NC State University

Grateful for the Wolfpack Stories from our community.

NC State is represented by a Wolfpack rather than a wolf, because we know we’re stronger together. 🐺🐾 In the spirit of the holiday season, we turned to members of our community looking for stories of gratitude. These are just a few of them.

Stanhope Kelly, Economic Leader and Alumnus, To Address 2025 Graduates Forty-five years after earning his bachelor’s degree in business management at NC State, Kelly is returning to deliver the university’s fall commencement address.

Forty-five years after earning his degree in business management, economic leader Stanhope Kelly is returning to deliver the fall commencement address to the university’s more than 3,000 graduates.

NC State celebrates the class of 2025 on Saturday. 🎓

A Gift That Keeps On Giving The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and NC State recently signed an agreement to license new varieties of two popular Christmas tree species — which have been bred to grow faster and shed fewer needles — to keep this vital industry thriving in our state well into the future.

Thanks to more than four decades of research by NC State geneticists, North Carolina’s Christmas tree industry is poised to thrive for many future generations. With that comes economic and environmental benefits for all of our state and beyond, no matter which holidays you celebrate. #ThinkAndDo

Rivalry Highlights Haynes’ Final Home Game NC State graduate and radio analyst Tony Haynes (’84) will broadcast his final game at Carter-Finley Stadium on Saturday at the NC State-North Carolina football contest.

After this weekend's the rivalry game, longtime radio analyst Tony Haynes ’84 signed off from Carter-Finley Stadium for the last time. Haynes has spent decades as the voice of football and men’s basketball for generations of Wolfpack fans. 🎙️

2 NC State Employees Win 2025 Governor’s Award for Excellence NC State staff members Holly Jordan and Jamie Pendergrass received the Governor’s Award for Excellence at a ceremony held Nov. 19.

NC State staff members Holly Jordan and Jamie Pendergrass have earned the highest honor a state employee can receive: the Governor’s Award for Excellence. 👏 The award recognizes state employees for accomplishments above and beyond their job duties.

Rivals in Spirit, Partners in Service NC State and East Carolina have once again united in service to students — this time for sister universities in western North Carolina one year after Hurricane Helene.

NC State and East Carolina teamed up earlier this year for a good cause. Through T-shirt sales, the house divided initiative raised $17,675 for Appalachian State University and UNC Asheville — the two UNC System schools most impacted by Hurricane Helene.

Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving, Wolfpack. 🍂

Freshly baked lattice-top pie resting on a cooling rack with a wooden rolling pin and bowl of flour nearby on a wooden surface.

Baked stuffing with visible chunks of celery and cooked apples in a rectangular dish on a table with fall leaves and green apples.

Plastic containers of leftover Thanksgiving food sit on a countertop.

Do I need to keep pumpkin pie in the refrigerator? Is it safe to cook stuffing inside the turkey? How quickly do I need to put away leftovers? 🤔 NC State experts answer your Thanksgiving food safety questions: http://ncst.at/hKo050XxOyU #ThinkAndDo

UNC-Chapel Hill mascots Rameses Jr. and Ramses stand next to NC State mascots Mr. and Ms. Wuf on the football field at Carter-Finley Stadium. The mascots are holding bags of food and all have put their hands in the middle on top of one another in a team huddle gesture.

NC State is competing with UNC-Chapel Hill on and off the field this month. 🐺🥫 But before the big game, we're teaming up or the fifth annual Pantry Bowl to fight food insecurity on our campuses.

🔗 Donate to the Feed the Pack food pantry now through Nov. 30: http://ncst.at/jQU850XvM9W

How Do I Cook a Thanksgiving Turkey (Without Making People Barf)? How should you thaw a turkey? How can I tell when the turkey is ready? Our food safety expert answers these questions and more.

Hosting Thanksgiving this year? If you're in charge of the turkey, you'll want to read these tips from food safety expert Ellen Shumaker to learn how you can reduce your risk of foodborne illness . (And no, you should not wash that turkey!)

Bamboo Tissue Paper May Not Be as Eco-friendly as You Think

In recent years, Chinese bamboo tissue paper has emerged as a trendy choice for eco-friendly shoppers. However, new findings from NC State researchers suggest these bamboo paper products may not offer significant climate benefits over tissue produced in the United States.

Discover Our Majors: Communication Forge your path as a professional communicator.

Ashley Scott, a communication major with a minor in journalism, is building a future in media one class, one campaign and one connection at a time.

🎥 From classes to dance practice, follow along through a week in Ashley's life on campus.

As we celebrate #VeteransDay today, we honor and remember those who have served our country. 🇺🇸

On Veterans Day, Saluting Our Students Who Served in Uniforms Before Scrubs First-year NC State DVM students Olivia Di Ruzza and Joe Hampton will be thinking about their friends still serving and reflecting on the military experiences that are already shaping their veterinary careers.

On #VeteransDay, we salute our students who served in uniform before putting on scrubs. First-year @ncstate.bsky.social DVM students Olivia Di Ruzza and Joe Hampton will remember friends still serving and reflect on military moments shaping their veterinary careers. news.cvm.ncsu.edu/on-veterans-...

