NC State Environmental Technology and Management student receives Environmental Scholarship Award from RTP Chapter of AHMP

Posted on September 10, 2011 by rwgonzal

Emily Forbes, junior in Environmental Technology and Management, is presented with her scholarship award from the RTP Chapter of the Association of Hazardous Materials Professionals.

News Release – The Research Triangle Park, NC Chapter of the Alliance of Hazardous Materials Professionals (AHMP-RTP) announces the selection of Ms. Emily Forbes as the recipient of the Chapter 2011 Environmental Scholarship Award. This annual $500 scholarship is awarded to a graduate or undergraduate student demonstrating outstanding academic merit and a strong interest in pursuing a career related to protecting the environment.

Ms. Forbes is an undergraduate student in the Environmental Technology and Management program at North Carolina State University, entering her junior year in the fall of 2011. Her interests include monitoring, assessing, remediating, and managing water resources.

In addition to a $500 award, the Environmental Scholarship includes a complimentary one-year RTP Chapter of AHMP membership and free attendance to Chapter luncheon meetings. Winners of the Environmental Scholarship Award are encouraged to participate in RTP Chapter activities and present on a topic associated with their studies at a general membership lunch meeting.

The AHMP was established in 1985 as the Academy of Certified Hazardous Materials Managers (ACHMM) and is a non-profit membership organization for Certified Hazardous Materials Managers and hazardous material professionals. The AHMP fosters expertise in the fields of environmental health and safety, regulatory compliance and policy, science and technology, as well as materials handling, chemical emergency response, and remediation.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Todd Thornton, AHMP-RTP Chapter Secretary
todd.thornton@arcadis-us.com

Terrie Litzenberger, Program Coordinator, Environmental Technology and Management
terri_litzenberger@ncsu.edu

A Summer of Civil Rights and Unrest

Posted on August 25, 2011 by

Sameer Abdel-Khalek, senior in environmental technology, took this photo of injured protesters in Tahrir Square while documenting the struggle in Egypt June 28. Photo courtesy of Sameer Abdel-Khalek.

Sameer Abdel-Khalek took this photo of injured protesters in Tahrir Square while documenting the struggle in Egypt June 28. Photo courtesy of Sameer Abdel-Khalek and The Technician

Sameer Abdel-Khalek, a senior in environmental technology and management at NC State University, knows people around the world are having internal revolutions; so along with three friends he spent this summer traveling through Egypt and Tunisia to uncover the “hidden” stories of the protests of the Arab Spring.

It was quite an experience that is leading to poetry featured on WUNC, a prospective book and photo exhibition and more.

“People are having internal revolutions, regardless of race, age or religion,” Abdel-Khalek said. “With these issues, they say ‘They aren’t ready for democracy.’ Nobody is ready for democracy, you experience it and embark on it and try it out. I am honored to have taken part in that in Cairo and Tunis.”

Learn more about Abdel-Khalek’s travels as well as that of other students who spent the summer experiencing the struggle for civil rights.

Adapted from THE TECHNICIAN ONLINE – 8/16/2011 – By Mark Herring, Features Editor

Read the complete article in The Technician

Listen to the NC Public Radio Podcast – Poetic Portraits of a Revolution: Home Sweet Home
Visit the PPR2011 Blog

Experiential Learning At Its Best, In Greece!

Posted on August 15, 2011 by

Partnering with local schools to exchange recreation and cultural experiences,

Putting hearts and hands to work at the Antonis Environmental Park,

Attending the Special Olympics in Athens and meeting the U.S. volleyball team,

Seeing history in the making during street protests in the streets of Athens.

Those are just a few of the experiences shared recently by 15 NC State University students while completing PRT 491: History of Leisure/Visitor and Destination Management.

According to Janell Moretz, a lecurer in the Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism Management, the students focused on the history of leisure from its historical origins to how democracy changed the Greek culture and influenced leisure in modern society around the world.

Through excursions and cultural immersion experiences, the students learned how Ancient Greece gave rise to the concept of leisure, spectator sports, festivals, theater and tourism, saw historical sites and modern architecture, explored how the 2004 Olympic venue

development changed the landscape of Greece, examined how tourism affects community development and culture, and made friends throughout Greece and the nearby isles – gaining a comprehensive understanding of Greece’s culture and its people – all in 20 days!

After their return the students completed a reflection exercise which included developing comprehensive storyboards showcasing images and observations from the course experiences. “The students were able to express what they learned in their storyboard projects,” according to Moretz, “It was gratifying to learn how much the cultural exchanges, service learning and trip abroad enhanced their understanding of leisure, recreation and the Greek Culture. I’m look forward to sharing these experiences with more students on our next journey in 2012!

