Registration Opens for 2013 Sustainable Forestry Teachers’ Academy

Posted on March 5, 2013 by

The Sustainable Forestry Teachers’ Academy, organized by NC State University’s Forestry & Environmental Outreach Program and NC Project Learning Tree, is currently accepting registration for two 2013 summer sessions. The Coastal Academy will be held June 17-21, 2013 in New Bern, NC. The Mountain Academy will be held June 24-28, 2013 in Asheville, NC.

The four-day residential program focuses on the social, economic, and environmental aspects of sustainable forestry in North Carolina. Teachers visit a variety of forests and mills learning about forest management and the manufacturing of various wood products such as paper, furniture, plywood, and lumber.

Teachers participate in tours and hikes in forests under an array of ownership and management plans. Excursions to museums, state forests, experimental forests, and environmental learning centers round out the experience. Participants should expect a fast-paced week,with extended moderate walking, great food, networking, and lots of fun!

Extensive materials and discussions prepare participants to transfer what they have learned back to the classroom and to their students. To date, more than 500 North Carolina teachers have participated in the Sustainable Forestry Teachers’ Academy.

Sponsors for 2013 include the NC Division of Forest Resources, the NC Forestry Association’s Forest Education and Conservation Foundation, and the NC Sustainable Forestry Initiative State Implementation Committee.

Meals and lodging are provided, however teachers selected to participate are required to submit a $100 deposit to hold their spot in the academy, which will be returned upon arrival. CEU renewal credits will be awarded.

More information and online registration : www.ncsu.edu/sfta. Registration will remain open until April 5, 2013.

Currently the Academy is only available to North Carolina teachers, however similar opportunities for teachers in other states can be found at http://www.forestinfo.org/forestry_tours/2013.

Dr. Norman and Betty Camp Partners for Environment Justice Scholarship Established

Posted on February 19, 2013 by

Dr. Norman Camp is an educator, environmentalist, political activist, community advocate and NC State University alumnus. He received his Ph.D. in Science Education in 1979, was born in East Raleigh and grew up exploring the Walnut Creek Wetlands. Dr. Camp served as college administrator at three different institutions throughout the Southeast, including holding positions of Dean and Vice Chancellor.

Dean Mary Watzin joins in Camps in celebrating the PArtners for Environmental Justice Scholarship at NC State University

Dean Mary Watzin (left) joins Mrs. Betty Camp (middle) and Dr. Norman Camp (right) in celebrating the new Partners for Environmental Justice Scholarship at NC State University

A prominent figure in Southeast Raleigh for over 35 years, he has served as chairman of the South Citizens Advisory Council, a member of the City of Raleigh Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, a member of the Garner Road Development Committee and as Trustee of the Clean Water Management Trust Fund.

One of his greatest passions is his role as chairman of Partners for Environmental Justice, a nonprofit coalition that spearheaded the effort to restore and preserve the Walnut Creek Wetlands and successfully establish an urban wetland education center and park.

Dr. Norman and Betty Camp’s shared passion for the environment, education and social justice has inspired the establishment of this scholarship in hopes that future generations will follow a similar path–one of increasing stewardship and access to the natural world for all people, especially those traditionally excluded from this fundamental human experience of communing with nature.

An anonymous donor established the Dr. Norman and Betty Camp Partners for Environmental Justice Scholarship Endowment to honor the legacy of Norman and Betty Camp and to provide a scholarship award to deserving students. As an alum of NC State University working in the environmental field, the donor has chosen to honor the Camps because of their shared passion for giving back and for promoting stewardship of our natural resources.

Need-based awards from this endowment will be made to a student in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, College of Natural Resources at NC State University who has graduated from a Southeast Raleigh public high school. The award(s) may be renewable based on specific criteria being met.

A.G. Raymond Forest Products Scholarship Established

Posted on February 18, 2013 by

Arthur G. Raymond, Jr.

