Your NC State PSE Program Update!

Show Your Support -- Come to the Pulp and Paper Foundation Annual Meeting Sept 29 - Oct 2

2010-09-01T13:16:00.000-07:00

Friends and alumni of the Paper Science & Engineering Program at NC State are being asked to show their support for the program by attending the upcoming annual meeting of the Pulp & Paper Foundation. This event, scheduled for September 29-October 2, will be a return to the classic annual meetings of years past -- with lots of student interactions, recognition of scholarship recipients and donors, information and updates about the programs and the industry....and lots and lots of fellowship and FUN!

Med Byrd, Director of Undergraduate Programs, has issued a special invitation to all alums: "We all know that the US paper schools, in addition to the industry, have recently faced some very difficult times. But we need for everyone to know that NC State continues to be strong -- enrollments are up, job placements continue to be high, and interest in the industry is on the rise. We need ALL of you to show us your support by coming out and being with us at this amazing event! Let's have a record-breaking attendance at this year's meeting and show everyone that this is an educational program that will play a pivotal role in the industry's success for many years to come. Ask your boss for time off....ask your boss to come....ask your company to participate in the Industry Day event -- come join us!"

This year's meeting has plenty of opportunities to meet PSE students and catch up with old friends and classmates. Here is a summary of the scheduled events:

Wednesday, September 29
5 - 7 pm -- "Industry Day" career fair

Thursday, September 30
7:30 am - 4:00 pm -- Golf Tournament, Lonnie Poole golf course
5:30 pm - 6:15 pm -- Cocktail Reception6:15 pm - 9:00 pm -- Scholarship and Recognition Banquet

Friday, October 1
7:30 am - 8:30 am -- Board Meeting
8:45 am - 9:30 am -- Committee Meetings
9:45 am - 11:30 am -- General Meeting
11:30 am - 1:00 pm -- Lunch
1:00 pm - 1:45 pm -- Keynote Speaker: Tommy Joseph, IP
2:00 pm - 3:30 pm -- Mill Manager's RoundTable

Saturday, October 2Foundation Tailgate Party
NC State vs. Virginia Tech football game

Meeting information can be obtained by going to http://www. or by contacting the following:

Gus Cottros (gus_cottros@ncsu.edu)
Ernie Alexander (ernie_alexander@ncsu.edu)

Full event information and on-line registration is available at the link below (on-line registration is in the process of begin activated...should happen soon):
http://cnr.ncsu.edu/ppf/annual_meeting.htm

Senior David Froggatt is coordinating this year's
Foundation Golf Tournament.

"Industry Day" to be Held on September 29

2010-09-01T12:45:00.000-07:00

In association with the upcoming annual meeting of the Pulp and Paper Foundation, a new "Industry Day" event will be held on campus on Wednesday, September 29, from 5 - 7 pm. The location is the Witherspoon Student Center, just down the street from the PSE building. A large auditorium will be equipped with booths and tables to accommodate a number of companies. A light dinner will be served.

Companies with a booth at this event will have unique face-to-face time with students interested in jobs in the paper and allied industries. Not only will Paper Science & Engineering students be at this event, but they will joined by students seeking degrees in Chemical, Mechanical, and Electrical Engineering.

The cost for the event is $250 for Foundation members and $1000 for non-members. Interested companies should contact (soon!) Gus Cottros (gus_cottros@ncsu.edu) or Ernie Alexander (ernie_alexander@ncsu.edu).

Vigorous Recruiting Season Anticipated

2010-09-01T12:33:00.000-07:00

Nine students will graduate with a PSE degree or PSE/CHE dual degrees in December, and another 17 will graduate in May 2011. Industry recruiting of these graduates, along with candidates for summer internships and semester co-ops, is expected to be vigorous this fall.

Pat Hill, our Student Services Assistant, reports that six companies have signed up already to participate in this year's Industry Day event (see post above) associated with the Pulp & Paper Foundation meeting. In addition, 11 other companies have signed up for on-campus recruiting.

