Paper Science and Engineering Class of 2012 Establishes Scholarship

Posted on February 12, 2013 by

Members of the NC State University Paper Science and Engineering Class of 2012 and friends have established an endowment to fund the Class of 2012 Scholarship in Paper Science and Engineering.

Michael Woolford Signs Scholarship Memorandum

On behalf of the PSE Class of 2012, student Michael Woolford signs a memorandum of understanding establishing the Class of 2012 Scholarship in Paper Science and Engineering

There were 26 graduates of this program in the 2011-12 year with 100% job placement. The Paper Science and Engineering program at NC State continues to be the largest U.S. program awarding a specific degree in Paper Science and Engineering.

“Our scholarships have enabled us to attract outstanding students to our program for almost 60 years,” according to Jennifer Piercy, Executive Director of the NC State Pulp and Paper Foundation. ” The Class of 2012 joins several other classes in setting the example of giving back to a program that presented them with unparalleled opportunities!”

Donations to this scholarship fund may be made to the NC State Natural Resources Foundation, NCSU Campus Box 8010, Raleigh, NC 27695 or you may make a secure online gift @ http://go.ncsu.edu/cnrgift . Type ” Class of 2012 Scholarship in Paper Science and Engineering” in the gift selection window.

Summerville Family Forest Research Fund Established

Posted on February 11, 2013 by

The NC State Natural Resources Foundation is pleased to announce the establishment of the Summerville Family Forest Research Fund Endowment. Kenneth (K.O.) and Pat Summerville established the endowment in January, 2013.

The research fund was established to provide funding for undergraduate and graduate students and/or professors associated with the Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources in the College of Natural Resources at NC State University to research the less studied minor native tree species of North Carolina.

Endowment Signing Day (L to R) Foundation President Brenda Brickhouse, Pat Summerville, K.O. Summerville ’59, College of Natural Resources Dean Mary Watzin)

K.O. is a native of Mecklenburg County, NC and Pat is a native of Iredell County, NC. Upon graduating from NC State University, School of Forest Resources in 1959 with a B.S. degree in Forest Management, K.O. spent much of his professional career with the NC Division of Forest Resources assisting with the development and management of seed orchards in all three geographic regions. He also conducted research in improving nursery tree seedling production. K. O. retired from the division in 1998 with 34 years of services.

Pat retired in 1998 from NC Legislative Services. She had also been employed with the National Guard after attending Meredith College. They have two children living in the Triangle area.

In retirement, K. O. has continued his interest in forest activity by participating in The American Chestnut Foundation breeding program to restore chestnut to our forest. He enjoys making furniture from native tree species. The Summervilles believe this endowment will provide opportunity and encouragement for others to explore the less studied native tree species of North Carolina for use in urban sites (parks, greenways, street habitats for scenic beauty and wildlife food).

About the Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources
The Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources at North Carolina State University is one of the oldest and largest schools of its kind in the US. The Department is committed to promoting the science and practice of modern forestry as well as state-of-the-art environmental resource management. It has graduated many prominent forestry and environmental policy makers, researchers, scientists, executives, field experts and academic leaders. It collaborates with other departments in the College of Natural Resources, other NC State colleges, and outside entities in research extension and academia.

Public Furniture Project Webinar Offered

Posted on February 11, 2013 by

The Public Furniture Research Project will host a project webinar on Tuesday, February 26th, 2013 at noon Eastern time to discuss the results of this project that is directed to learning how local governments and school districts buy furniture and furnishings in an effort to support the growth of sales of wood products by these public entities.

Local governments and school districts currently are buying little locally made wood products for classrooms and government buildings. This project interviewed twenty purchasing departments in West Virginia, North and South Carolina to learn what issues are important for buyers of public furniture and how the wood products industry can better serve this important market.

More information about the webinar can be found at the project website at www.cnr.ncsu.edu/publicfurniture. Webinars are interactive discussions with a PowerPoint slide show and comments by moderators and participants. Participants can communicate via microphones and text chatting.

There is no charge to participate in the webinar. A recording of the webinar will be available on the project website after the webinar is completed.

Harry Watt of NC State University’s Wood Products Extension Program is the project leader for the USDA USFS Public Furniture Research Project.

This research project is sponsored by the Princeton Forestry Sciences Lab in Princeton, WV and the Wood Products Extension Department at North Carolina State University.

For more information contact:
Harry Watt- email: harry_watt@ncsu.edu, cell 704-880-5034.

The work upon which this project is based is funded through a grant awarded by the Princeton Forestry Sciences Lab in Princeton, West Virginia, which is part of the Northern Research Station of the USDA Forest Service.

2013 NC Arbor Day Celebration Planned

Posted on February 7, 2013 by

The public is invited to participate in North Carolina’s Arbor Day Celebration to be held at the State Farmers Market in Raleigh, March 16, 2013, 10am 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 improve 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 seedlings. The North Carolina Arbor Day Photo Contest winner will be announced at 1:30pm.

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 state’s resources by planting young trees and shrubs.”

As host to the NC Arbor Day Celebration, the NC State University Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources honors that spirit, encourages community involvement, and would like to express our thank you to all participating organizations.

North Carolina’s Arbor Day Celebration is free and open to the public.

For more information, visit go.ncsu.edu/arborday2013, or contact Renee Strnad at 919-515-5518 or renee_strnad@ncsu.edu.

Nominations Sought for Annual Borlaug Award

Posted on January 31, 2013 by

Dr. Norman E. Borlaug

Nominations are being accepted for the 2013 Norman E. Borlaug Service to Society and Environment Award. This award is open to all tenure-track faculty of N.C. State University and is presented annually at the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and College of Natural Resources “Nobel Laureate Dr. Norman E. Borlaug Distinguished Lecture on Global Service to Society and Environment.”

Faculty members from any of N.C. State’s colleges are eligible for this award, named in honor of the late Dr. Norman E. Borlaug, Nobel Laureate and father of the Green Revolution. The award recognizes exemplary service to the environment and society in academics, research or service through enhancing global practices, new technologies, impact on students or global communities. The award is intended to recognize accomplishments and to encourage future work.

The 2013 award will be presented at the Norman E. Borlaug Distinguished Lecture on Global Service to Society and Environment on April 16. Frances Seymour, director general of the Center for International Forestry Research, is this year’s guest lecturer. The event will be held at the new Hunt Library Auditorium on Centennial Campus beginning at 3 p.m.

Award nomination packets are due March 11. Please send nomination packets to: Dr. Joel Pawlak, Campus Box 8001, N.C. State University.

Nomination packets should include the following:

Nominee’s complete resume
Letter of support from department head, dean, associate or assistant dean or university officer
Statement from the nominee about the impact of his or her work and future plans
Letters of support from outside the university are encouraged, but not required. Such letters should describe the impact of the nominee’s accomplishments.

Nominations can originate from individual faculty members on their own behalf or from colleagues at any level of university administration. However, nomination packets must be submitted to the selection committee via the person writing a letter of support (see No. 2 above.)

The awardee will have a chance to briefly address the audience assembled for the Borlaug Lecture and will receive an award certificate, a $1,000 prize, a gift from the selection committee and his or her name engraved on a university plaque.

For information contact John Sabella, CALS, jasabell@ncsu.edu,919.515.2665; or Joel Pawlak, CNR, jjpawlak@ncsu.edu, 919.515.2890.