New Endowment Honors Forestry Advocate, Bob Slocum

Posted on May 20, 2013 by

The College of Natural Resources is pleased to announce that the Bob Slocum Forestry Communication Scholarship Endowment has been established in honor of the late Bob Slocum.

The Slocum Family with Dean Mary Watzin at Slocum endowment signing ceremony

Slocum Endowment Signing (pictured L to R) Sons- Wes and Matt, Wife- Linda, Dean Mary Watzin, Son- Ryan and brother- David

The late Robert “Bob” W. Slocum

Robert “Bob” W. Slocum Jr. was a great family man, communicator, forestry advocate and alumnus of NC State University. Slocum graduated in 1973 from North Carolina State University with a Forest Management degree. He started his career as a field forester for the state of Virginia and later served as vice president for forestry policy and research of the American Forest Council in Washington, DC.

For 24 years, he served as the Executive Vice President of the North Carolina Forestry Association, where he personally directed the association’s legislative efforts at both the state and federal level.

Slocum served on the board of the NC State Natural Resource Foundation for several years and was an adjunct professor for NC State’s College of Natural Resources.

He enjoyed playing golf and racquetball, hunting and fishing, but more than anything, he enjoyed spending time with his family.

Slocum died in October 2012 and to continue his legacy of communicator, advocate and coach, his family established this scholarship to encourage foresters to practice effective communication for the benefit of sustainable management of forestlands.

The scholarship is funded by contributions made in his honor by family, friends, co-workers, industry leaders and land owners.

Merit-based awards will be made from this endowment to undergraduate students enrolled the College of Natural Resources at NC State. Awards will be for one academic year and may be renewed based on specific criteria being met. The student must be enrolled in the area of forest management/natural resource management and have an interest in promoting sustainable forest management through various, evolving avenues of communications.

New Scholarship Will Honor PSE Alumnus C. Allen Sanders

Posted on May 8, 2013 by

The College of Natural Resources at North Carolina State University is honored to announce that C. Allen Sanders has named the NC State Natural Resources Foundation, Inc. in his estate plans. When funded, the C. Allen Sanders Paper Science and Engineering Scholarship Endowment will award merit based scholarships to promising students.

Charles Allen Sanders is a 1985 graduate of NC State’s Paper Science and Engineering program. Allen has been very active in the growth, promotion and success of the paper science industry in the southeast. He started his career with Boise Cascade in DeRidder, LA before moving to Bowater. In 25 years with Bowater, Allen worked in various locations and capacities rising to Vice President – US Operations. He is currently employed with RockTenn, one of North America’s leading producers of corrugated and consumer packaging and recycling solutions.

Merit-based awards will be made from this endowment to an undergraduate student enrolled in paper science and engineering in the College of Natural Resources. Awards will be for one academic year and may be renewed based on specific criteria being met.

About Paper Science and Engineering @ NC State University

Paper Science & Engineering (PSE) is an applied engineering discipline related to chemical and process engineering. Its original purpose was to provide specialized training for chemical-type engineers in the specific science, terminology, technology, and engineering principles related to the production of pulp and paper. The paper industry is one of the largest and most successful chemical process industries in North America. The PSE program in NC State’s College of Natural Resources has an outstanding reputation and graduates from the program enjoy some of the highest salaries and placement rates of all the programs at NC State. The PSE B.S. degree permits students to enter the paper industry and many other related industries.

For over 50 years, graduates from the PSE program have gone on to make significant contributions to the paper industry, other chemical process industries, and many other professional arenas. Alumni include vice-presidents, mill managers, technical managers, research directors, consultants, sales personnel, business owners, professors, teachers, lawyers, doctors, and clergymen.

Hofmann Forest Update Letter from Natural Resources Foundation Board

Posted on March 20, 2013 by secorica

The following letter from the Executive Committee of the Natural Resources Foundation was emailed to College of Natural Resources alumni, friends, students, faculty and staff on March 20, 2013.

Dear Friends of the College of Natural Resources,

Much conflicting information has circulated around a potential sale of the Hofmann Forest, managed by the Natural Resources Foundation for the benefit of North Carolina State University’s College of Natural Resources. We, the Executive Committee of the Natural Resources Foundation Board of Directors, write to clarify our rationale and process to consider a sale.