Pat encourages all companies to schedule on-campus recruiting events as soon as possible. You can reach her at pat_hill@ncsu.edu or at 919-515-2888.

Welcome Kate McIntyre -- Our New Recruiter

2010-09-01T12:24:00.000-07:00

The Department of Forest Biomaterials is happy to welcome on board Katherine (Kate) McIntyre as the new student recruiter for both the Paper Science & Engineering and Wood Products programs in the Department of Forest Biomaterials.

Kate comes to us from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, where she served as Assistant Director of Admissions. A native New Englander, Kate attended Bentley University. She has extensive experience in recruiting students to focused science/engineering programs like PSE. She was selected from a pool of 123 applicants for the position.

Please help us make her feel at home here at NC State!

New Student Enrollment Strong

2010-09-01T12:12:00.000-07:00

Twenty-seven new freshmen entered NC State as Paper Science & Engineering students this fall, more than double the figure for 2009. It is hoped that 5-10 more transfer students will be added to this group in the next year, for a net sophomore class of 32-37.

Last year's freshman class, which started out at 12 in Fall 2009, has increased to an amazing 37!

Part of the reason for this growth can no doubt be attributed to the Foundation scholarships, which are particularly attractive to prospective students and parents during a tough economic time. However, it seems that the larger part of the growth is because the "PSE message" resonates well with students across the campus -- a message about faculty engagement, hands-on learning, high summer internship placements, high permanent job placement rates, and high starting salaries.

NC State is committed to providing the pulp and paper industry with highly-qualified entry-level engineers that will ensure the success of the industry for many years to come.

New PSE freshmen engaged in the traditional
"giant handsheet competition"

Help Send Students to Brazil for PIE 2011

2010-09-01T12:04:00.000-07:00

The Paper International Experience (see post below) has sent two cohorts of PSE students to China (2007) and Chile (2009). These have been incredible learning experiences for the students. For the next trip in May 2011, we want to send a large group to tour pulp and paper mills in Brazil.

We need your help in obtaining funding that will cover 2/3 of the student costs. If you are interested in helping, or if your company would like to be an official sponsor, please contact med_byrd@ncsu.edu.

Paper International Experience 2009 Report Finally Ready!

2010-09-01T11:50:00.000-07:00

Every two years, the Paper International Experience (PIE) program sends a group of juniors and seniors in Paper Science & Engineering to another country abroad. The goals are A) to immerse them in a different culture and broaden their global awareness; and B) to let them see how the paper industry works in a different country. It is hoped that such an experience will help the students understand the global nature of the industry and help the industry become more competitive.

In 2009, the PIE trip took 11 students to Chile. Normally, a formal report is prepared and printed after the trip is complete. Given the very tight budget year, it was not possible to do this for 2009. However, two of the student participants (Dane Grismer and Nick King) did prepare a wonderful pdf report, which has been stuck in "e-limbo" for some time now. But we are pleased to report that it is ready. By clicking on the link below, you can access this amazing student-written account of the trip to Chile (it's a large, high-resolution file...so it will take about 1 minute to download).

http://www4.ncsu.edu/~medbyrd/PIEChileReport.pdf

Important Foundation Meeting Planned for Fall 2010 -- Save the Date! Your Attendance Needed!

2010-05-11T11:32:00.001-07:00

Fall 2010 will see a return to the "classic" style of Annual Meeting for the Pulp & Paper Foundation. We are asking all alumni and friends of the PSE program to hold the dates of September 29 - October 2 open -- and to plan to attend and show your support for us!

The tentative schedule is as follows:

Wednesday, September 29: Mini Career Fair / Student Recruiting Event (for member companies)
Thursday, September 30: Foundation Golf Tournament (Lonnie Poole Course); Foundation Cocktail Reception and Banquet
Friday, October 1: Pulp and Paper Foundation Meeting (including business meetings and full technical program); Embassy Suites, Cary
Saturday, October 2: NC State vs. Virginia football game / Foundation Tailgate Party

Details about the technical program and the full schedule will be coming soon. Please join us in this traditional (and critical) event!