View 2 Student Storyboards – Lindsay Anderson Jason Batt
Learn more about NC State Study Abroad

Energy Interns and Fellows Are Seeing “Green”

Posted on June 23, 2011 by

Solar Suitability Study conducted by Will Dunlop and John Diaz at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Energy efficiency and maximizing the use of renewable energy resources is on everyone’s minds these days and NC State University is actively engaged in developing and disseminating solutions to our energy challenges.

Energy Interns pass out flyers related to energy conservation and their upcoming workshops

Lauren Lesak and Drew Hatley, interns with the CES in Warren and Franklin Counties, pass out energy conservation and upcoming workshops flyers at a community event.

The College of Natural Resources (CNR) at NC State has placed 42 students in green energy internships and fellowships using a $435,481 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant. Students are working in 16 counties in North Carolina for a total of 21 host organizations.

Three fellows began working in Fall 2010. One of the fellows, Helene Cser, is developing a renewable energy database with analysis tools and another, Jessica Knight, is creating the web interface for the database to help facilitate economic growth within the renewable energy industry sector of North Carolina.

Wood pellets are tested for durability in Javon Carter’s feasibility study.

The third fellow, Javon Carter, has been investigating woody biomass material from Eastern North Carolina to determine its suitability for commercialization as wood pellets.

An Energy Intern works on a wind powered car model

Cory Connell, intern with the CES in Craven County, works on a wind powered car he will make with children at a summer 4-H camp.

Fifteen interns worked part-time during the Spring 2011 semester in the Raleigh area. Among them, Will Dunlop and John Diaz worked at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Division of Waste Management using GIS technology to analyze former landfills for solar farm suitability. Four students worked on a campus tree inventory project designed to calculate the energy savings associated with the trees on campus. Both of these projects have continued into the summer.

This summer, 32 interns are working to promote energy efficiency and assist with small-scale renewable energy installation projects with host organizations such as the NC Cooperative Extension Service (CES), SAS, the NC Solar Center, NC Department of Transportation, HandCrafted Homes and others.

Energy Intern works on a solar powered oven

Austin Harriett, CES intern in Craven County, works on a solar powered oven he will make with children at a summer 4-H camp.

Ten students are working with the Cooperative Extension Service in eight different counties—Craven, Davidson, Franklin, Greene, Hertford, Onslow, Warren and Wilson. Interns in these counties are assisting CES’ efforts to educate the community about ways to increase energy efficiency within homes and businesses and integrate renewable energy there as well. Throughout the summer, interns will prepare presentations for a variety of groups including children, seniors, farmers, and low-income families on specific ways that each group can be more energy efficient.

Companies such as SAS, HandCrafted Homes, Timberline, Jordan Lumber and Owens-Illinois are using the energy interns to find ways to make their plants and facilities more energy efficient.

energy interns measure a tree on NC State's campus as part of a tree inventory

Charles Rudder and Ian McInnis measure a tree for an inventory to determine energy savings gained from campus trees.

The interns were invited to the State’s Sustainable Energy Conference in April that included a session specifically for energy interns. In early June, they were offered a two day Energy Auditor Training on the campus of UNC Chapel Hill at no cost.

CNR student interns are part of a larger state program that includes 28 awarded organizations hosting the energy internship and fellowship program. The program ends in March 2012, by which time some 480 interns and fellows will have worked for the program across the state.

Post submitted by:
Karla Heinen
Dr. Gary Blank
For more information: 919.515.7566

Commencement Largest in College’s History

Posted on May 17, 2011 by

Close to 250 undergraduate and graduate students received their diplomas from the NC State University College of Natural Resources at the McKimmon Center on Saturday, May 14, 2011 at 1:30 p.m in the largest commencement ceremony in the College’s history.

Over 1000 family and friends joined the faculty and staff to celebrate the students’ accomplishments and wish them well as they begin the next phase of their lives.

Toddi Steelman, a professor in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, gave the commencement address. Dr. Steelman was the recipient of the Outstanding Teacher Award this year for the College of Natural Resources. Her words of advice encouraged the students to stay off the couch, keep it real by making human connections, and make deliberate, active choices about what they want out of their lives.

Brenda Brickhouse, President of the NC State Natural Resources Foundation, Inc., congratulated each of the graduates and presented them with a brass and wood NC State business card holder and asked them to keep in touch with the college and NC State throughout their lives.

Other speakers for the ceremony included Dr. Robert Brown, Dean and Dr. Adrianna Kirkman, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.

A student speaker from each of the college’s three departments shared their own life experiences and words of wisdom. Those students include: Ms. Genevieve Pike – Forest Biomaterials; Mr. Andrew McEachran – Forestry and Environmental Resources; and Mr. Steven Houg – Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management.

Immediately following the ceremony, the academic departments hosted a cookie and punch reception for the faculty, staff, students and parents.

Congratulations to the Class of 2011! We wish them well and are confident that each will make a difference in the world and serve as outstanding representatives of the College of Natural Resources and North Carolina State University!

Commencement Program & List of Graduates>>

Graduation Photo Gallery>>