honored with the university’s highest non-academic honor, the Watauga Medal, at Founders’ Day Dinner on Monday, March 8, at the McKimmon Center.

Chancellor Marye Anne Fox will present medals to Edward E. Hood of Banner Elk and North Palm Beach, Fla., Claude E. McKinney of Raleigh and Bryce R. Younts of Raleigh at the dinner, which commemorates the 117th anniversary of the founding of NC State University in 1887.

The Watauga Medal was established in 1975 by the Board of Trustees to honor persons who have made significant contributions to the advancement of the university.

This year’s event will begin with a reception at 6:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25. Call (919) 513-1682 for reservations. Additional information is available online at www.ncsu.edu/watauga/foundersDay04.html.

Hood has served NC State as a member of the Board of Trustees and of numerous development and alumni boards. He co-chaired the Campaign for NC State Students, which raised more than $125 million, and is a member of the executive committee for the current NC State Capital Campaign. He and his wife, Kay, have created the Edward E. and Kay T. Hood Scholarship Endowment for Minorities in Science and Engineering.

McKinney, professor and dean emeritus of NC State’s College of Design, served as assistant to the chancellor for Centennial Campus development from 1984 to 2000, and is recognized as one of the chief architects of the 1,334-acre technology park’s success. In 2001, the Claude E. McKinney Plaza was dedicated on Centennial Campus in his honor.

Younts was NC State’s Director for Alumni Relations for more than 26 years, from 1966 to 1992. During his years as director, he helped established the John T. Caldwell Alumni Merit Scholarships program and the Alumni Distinguished Professorships program, and membership in the Alumni Association grew dramatically.

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