Summer Internships STILL Needed!

2010-05-11T11:29:00.000-07:00

Although the end of the semester is here, there are still a number of PSE undergraduates who are seeking internships in the paper and allied industries. It's not too late to get a great PSE student for your company! Contact Dr. Med Byrd at med_byrd@ncsu.edu .

Nine Students Graduating This Month

2010-05-11T11:19:00.001-07:00

Nine new engineering professionals will enter the industry this month, as they receive their B.S. degrees in Paper Science & Engineering on May 15. Seven of these students will also receive B.S. degrees in Chemical Engineering.

Seven of the nine have accepted job offers in the paper, allied or other industries. One is still fielding offers. One will attend graduate school at NC State.

With the five students who graduated in December 2009, the PSE program graduated a total of 14 students for the 2009-2010 academic year. This figure is a bit lower than normal, due to a high number of students that were delayed by going on co-op (next year's class is expected to be pretty large). The overall placement rate for the combined group was 85 %.

Dr. Michael Kocurek to Retire in June 2010

2010-05-11T11:04:00.000-07:00

Dr. Michael Kocurek, Professor of Paper Science & Engineering in the Department of Forest Biomaterials, has announced that he will retire in June of this year, after 40 years of undergraduate and graduate teaching in the area of pulp and paper.

Mike is one of the world's most recognized educators in pulp and paper. In addition to teaching and mentoring hundreds of students at the undergraduate and graduate level, he has taught over 5,000 industry operators and professionals at over 65 paper, government, and other companies or organizations. He has taught the well-recognized TAPPI Introduction to Pulp & Paper short course since 1974. He is the editor of 11 books, including the esteemed Pulp and Paper Manufacture series covering the entire field of pulp and paper. He has also authored or co-authored 25 video publications.

Dr. Kocurek receive his BS, MS, and PhD. degrees in Paper Science & Engineering from the SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry, at Syracuse University. He has served as both Professor and Department Head at the University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point (an academic program he founded) and at NC State. He has also served as Executive Director of the Herty Foundation, overseeing a $27 million modernization.

His honors include: TAPPI Fellow; TAPPI Distinguished Service Award; and the Paper Industry International Hall of Fame.

From your students and colleagues: Dr. Kocurek....Mike.....your contributions to this program will be long remembered. Thanks for your service -- you will be greatly missed!

Dr. Marty Hubbe Named as TAPPI Fellow

2010-05-11T10:50:00.000-07:00

Martin A. Hubbe, Ph.D., has been designated as one of nine TAPPI Fellows for 2010. He currently serves as Professor in the Department of Forest Biomaterials at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, N.C., USA. "Fellow" is an honorary title bestowed upon less than one percent of TAPPI's membership. It is given to individuals who have made extraordinary technical or service contributions to the industry and/or the Association.

Dr. Hubbe teaches PSE 322 (Wet End and Colloid Chemistry) at the undergraduate level, as well as several graduate-level classes. He serves as the Buckman Distinguished Scientist in Wet End Chemistry, and he has a very active research program in this area. He is the co-editor of BioResources, an on-line journal.

MORE Students Win TAPPI Scholarships!

2010-05-11T10:39:00.000-07:00

PSE students continue to represent their program well in the competition for national TAPPI scholarships. Recent awards include:

Richard Pridgen -- Corrugated Packaging Division
Jonathan Roesch -- Engineering Division
Michael Woolford -- Process and Product Quality

WPS Department Changes Its Name

2010-05-11T10:25:00.000-07:00

Effective in early 2010, the Department of Wood & Paper Science changed its name to the Department of Forest Biomaterials. This decision was based on a desire to more accurately describe the wide scope of education, research, and extension activities being done by the department -- not just in the traditional areas of paper and wood products, but also in the rapidly-growing area of biomaterials and bioenergy from woody and non-woody biomass.