The Hofmann Forest has a long history in the College of Natural Resources. It has been managed over the years for teaching, research, and more recently, as an income source for the College. Changes in the educational use of the Forest began in the 1950s when the College relocated its educational programs from the Hofmann to our Hill Forest in nearby Durham County. The College’s forestry research programs now occur quite literally all around the world. Only a very small number of today’s CNR students ever visit Hofmann Forest.

While recognizing its unique heritage and values, as a Board, we have focused primarily on the management of the Forest as a critical financial asset for the College. Over the last 10 years, income from the Forest has fluctuated greatly, and over the last few years, it has declined. These declines are evident in the Foundation’s publically available financial reports. Currently, the income from the Forest does not meet the critical needs of the College.

We are also concerned because the forest represents about 90% of the total assets of the Natural Resources Foundation. Most other institutions only hold 10-15% of assets in forestland, and generally this land is dispersed geographically to reduce risks and access multiple wood markets. Cash flow from this Forest, in just one place, is particularly vulnerable to the risks of fire, hurricane, or other catastrophic events and the Forest can only supply wood to one geographic market.

The Natural Resources Foundation has a fiduciary responsibility to use the Forest to best meet the needs of the College and its students. As part of our fiduciary responsibility, we are exploring a potential sale, if price and other conditions that are consistent with the values of the College are met. Considerations that would be part of any sale include preserving the legacy of Doc Hofmann by retaining the Forest name, maintaining access for students and faculty to conduct research, and maintaining a working forest on this site. We are also considering a range of options for managing the Forest differently if we do not find such a buyer.

Recognizing the need to hold the financial details of a potential sale confidential, we have broadly shared information about our actions. Beginning more than a year ago, there have been a variety of public sessions with College faculty, staff and students, and with outside partners to share information and receive feed back about the need to manage the Forest differently, including potentially selling the property. While we are not in a position to share the details of any potential offer at this time, we have set a deadline in late March to receive offers to purchase. The Natural Resources Foundation Board will meet in April to consider these offers and make a decision about how best to move forward, whether this is to negotiate a final sales agreement or to pursue other options.

We believe that the additional endowment support for the College that could result from a sale of the Hofmann Forest would create exciting new opportunities that cannot be achieved in any other way. The additional funds would be used to:

o Attract the best and brightest undergraduate and graduate students by providing additional scholarships;

o Fund new hands-on engaged learning opportunities for students;

o Support new professorships in emerging areas important to our state and the nation;

o Facilitate interdisciplinary research in the areas of sustainability science and policy, forest and watershed management, energy, water and the environment; and

o Continue to support our traditional strengths in forestry, outdoor recreation, and forest products.

We are confident the resulting impact from Doc Hofmann’s legacy would be transformational.

Sincerely,

Brenda Brickhouse, President, NC State Natural Resources Foundation Board
Art Raymond, Board Member
Jim Buzzard, Board Member
Ken Hines, Board Member
David Ashcraft, Board Secretary
Mary Watzin, Dean, NC State University College of Natural Resources

Lupold Establishes Endowment to Honor Mentors

Posted on March 5, 2013 by

Natural Resources’ Dean Mary Watzin with donor, Mac Lupold, on Signing Day

The College of Natural Resources at NC State University is honored to announce the establishment of the Hugh McColl Lupold Mentors Endowment in the College of Natural Resources. The endowment recognizes three mentors, Bill Milliken, Cal Colvin, and Dale Wright, who coached and encouraged Lupold through his working career.

Lupold credits Milliken, Colvin and Wright with strong support throughout his career and established this endowment in recognition of their contributions to forestry and wood products and to his success. “Mac,” as he is commonly referred, is a Forest Products Consultant (Lupold Consulting) in Camden, SC specializing in wood supply, mill audits, sales and marketing.

Lupold is a 1959 alum of the Forestry program at NC State University. While enrolled here, he was a member of 30&3, Blue Key, Golden Chain, student government and president of Sigma Alpha Epsilon.

He was president of the National Particleboard Association, received the College of Natural Resources Distinguished Alumni Award in 2005 and has served on numerous boards of affiliated forestry associations. At NC State he chaired the NC Forestry Foundation, the Wood Products Task Force, the College of Natural Resources’ Achieve! Campaign and other efforts.

Merit-based awards will be made from this endowment to a rising junior in the College of Natural Resources who has demonstrated leadership potential, who is an aspiring entrepreneur, with preference to students interested in wood products manufacturing and other forest products activity. Awards will be for one academic year and may be renewed based on specific criteria being met.

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.