Innovating for a Better Future

Meet Mary (Mimi) Pinyan, a soon-to-be #NCState24 alumna and #NCStateCNR’s spring commencement undergraduate speaker. 👋 🎓 🐺

Mimi will be graduating with a bachelor’s degree in forest management (@ncstatefer). After graduation, she will pursue a master’s degree in forestry and statistics at the University of Georgia and serve as a graduate research assistant. Her research will focus on optimizing growth and yield models using computer programming for timber sales.

“There`s something distinct about each of us whether that be our race, disability status, religion, or gender. However, under the roof of NC State’s College of Natural Resources, we all had a chance to learn from a diverse group of students and teachers. The diverse set of majors and interests naturally divides us, but within the college, we are united in our desire to be stewards for the Earth. We’re all different but at the end of the day, it doesn’t have to be a bad thing, so long as you find people who accept and support you, differences and all.”

Meet soon-to-be #NCState24 alumna Bryanna Lawry. 👋 🎓 🐺

Bryanna will be graduating with a bachelor`s degree in paper science and engineering from @ncstatefb and chemical engineering from @ncstateengr. After graduation, she will begin working as a full-time remote process engineer within the corporate engineering team of @georgiapacific.

“Use what you have learned from this family and this home. Hold the connections dear to your heart. I want you to right now think of someone in that next stage of life that encompasses what we have learned over these four years — to fight with poise even when the odds are low, to have courage and grace, to care and support those around you.

For me, that person is my mom. She encompasses strength and poise, living life to the fullest and is my pillar of hope. Use that person as your constant reminder of these traits that you hope to hold onto and a role model as you continue to develop into who you are over this next period of life.” — @bryzygirl10

Meet soon-to-be #NCState24 @ncstatealumni Austin Quate. 👋 🎓 🐺

Austin will be graduating with a master’s degree in forestry from @ncstatefer. After graduation, he plans to continue working in forestry and tree improvement.

“Five years ago, I graduated with my bachelor’s in forest management with a plan to go into the private industry to start a career in forestry. A few years later, I left that company to come back to the College of Natural Resources to pursue a master’s degree in forestry with the Cooperative Tree Improvement Program (@ncsu_tip).

Guidance and advice from my family, friends, and faculty and staff at CNR lead me to the decision to come back to the best college at NC State. CNR is a great place to learn and develop lifelong connections. CNR has changed a lot in the last five years, but one thing that hasn’t is the number of great faculty and staff that care about us students and developing us for whatever plans we have once we leave.” —@austinquate

Congratulations to our own Kate Macleod and Jaxon Davis, recipients of this year’s NC State Sustainability Awards and soon-to-be #NCState24 @ncstatealumni! 🎉

Kate is a senior in sustainable materials and technology, a zero waste intern at @ncstaterecycles and a sustainability programming and outreach intern at @towardzerowaste. At the local non-profit, she helped establish a new Raleigh compost drop-off site. She was also recently honored by the City of Raleigh with a Climate Action Award for Waste Reduction.

Jaxon is a senior majoring in environmental science, and fashion management and product management in @ncstatewilson. He is also team lead for NC State Stewards, a student organization that promotes sustainability on campus. Jaxon co-founded and currently manages the @campusthriftstore, which provides the NC State community with an on-campus sustainable and affordable shopping option.

Meet soon-to-be #NCState24 @ncstatealumni Kaitlyn O`Donnell. 👋 🎓 🐺

Kaitlyn will be graduating with a bachelor`s degree in natural resources from @ncstatefer. After graduation, she will continue to work for the City of Raleigh (@raleighgov) Office of Sustainability as a Pathways to Public Service Fellow, following her passion in sustainability and climate action.

"Personal growth is not just seeking to learn more about what went right, it’s about reflecting on areas to improve and utilizing it to succeed in the future. It requires not only a willingness to accept feedback, but possessing the emotional intelligence to be self and socially aware. We can’t learn if we don’t reflect and we can’t grow if we don’t change.

However, I began to realize that my ability to grow was supported by the people around me. My parents and sister, the founders of the Kaitlyn Fan Club, who have been a constant source of inspiration and encouragement in my life. My professors who saw my passion for sustainability and leadership and gave me opportunities to grow as a person, leader, and member of the college. And finally, the College of Natural Resources, a unique community filled with passionate, compassionate, and motivated faculty and students." — @kaitlyn.odonnell___

Check out these "Earth Day Every Day" projects from students in ES 100: Introduction to Environmental Sciences. 🌎

These projects highlight quantifiable lifestyle changes and what this lifestyle change would look like on a campus-wide scale over a year long timeframe. Earlier this week, students and guests were able to view the digital media pieces in Hunt Library`s Teaching and Visualization Gallery and voted on their favorite presentations.

Earlier this week, the College of Natural Resources and the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management (@ncstateprtm) co-hosted the second annual Women in Sports Leadership Summit.

The summit, co-hosted alongside @packathletics and Wolfpack Women, helps develop, connect and advance women interested in entering the sport industry. This year`s keynote speaker was Arielle Chambers (@ariivory), an NC State alumna, multi-media journalist and founder of @highlighther, focused on amplifying female athletes.