It should be noted that the names of the two undergraduate programs in the department (Paper Science & Engineering, and Wood Products) will not be affected by this name change. Correspondingly, the prime focus of both programs will continue to be the training of outstanding new engineers and technologists to support industries in the forest products arena.

"We are excited about the opportunities to continue to serve the needs of our core industrial partners, while expanding our research opportunities," said Dr. Steve Kelley, the head of the department. "We believe that the new name will allow us to attract more students into the undergraduate degree programs, but also allow us to leverage our traditional engineering and science skills into new and exciting areas of interest to our graduate students."

27 New Freshmen Slated for PSE in Fall 2010

2010-05-11T08:34:00.000-07:00

A vigorous recruiting campaign in 2009 and early 2010 has yielded great results -- we are expecting 27 new freshmen to join the PSE in the fall of 2010. Last year, at this time, we had only 12 new students lined up -- hopefully, that low figure was only a temporary blip.

For the 27 new recruits, 22 are recipients of Foundation scholarships. The statistics for these students are interesting:

Three originally applied to PSE (five scholarship offers were made)
Five originally applied to Engineering Undeclared (16 offers were made)
14 originally applied to Chemical Engineering (18 offers were made)

Recruiting is a team effort...and we have lots of people to thank, including:

> Those of you that spoke of our program to a prospective student or parent of a student
> The Pulp and Paper Foundation
> The Foundation Scholarship and Recruitment Committee
> Industry reps who organize and host regional recruiting events
> Carrie Hawes
> Pat Hill
> PSE Faculty and staff

PSE Hosts Pulp & Paper Merit Badge Day

2010-05-11T07:26:00.000-07:00

The PSE program is committed to public service, in the local community and beyond. Part of this commitment is support of the Boy Scouts of America by hosting on-site activities that lead to the Pulp & Paper Merit Badge.

This year, as part of a large merit badge day on the NCSU campus (over 300 Scouts participating), the PSE program hosted 25 young men and their scoutmasters. After an introductory video about the overall pulp and paper process, the scouts did two hands-on activities: flotation deinking and papermaking in the laboratory (shown above), and an interactive tour of a real, pilot-scale paper machine in operation (the "Wolfpack Baby").

Hopefully, some of these scouts will take an interest in the industry and choose the PSE program as their college destination!

PSE Students Do "Neat Stuff"

2010-05-11T06:49:00.001-07:00

One big reason for the success of the PSE program and its graduates is that students are permitted to participate in exciting, unique, and meaningful "hands-on" experiences throughout their academic career. Here are a few examples from the past year:

> Sophomores in PSE 371 (Pulping Process Analysis) conduct laboratory experiments in which they convert simple sugars, biomass, and wastepaper into ethanol. This exercise helps them understand the potetial importance of biofuels and biomaterials to the pulp and paper industry -- and to the world. This year, for Earth Day, students did a demonstration of the "Wastepaper to Ethanol" project and garnered a lot of attention from the general student population. The photo above shows seniors Nick King and Brandon Jones at the display. To see a funny video of this demonstration, go to http://www4.ncsu.edu/~medbyrd/WastepaperIntoEthanol1.wmv .

> Seniors in PSE 472 (Paper Process Analysis) traditionally make a variety of paper grades on the NCSU pilot paper machine, affectionately known as "The Wolfpack Baby." This year, they did a very special run to make wedding invitation paper for classmate Jordan Jernigan's upcoming wedding. The quality of the paper was "pretty darned good," according to the Professor in charge, Dr. John Heitmann.

