Celebrate North Carolina’s Arbor Day at the State Farmers Market

Posted on February 21, 2011 by rwgonzal

The public is invited to participate in North Carolina’s Arbor Day Celebration to be held at the State Farmers Market in Raleigh, March 19, 2011, 9am to 2pm. Exhibitors from a wide variety of forest-related organizations will be on site in the Farmers Building to share information and materials about how trees heighten our quality of life.

In addition to exhibits, demonstrations, and hands-on activities for youth, the Triangle Chapter of the Society of American Foresters will be giving away 1000 redbud seedlings. Youth will also be able to “adopt” a plant to take home. At noon, the winner of the NC Arbor Day Poster Contest will be announced and presented with their award. NC State University faculty, staff, and students will provide information on educational and career opportunities in forestry and environmental resources. Even Smokey Bear plans to join the celebration!

Arbor Day is celebrated in state observances across the country to show just how much trees are appreciated. According to the NC Division of Forest Resources website, the NC state legislature ratified a bill in 1967 stating in part, “Whereas, it is desirable that the planting of seedlings and flowering shrubs be encouraged to promote the beautification and conservation of the vast and varied resources of North Carolina, and whereas the designation of a particular day each year as Arbor Day would encourage and draw attention to a concerted effort by North Carolinians to beautify and conserve the

Triangle Chapter of SAF will distribute 1000 redbud seedlings at the 2011 NC Arbor Day Celebration

state’s resources by planting young trees and shrubs.” As host to the NC Arbor Day Celebration, the NCSU Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources honors that spirit, encourages community involvement, and thanks these organizations for their participation in the festivities:

Triangle Chapter of SAF
Sustainable Forestry Initiative
NC Forestry Association
NC Division of Forest Resources
NC Division of Forest Resources – Urban & Community Forestry
City of Raleigh – Urban Forestry
NeighborWoods Program
NCSU College of Natural Resources – Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources
NCSU College of Natural Resources – Department of Forest Biomaterials
NCSU Extension Forestry

This event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit go.ncsu.edu/arborday2011, or contact Lisa Schabenberger at 919-513-7368 or lisa_schabenberger@ncsu.edu.

Read our blog about the 2009 Arbor Day Celebration!

Environmental Technology and Management Students Shine by Thinking Outside of the Brick

Posted on February 4, 2011 by rwgonzal

Four students in the Environmental Technology and Management program, Eliza Jones, Sonum Nerurkar and Zack Schnell, and their colleague Bryan Maxwell in Civil Engineering won first place and $1000 for their idea of a solar gazebo in the NCSU Student Government Sustainability Commission‘s Think Outside of the Brick competition.

Read The Technician’s interview with two of the winners.

Networking and Career Fair was a big success

Posted on January 24, 2011 by rwgonzal

On November 17, 2010, fifteen companies and organizations filled the halls of Jordan Addition ready to meet students that are eager to land internships and jobs! For the entire three hours, the booths were filled with students learning about possible opportunities. Employer representation was wide, including government agencies, corporations, small businesses, and non-profit organizations. The energy among the employers, students, and faculty was apparent and contagious.

Students commented that the Forestry and Environmental Resources Networking and Career Fair was a great experience for increasing their knowledge of employment opportunities, practicing interactions with potential employers, and networking with experienced professionals. The employers told us that they were thrilled with the student turnout, and that they enjoyed the opportunity to learn more about the curricula that students complete within each major. Many stated that they were impressed with the students’ level of preparation for the fair and their professionalism.

Many thanks to the following employers for their participation in the Fall 2010 Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources Career Fair: Davey Tree Expert Company, Gelbert, Fullbright, Edwards & Randolph Forestry Consultants, PLLC, Kimley-Horn and Associates, North Carolina Cooperative Extension, North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, North Carolina Division of Forest Resources, North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, Peace Corps, RTI International, US Army Corps of Engineers–Lakes Branch, USDA Forest Service, US Geological Survey—North Carolina Water Science Center, Weyerhaeuser, and William H. Lock & Associates, Inc.

See our photo gallery from the 2010 fair!

For more information about participating in next year’s Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources Career Fair, please contact Christi Standley at christi_standley@ncsu.edu or 919-513-2582.

NCSU Women’s Fraternity Makes Season Bright for Area Families

Posted on January 11, 2011 by rwgonzal

This December, the NC State University Chapter of Ceres Women’s Agricultural Fraternity held its First Annual Festival of Trees event. These remarkable women collaborated with faculty and the community to get five Christmas trees donated to area families. The trees were donated from area Christmas tree growers, including Misty Gill of Daniels Farm, Frank Barick, Bobby Brock, and A.K. Griffin of Griffins Evergreens. Ceres hosted the outdoor event in the campus brickyard, which involved decorating the donated Christmas trees from top to bottom with a variety of creative decor in an effort to win the tree decorating contest. Throughout the day, the organization played Christmas music, had a visit from Santa Claus, provided hot chocolate, and decorated the trees.

In the evening, the trees were on display for the decorating contest, judged by the College of Natural Resources’ Tiffany McLean, Dr. Barry Goldfarb and Dr. Gary Blank. The Agriculture Institute Club won the decorating contest with their tree adorned in tractor ornaments that were carefully created with candy. At the close of the event, the Ceres Women’s Agriculture Fraternity delivered the beautiful trees to five less fortunate families living in Wake County. Wake County Human Services helped the organization to find these deserving families.

The event was a great success thanks to the dedicated members of the Ceres Women’s Agriculture Fraternity, led by President Priscilla Morris, a junior in Forest Management. The Festival of Trees event offered students a chance to collaborate, celebrate, and give back to the community during the holiday season.

A persistent people’s long quest for justice

Posted on December 15, 2010 by rwgonzal

From newsobserver.com by Ryan A. Emanuel 12/15/2010
Point of View/Opinion

CARY — It is painful seeing important legislation languish on the House or Senate floor for a year or more only to expire at the end of a congressional session. Multiplying that feeling by 61 sessions of Congress gives a sense of the frustration and looming disappointment felt by North Carolina’s Lumbee Tribe, American Indians who have been petitioning Congress for federal recognition since 1888.