Arbor Day Celebration Drew a Large Crowd and was Fun for All

Posted on March 22, 2011 by rwgonzal

Triangle Chapter of the Society of American Foresters (SAF) donated native plants and held a plant adoption station for youth. SAF member Kelley McCarter explains how to plant and care for this young plant.

This year’s North Carolina Arbor Day Celebration was a tremendous success, and the State Farmers Market in Raleigh proved to be an ideal location for the event. The warm weather and festive mood created a wonderful backdrop for hundreds of adults and youth to interact with resource professionals, faculty, and students and learn about the importance of trees and forests and how they improve the quality of our lives.

See News 14 Carolina’s video coverage: “Arbor Day plants a seed for new careers”

Congratulations and thanks to all of the NC Arbor Day Celebration exhibitors, supporters and participants who made the event possible and such fun!

Many thanks to the following:

During the five-hour free event, members of the Triangle and NC State Student Chapters of SAF distributed 1000 redbud seedlings and answered the public’s questions on a variety of forest-related topics.

Triangle Chapter of SAF
Sustainable Forestry Initiative
Forest History Society
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
Gregory Poole Equipment Company
NC Prescribed Fire Council

Learn more at Celebrate North Carolina’s Arbor Day at the State Farmers Market and go.ncsu.edu/arborday2011

Students Grow at TAPPI-PIMA Student Summit

Posted on February 8, 2011 by

Contributed by Katie McIntyre

Over the MLK holiday weekend, 19 Paper Science and Engineering students at NC State University travelled to Kingsport, TN for the annual TAPPI-PIMA Student Summit.

The 2011 Student Summit allowed students from paper science programs across the country the opportunity to learn more about the pulp and paper and packaging industries directly from professionals involved in day-to-day operations. Industry leaders met with students to impart some of their professional knowledge to budding engineers.

Throughout the weekend, students heard from professionals at a variety of levels; from mill managers to young professionals. Sessions highlighted new technologies in printed and flexible circuitry, biofuels energy, and carbon management.

Dedicated to preparing paper science students for successful careers, TAPPI provided students with essential information about interviewing, resume building and personal finance for young professionals.

Multiple companies took the opportunity to interview students for jobs, internships and co-ops during the Summit. More than one NC State student secured an internship over the weekend!

It has become tradition for the Student Summit to be held near a prominent manufacturing facility in order to provide students the opportunity to take a tour of the mill. This year was no exception, attendees were treated to a detailed tour of the Domtar Kingsport mill. Domtar was a key sponsor of the weekend event and supported many of the sessions with its professionals.

TAPPI Student Summits are never all work! Students had ample time to network with their peers from across the country and even got the opportunity to travel to Bays Mountain Park and Planetarium Park to visit the local “wolf pack” and had a “howling” good time. Take a listen!

The weekend wrapped up with a final challenge to the student participants. Groups took part in the “Marshmallow Challenge.” Their task: to build a structure in less than 18 minutes that would support a marshmallow with a few pieces of spaghetti, a little string and some tape. Who thought a marshmallow would be so heavy? Take a look at some of the spaghetti towers students built.

Senior and double major in Paper Science & Engineering and Chemical Engineering, Jamie Pye, was awarded a McNutt scholarship from TAPPI to help fund the chapter’s travel to the conference.

Learn more about Paper Science and Engineering at NC State.

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.