> Freshmen in PSE 201 (Introduction to Pulp & Paper Technology) were challenged by Professor Med Byrd to produce a work of visual or performance art that conveyed a key concept of science, engineering, or pulp paper technology. The results included: The Paper Tree of Life (shown above left), a 7-foot high tree made of solid wood at the base and ending up with various paper products as the leaves; A model of the fourdrinier paper machine made up of (mostly) paper products; "Refining Beast Man," a 3/4-scale figure (shown above right), made of paper mache, meant to represent the brutal force imparted to fibers during disk refining; and a video with students doing "interpretive dance" to show the different physical processes occurring during paper formation, pressing, and drying.

> To address the need for inexpensive housing for victims of natural and other disasters, Seniors in PSE 465 (Paper Physics and Product Design) were asked by Professor Joel Pawlak to design a portable and disposable/recyclable/compostable shelter out of paper or paperboard. This story was picked up by the local newspaper -- click on the link below.

http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/04/30/460316/a-better-shelter.html?storylink=misearch

Recruiting Video Features NCSU Students and Prof

2010-05-11T06:29:00.001-07:00

To facilitate the recruiting of talented students into the pulp and paper industry, TAPPI has produced a clever, high-energy video featuring students and faculty/staff from paper schools across the country. Students and one professor from NCSU are included in this video.

The title of the video is "Five Reasons You Should Be A Paper Engineer." It covers good job availability, the variety of jobs and careers possible, the importance of paper in people's lives, and the sustainable nature of the papermaking process.

Alumni and friends are encouraged to use the video and other materials on the TAPPI website to help attract fresh talent to the PSE program and into the industry.

Download the Video - Flash

See more recruiting materials - TAPPI Career Center

Voith Fabrics Hosts Students

2010-05-11T06:22:00.000-07:00

In March, Voith Fabrics in Wilson, NC hosted a large group of PSE students at its manufacturing site in Wilson, NC. Students spent the morning touring the manufacturing facility and learning about paper machine clothing. The event was finished up with lunch.

Field/site visits like this are a valuable part of the education process for pulp and paper students. If your company would like to sponsor such a visit, please contact med_byrd@ncsu.edu.

PSE Students Attend 2010 Student Summit

2010-05-11T06:10:00.000-07:00

In January 2010, 17 students from the PSE program attending the annual TAPPI PIMA Student Summit in Charleston, SC. Students from pulp and paper programs across the country came together at this event to participate in industry awareness, professional development, and engineering challenge activities. One of the highlights of this year's summit was a formal "etiquette dinner," which instructed participants how to dine and behave appropriately in a formal dining setting.

Two NCSU students (Nick King and Katie Payne) were awarded Deborah McNutt scholarships to help cover travel expenses.

Welcome to Your PSE Update

2009-11-04T17:50:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-04T17:13:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-04T16:46:00.000-08:00

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!

2009-11-04T16:35:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-04T16:27:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-04T15:46:00.000-08:00

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"

2009-11-04T15:32:00.001-08:00

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!

New International Degree in Paper Science Announced

2009-11-04T15:17:00.000-08:00

A new study abroad/exchange program will permit students from the NC State Paper Science & Engineering program to take pulp and paper courses in Europe for their junior year, finish their senior year back at NC State, and then receive two bachelor's degrees at graduation -- one from NC State and one from a European institution.

This new program, known as the Transatlantic Paper Science program (TAPS), was made possible by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, through the Fund for Improvement of Post-Secondary Education (FIPSE). Two U.S. schools, NC State and the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point, have partnered with two Finnish schools (Jyvaskyla University of Applied Sciences and Tampere University of Applied Sciences) and one German school (University of Munich Applied Sciences). Under the agreement, the schools will trade equal numbers of students over a three-year period, grant course equivalency for courses taken abroad, and award the visiting students a degree in paper science.

The grant includes generous scholarship support for participating students, making it very cost effective.

In addition to the considerable cultural benefits from such an exchange, NC State students will get an impressive level of depth in areas like coating, printing, and converting.

The first students from NC State will travel abroad starting in Fall 2010. Student interest on both ends is quite high! This blog will be used to provide updates on the students as they embark on this incredible adventure.