Arthur G. Raymond, Jr. (Art), a 1969 alumnus of the College of Natural Resources, established the A.G. Raymond Forest Products Scholarship Endowment in the fall of 2012 to provide need-based undergraduate scholarships for Wood Products students in NC State University’s Department of Forest Biomaterials.

Having headed his own consulting firm specializing in wood products manufacturing and currently serving as Senior Vice President of Hooker Furniture, Art understands the importance of combining knowledge driven science with sound business practices to create usable, sustainable products for the consumer in the global market.

Art is an avid NC State supporter serving since 2002 on the NC State Natural Resources Foundation Board of Directors on the Executive Committee, Budget Committee and Chair of the Development Committee. He is also an Adjunct Professor in the College of Natural Resources and has served as a guest lecturer in Industrial Engineering, as well as, an active member of both the NC State Alumni Association and the Wolfpack Club.

This endowment will be used to provide need-based undergraduate scholarships for wood products students in the College of Natural Resources. Awards will be for one academic year and may be renewable based on specific criteria being met.

About the Department of Forest Biomaterials
NC State University’s Department of Forest Biomaterials (FB) is home to a nationally recognized wood products program with a long history of supporting wood manufacturing industries, sustainable housing and their surrounding communities and to one of the oldest and most respected paper science and engineering programs in the world. We also support a fast-growing forest biomaterials and bioenergy area, which examines the production of novel biomass resources, and develops the chemical science and engineering technology for the sustainable production of materials and energy.

The department pursues interdisciplinary teaching, research and extension activities. Our approach recognizes the scientific and engineering principles driving each area of study as well as applicable technology and business skills. Our programs also examine and acknowledge the broader sustainability issues that affect industries operating in these fields, including the financial, management and social components. All of our programs emphasize hands-on learning that identify solutions to real-world problems and developing futuristic products and environmentally friendly processes.

New Scholarship Recognizes Influence of Drs. Zobel and Kellison

Posted on February 14, 2013 by

The Richard and Rita Porterfield Charitable Trust established a scholarship endowment dedicated to the late Bruce J. Zobel and Robert C. Kellison. Drs. Zobel and Kellison, professors, mentors and friends to innumerable NC State University students over their decades of service to the profession of forestry, will be recognized in perpetuity through this endowment.

These “teachers” positively affected the lives and work of many natural resource managers here at NC State and around the world.

The endowment states, “The recipient of this scholarship should ever strive to be such a positive influence on others throughout their careers.”

Dr. Bruce Zobel

Dr. Zobel served NC State 55 years in the field of forest genetics and founded the Camcore program in gene conservation and forest genetics. During his tenure, Dr. Zobel received numerous awards including the Alexander Quarles Holladay medal for career achievements and contributions to the university.

Dr. Robert Kellison

Dr. Kellison, Professor Emeritus of Forestry, came to NC State in 1966 to pursue his MS and PhD. He joined the faculty and became a leader in the areas of forest genetics and silviculture. Because of their contributions, our natural environment as well as the populous of the world has ultimately benefited.

CNR Honored for Outstanding Multicultural Freshman Success

Posted on February 12, 2013 by

The College of Natural Resources(CNR) at NC State University was honored recently with the 2013 Outstanding College Performance Award.

Presented at the 18th Annual Freshman Honors Convocation sponsored by NC State’s Multicultural Students Affairs Program, the award acknowledges that 51% of our self-identified African American, Native American & Hispanic freshmen achieved a 3.0 or greater fall semester grade point average. This is the second year in a row CNR has won this award.

The proud students who were recognized for their academic achievements include: honored students with awards

Kiarra Hicks – Sports Management (far left)
Deanna Metivier – Natural Resources Ecosystem Assessment (2nd from left)
Shaefny Grays – Adviser (center)
Melissa Betancur – Parks Recreation and Tourism Management (2nd from right)
Yolanda Munoz – Sports Management (far right)
Not Shown
Morgan Cheek – Program Management
Taylor Hattori – Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation and Biology
Matthew Johnson – Sports Management

All seven of these freshmen were students in Dr. Thomas Easley’s USC 110 Freshman Advancement Seminar during the fall semester.