Welcome to Your PSE Update

Happy fall, everyone. The 8 posts below will keep you updated on the life of your Paper Science & Engineering Program. Enjoy!

If you have any news items or personal updates, send them to med_byrd@ncsu.edu.

Pulp & Paper Foundation Meeting/Webinar Is This Friday -- Please Join Us

In order to direct as much funding as possible towards student scholarships in this difficult economic time, the Foundation has elected to hold its annual meeting this year in the form of a web-cast ("webinar"). This event will occur this Friday, November 6, from 9:30 - 11 am. Students, faculty, and members will gather in Room 2010, which has been equipped with webcast capabilities. All alumni, friends, and supporters of the PSE program are encouraged to tune in to this webcast by doing the following:

1. Go to the link below (cut and paste into browser if necessary):

http://online.ncsu.edu/Mediasite/Viewer/?peid=17620335dc9144279c6dbb9d7b35971a

2. You will need Windows Media Player or Silverlight to view the webcast. The link will prompt you to download silverlight if you have neither.
3. It is recommended that you try the link some time before 9:30 am to make sure it works.
4. If you have problems on the day of the event, call 919-274-3230.

The program will be traditional in nature and will give viewers an update on the state of the program:

9:30 am
David Hickman, Thiele Kaolin
President NC State PPF
Welcome and PPF Update

Dr. Bob Brown
Dean, College of Natural Resources
College Update

David Ashcraft
Executive Director of Development & College Relations
Financial Update

Dr. Steve Kelley
Department Head & Professor
PSE Program Update

10:00 am
Dr. Med Byrd
Director of Undergraduate Programs, PSE
Introduction of Three Student Speakers
Meet-The-Seniors

11:00 am
David Hickman
Adjourn

Recruiting New Students -- Your Help Is Needed

Dr. Med Byrd is asking for the help of alumni and friends of the PSE program in identifying young people who are a good fit for this industry -- and for a degree in Paper Science & Engineering at NC State.

Most of us in the industry know that there is a certain kind of high school student that just seems "right" for pulp and paper. They are sharp kids, with good academic credentials -- but they are also well-grounded. They have a kind of determination, ambition, drive, and "stick-to-it-ness" that distinguishes them from a lot of other students. These students don't mind working, and they respond well to hands-on learning in the lab, pilot plant, and the field.

Do you know a young person like this who is considering an engineering career? Maybe it's your own kid...maybe that of a friend or colleague. Maybe it's someone in an organization you lead or the church you go to. Whatever the source, you could do this student a great favor by bringing up the PSE program at NC State and telling them about the incredible educational opportunity it represents.

If you identify a promising candidate, contact Med Byrd at med_byrd@ncsu.edu. He can arrange for a personal visit, tour of the labs and pilot plant, and the opportunity to shadow a current PSE student as they go to class.

We all share the responsibility of identifying new talent that can ensure the future success of the industry. Your support is appreciated!

Classroom Renovation Complete!

The renovation of the main PSE classroom has been completed at last. The renovation, made possible by a generous donation from an anonymous donor, was partially complete when reported previously in this blog. The room is now up to the most modern standard on campus. Features include:

> New carpeting and paint
> Corner-mounted wide screen for full white board access
> New LCD projector with high resolution and wide aspect ratio
> New teaching media center, with PC, document camera, DVD player, and A/V support
> Tables that give students better access to books and laptop computers

Three important spaces in the department (classroom, student study room, and graduate student flex office) have now been updated with generous donations from program supporters. One additional classroom was also updated using university funds.

PSE Students Win TAPPI National Scholarships

Students in the PSE program were the recipients of national scholarships awarded by TAPPI for 2009. Genevieve Pike, a junior, was announced as the winner of a William L. Cullison Scholarship. This award, the most prestigious awarded by TAPPI to students, is made based on academic achievement and involvement in the TAPPI at the student and national levels. The scholarship is made in two $2000 payments for the junior and senior years of study. (Catherine Currence, a PSE senior, is in her second year of this award)

Other scholarship winners were:

Nicholas King -- Coating and Graphic Arts Division Scholarship
Kolby Stockton -- Corrugated Packaging Division/MHI Corrugated Scholarship
Colby Jackson -- Corrugated Packaging Division/Bobst Corrugated Scholarship
Peter McAnulty -- Engineering Division Scholarship

Students Visit Kimberly-Clark for a "Tissue 101" Weekend

One of the outcomes from the "southern swing" tour of mills (see post below) was an invitation from the folks at Kimberly-Clark for PSE students to visit their enormous facility at Beech Island, SC. It was hoped that the opportunity to see tissue, towel and nonwovens being made in a modern facility would give the students a better appreciation for this critical industry segment.

Dubbed the "Tissue 101 Weekend," the 3-day event was held from October 1-3. On Thursday, October 1, students attended a seminar on the basics of tissue/towel manufacture, including fiber properties and types of formers. On Friday, October 2, they traveled by bus for an overnight stay in Augusta. A dinner was planned in the downtown area with persons from the mill, and the students were able to enjoy the First Friday activities.

On Saturday morning, students were greeted at the Beech Island facility by KC volunteers. After an introduction to Kimberly-Clark and the products made at Beech Island, the students were broken up into smaller groups and toured through the following areas: facial tissue, bath tissue, towel, wet wipes, and environmental. After lunch on site, the students return by bus to Raleigh.

29 students and three faculty took advantage of this incredible field opportunity! Many thanks are due to Kimberly-Clark for its hospitality and full financial support of this trip and to the volunteers who gave up a weekend to support the PSE program at NC State.

Profs Visit Southern Mills on the "Southern Swing"

In a resumption of an old tradition, Drs. Med Byrd and Hasan Jameel hit the road this past July and managed to visit 13 mills in 5 days. The mills were located along the southeastern coast from North Carolina to Florida on the outbound leg and along the I-95 corridor on the return leg.

The goals of the trip were simple -- check in with the mills, connect with alumni and friends of the program, inquire about staffing needs, and inform the mill personnel about the current state of the PSE program at NC State.

Med and Hasan agreed that there is no substitute for meeting your constituents on their home turf. The trip was a great way to collect feedback about graduates from the PSE program and suggestions as to how the program and graduates can be improved.

Additional road trips will be conducted each summer, in different regions of the country. Be on the lookout for these guys!