Freshman Retreat A Success

2009-11-04T15:10:00.000-08:00

The sixth annual PSE Freshman Retreat was held on Friday and Saturday, September 18-19. Twelve new freshmen were treated to dinner and professional development activities on Friday evening. Materials included techniques for resume writing and interviews, as well as an introduction to the kraft pulping process.

On Saturday, the group traveled to the Domtar mill in Plymouth, NC for tours of the woodyard, pulp mill, bleach plant, and the paper machines.

This event has become an important part of bonding students to the program and industry. Many thanks to Steve Lawson and Domtar mill management for their kindness in hosting our students on a Saturday.

Welcome to Your Mid-Year Blog Update!

2009-06-24T07:33:00.000-07:00

Here's hoping that this update finds all of you well. The 11 posts below, dated June 18-23, will let you know of the many great things going on in your PSE program at NC State. (You will have to hit the "older posts" button at the bottom to see the last few posts).

If you have comments, please send them to Med Byrd at med_byrd@ncsu.edu. If you have alumni updates (job, location, family status, etc.) you want to share, send them to the same address.

Challenging Times -- But PSE is Still Doing Great Things

2009-06-23T14:15:00.001-07:00

Followers of NC State have seen a lot of "gloom and doom" news coming out lately. Eroded budgets, diminished scholarship endowments, unexpected changes in leadership. Where does it end?

It is important for the friends and alumni of the NC State Paper Science & Engineering program to know that, while we are faced with significant challenges these days, there are still a LOT of good things going on in the PSE program. As you will see from the blog entries below...

We are STILL attracting outstanding freshmen into PSE

We are STILL supporting students with Foundation scholarships

We are STILL successfully placing students into summer internships, semester co-ops, and entry-level permanent positions in the paper industry

Our students CONTINUE to amaze us with their aptitude, as well as their commitment to scholarship, service to others, and professional development

Our students and our faculty CONTINUE to work to support the paper industry on many different fronts

We continue to need the strong support of our alumni, our friends, and our corporate partners -- now more than ever. But you can rest assured that we are proudly maintaining our 55-year tradition of strength, reliability, and quality!

Black Liquor Analysis Important for Industry

2009-06-23T12:22:00.000-07:00

Black liquor has always been important to the paper industry, but recent events involving tax credits have caused many companies to want to understand it better. As a result, Dr. Hasan Jameel and graduate student Trevor Treasure have been studying the volume contribution of inorganics in black liquor. They measure the theoretical and actual specific volume of different solutions containing varous inorganic chemicals found in black liquor. The resulting information is being used by a number of paper companies to determine how it might affect the black liquor tax credit.

If you need information on black liquor inorganics, contact Dr. Jameel at hasan_jameel@ncsu.edu

Students Shelly Johnson and Trevor Treasure analyze

a liquor sample submitted by a mill

Weyerhaeuser Donation Honors Students, Interns

2009-06-23T12:03:00.000-07:00

The Weyerhaeuser Company Foundation made a generous contribution to the Pulp & Paper Foundation in the Fall of 2008. The donation was made at the request of the mill in New Bern, North Carolina to provide scholarship support to students enrolled in the PSE program at NC State. It recognizes the quality and caliber of PSE students in general and especially the interns that have worked at the New Bern mill. Mill representatives presented a check to a group of PSE students at a sponsored luncheon on campus.

According to John Ashley, VP/Mill Manager at New Bern, "In our opinion, NC State has an excellent program for Pulp & Paper Science and Engineering. We participate with their summer intern program and have partnered with them on various other projects. We are proud to be able to present this Weyerhaeuser Company Foundation contribution to provide scholarship support."

Students Study Paper Science Abroad

2009-06-23T07:32:00.000-07:00

An increasing number of college students are expressing interest in having some type of study experience in another country. NC State PSE students are no exception. In recent years, we have worked with foreign universities to establish programs that help our students study abroad in a simple, cost-effective way.