Will Tariffs Impact Your Holiday Shopping?

The holiday season is ramping up. Will tariffs impact the shopping landscape for holiday decor, toys, food and gifts? To get answers, we sat down with Rob Handfield, Bank of America Distinguished Professor of Operations and Supply Chain Management at NC State. #ThinkAndDo

I Am CALS: Justin Page Justin Page's time at NC State University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences has helped him focus on the future of his family's 103-year-old farm, Page Farms.

For North Carolina Farmers Appreciation Day, we're celebrating fourth-generation farmer and CALS alum Justin Page. 🍓🚜🎃

Read about him and Page Farms. ⬇️

Into the Fold Engineers are transforming space exploration with robotics.

Inspired by origami, NC State Engineering researchers have designed a 3D-printed cube system that moves as one unit and transforms into more than 1,000 configurations. #ThinkAndDo #NCStateMag

First NC State African American Sorority Chapter Turns Fifty Half a century ago, 10 women came together to charter the first chapter of an African-American sorority on the NC State campus, establishing the Mu Omicron chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. on October 25, 1975. The chapter celebrates its golden anniversary during Red and White Week this year.

On Oct. 25, 1975, 10 women chartered the Mu Omicron chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., the first African American sorority on NC State’s campus.

This #NCStateRedWhite Week, the chapter celebrated 50 years of sisterhood, service and leadership.

Nanotyrannus Confirmed: Dueling Dinosaurs Fossil Rewrites the Story of T. rex A complete Nanotyrannus skeleton has just ended one of paleontology’s longest-running debates.

What if everything we know about T. rex growth is wrong? A complete tyrannosaur skeleton has just ended one of paleontology’s longest-running debates – and it flips decades of T. rex research on its head. #ThinkAndDo

The official installation of a new chancellor happens only a few times in a generation. Today, Kevin Howell will be installed as NC State’s 15th chancellor, formally putting him in the position he began on May 5.

Watch the livestream at 11 a.m. ➡️ http://ncst.at/qYwI50XklBI #NCStateChancellor

Science as Service Scholars from the College of Natural Resources mobilize to help western North Carolina.

In the wake of Hurricane Helene, NC State faculty are putting their scientific expertise to work in the form of on-the-ground service to teachers in western North Carolina. #NCStateMag

From Student Body Presidents to University Leaders Ed Stack, chair of NC State’s Board of Trustees, and Kevin Howell, NC State’s 15th chancellor, have a lot in common — including the fact that they’ve both served as student body president.

Ed Stack and Kevin Howell have a lot in common. They’ve both served as student body president, and they both continue to serve the university — Stack as chair of NC State’s Board of Trustees and Howell as NC State’s 15th chancellor.

Chalk it Up to Undergraduate Research Explore the Sidewalk Symposium.

At the annual Sidewalk Symposium, undergraduate students share their research — and their creativity — through sidewalk chalk drawings and informal presentations. 🧠🎨 #ThinkAndDo

🔗 Experience their work through their eyes and in their words.

NC State's annual homecoming celebration is right around the corner. 🐺‼️

📅 Mark your calendars and join us Oct. 26 through Nov. 2 for Red and White Week, presented by Coca-Cola. ncst.at/w8kq50Xf6uG

A handcrafted oak bowl, created by industrial design student Kai Kuwata, now carries the spirit of @ncstate.bsky.social from Raleigh to Japan. 🇯🇵🐺

Earlier this month, Kuwata’s bowl was given to the president of Nagoya University by Chancellor Howell himself. ➡️ design.ncsu.edu/blog/2025/10...

2025 Awards Ceremony Recognizes NC State Supporters in Style The newly combined NC State Honors event was the perfect way to honor Wolfpack members who have gone above and beyond in their service and generosity to the university.

This fall, NC State debuted NC State Honors — uniting the Watauga Medal, Godwin and Menscer awards, and other alumni recognitions into one red-carpet celebration of alumni and friends.

Meet the winners: http://ncst.at/XkAN50Xe2BG

Ben Marsigli's entrepreneurial spirit paired with his NC State College of Design degree prepared him for his role as creative director at Rhoback — a brand that makes collegiate apparel in partnership with 58 colleges and universities, including NC State. 🔗 http://ncst.at/j9nS50X9Kqm

As we head into fall break, Chancellor Howell shares a mid-semester update and words of encouragement with the Wolfpack community.

🔗 Read: http://ncst.at/KOUl50X9QOH

Reducing Barriers To Care As NC State enters its third year as a JED Campus, the university continues to enhance the holistic care offered to support student mental health and well-being.

The link between academic success and mental well-being led to NC State's partnership with JED — a leading nonprofit that protects emotional health and prevents suicide for teens and young adults nationwide.

On #WorldMentalHealthDay, learn more about JED.

Joyful Noise Jacqueline Fennell ’06 spent her life making sure she was heard.

For 19 years, Jacqueline Fennell ’06 poured her heart into NC State. She passed away this spring after a yearslong battle with breast cancer. In her honor, NC State has established the Jacqueline Elyce Fennell Memorial TRIO Fund to support students. #NCStateMag