One program that is up and running successfully is a student exchange program with the Technical University of Helsinki (TKK) in Finland. NC State and TKK have reviewed each other's paper-related courses, and they have agreed to accept certain courses as equivalent between the two institutions. With this arrangement, students can study abroad without getting seriously behind in their progress toward graduation. The courses at TKK are taught in English, so there is no language barrier. Under the reflexive study abroad agreement, students pay tuition at their home institution while studying at the foreign institution. Scholarships are available to help students pay for travel and accommodation costs.

The first student from TKK came to NC State in Fall 2008, followed by another in Spring 2009. Doug Mehlenbacher (photo left), a junior in the PSE program, was the first student to study at TKK in Spring 2009. Despite having to adjust to the different climate (cold and dark!) and the different approach to academics (no homework or tests...only a final exam), Doug was able to make new friends and experience a very different culture. He reports, "You think you've lived the college life, done some parties, stayed up late? Go to Finland. There's nothing like an intense "social gathering" followed by a hot sauna and a fresh dip in a frozen lake. Try doing that with a company rep coming in for interviews!"

An exciting new program that is being finalized is TAPS (Trans-Atlantic Paper Science Degree). This exciting proposal establishes a dual degree program between two US paper schools (NC State and Stevens Point) and three European paper schools (Tampere and Jyvaskyla in Finland, Munich in Germany). In the proposed arrangement, students would spend on year abroad, studying for one semester at each of two of the participating schools. Extensive course equivalencies established between the schools would then do something unprecedented -- it would allow the student to receive B.S. degrees from both their home university and from one of the foreign universities!

A generous grant from the US Department of Education has made the setup of the program possible, as well as providing scholarships that make a year abroad much more affordable for students.

It is hoped that the first students will be exchanged in TAPS in Fall 2010.

The "Kraft Mill Energy Challenge" -- Students Working With Local Mills

2009-06-22T07:57:00.002-07:00

Seniors in Paper Science & Engineering are traditionally required to complete a senior design project just prior to graduation. For 2009, in an effort to increase senior engagement with the industry, the 2009 Kraft Mill Energy Challenge project was initiated.

Four mills in North Carolina volunteered to participate in the pilot trial of this new program. Seniors were put into teams, and each team was assigned to a participating mill. The goals of the program were straightforward and ambitious: Analyze the current energy situation for the mill and propose a suite of projects that results in an annual savings of 20 % in purchased fuel and electricity. Half of the savings were required to be from projects with a payback period of two years or less.

In the Fall 2008 semester, the teams were required to travel to their mills, meet with a project coordinator, and begin the process of modeling the mill from an energy consumption standpoint. Students used GEMS modeling software to develop a base case model for the mills. At the end of the semester, students submitted a professional-quality project proposal describing their modeling efforts and outlining their preliminary approach to meet the energy savings targets.

In the Spring 2009 semester, the teams began analyzing individual projects in earnest. At the end of the semester, the teams made a formal presentation to the PSE faculty, with mill contacts having the opportunity to listen in and ask questions via a net link. Each team submitted a formal final report with their recommendations.

Both student and mill feedback was positive about this experience. Students were gratified to work on projects that had a connection to the"real world." The mill contacts, in general, were pleased to have another set of eyes looking at their energy situation. In several cases, students were able to come up with energy-saving measures that the mills had not considered in the past.

Based on the success of the program, it will be repeated in the 2009-2010 academic year as the 2010 Mill Water Challenge. In this iteration, student teams will be working with all types of mills to come up with projects that result in a significant reduction in fresh water consumption. IF YOUR MILL IS WITHIN A 4-HOUR DRIVING DISTANCE OF NC STATE, AND YOU ARE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN THIS PROGRAM, PLEASE E-MAIL MED BYRD AT med_byrd@ncsu.edu.

Summer, Co-Op Placement Still OK

2009-06-19T07:30:00.001-07:00

It is well known that, in tough economic times, the first thing that companies cut are summer internships and semester co-op positions. These jobs are frequently seen as elective or "nice to do" activities that are not core to company profitability. The lack of these opportunities leaves students with few options for getting professional experience.

Well, times don't get much tougher than they are right now. And yet, due to the strong traditional relationship between the PSE program at NC State and the paper industry, and because of the outstanding reputation of PSE students, we are pleased to report that internship and co-op placement is still OK.

This summer, 28 PSE students are engaged in summer internships with pulp and paper manufacturers and allied suppliers. While this number is significantly lower than the 55-70 students employed in a normal summer, it is much better than was projected for such a difficult year. Seven students are currently scheduled to be on a co-op in the industry for the upcoming fall semester.

If you represent a company that continues to employ NC State PSE students, despite the current economic circumstances -- please accept our deepest thanks.

Rising PSE juniors Dasha Karelov and Doug Kaminskas are working at the Rayonier mill in Fernandina Beach, Florida for the summer

PSE Students, Faculty Take Service/Charity to Heart

2009-06-19T07:04:00.000-07:00

Most students attending the university these days learn about the importance of service to others as part of being a well-rounded individual. However, being taught this is one thing -- actually doing it is another. In the case of the students and faculty of the PSE program, actions follow the words!

In the past year, seven PSE undergrads were involved in the Alternative Spring Break (ASB) or other service programs. Instead of spending their spring break partying or going to the beach, students on ASB travel to a remote site with infrastructure or other needs and work hard to help others.

Other PSE students participated in Service Raleigh, a large-scale coordinated volunteer effort focused in the community surrounding NC State.

Members of the NCSU student TAPPI chapter participated in Paper Express, in which they go to elementary and middle schools and show students how to make paper.

Students, staff and faculty were actively involved in two large charity events this year. Three faculty, one staff person, and at least seven PSE undergrads participated in the Krispy Kreme Challenge. In this now-famous event, participants must race two miles, eat a dozen doughnuts, then race two miles back -- all in less than an hour. 5500 people participated this year, raising $35,000 for the NC Children's Hospital. (Yes...the faculty managed to keep the doughnuts down...)

Recently, a team of students, faculty, and staff from the College of Natural Resources (manty from the PSE program) participated in the 12th Annual Triangle Race for the Cure. This event attracted over 20,000 runners and raised almost $2 million for breast cancer research.

The "Pink Pack" team from the College of Natural Resources gets ready for the 2009 Race for the Cure

PSE student Genevieve Pike on 2009 Alternative Spring Break in El Salvador

13 New Graduates in May -- Placement Almost 100 % for Year

2009-06-19T06:19:00.000-07:00

In May, 13 new graduates marched across the stage and on to their careers. Of these 13:

- 11 also received a degree in Chemical Engineering

- 5 graduated summa cum laude (grade point average > 3.75)

- 5 graduated cum laude (grade point average 3.25 - 33.499)

- 3 will be working for pulp and paper manufacturers

- 5 will be working in other industries or for the government

- 1 is going to medical school

- 4 are going to grad school or finishing another degree

The high placement rate overall, in a year with a dismal economic climate, was a testament to the strength and reputation of the PSE degree, as well as the enormous flexibility afforded students by the second degree in Chemical Engineering. In general, most of the students actively seeking jobs in the paper industry received one or more offers. In two cases, job offers in the industry were withdrawn due to economic severity -- both students were able to use their education, professional development, and other strengths to land jobs in other industries.

The higher-than-normal proportion of students going to grad school is not due to the fact that they could not find jobs -- most had one or more offers. These students truly wanted to further their education in engineering and other areas.

For the academic year, the PSE program graduated 20 students.

PIE Takes Students to Chile

2009-06-18T12:06:00.003-07:00

PSE Students at the Peak of Eagle Rock

Nahuelbuta National Park, Chile

From May 11-22, 11 students and three faculty from PSE traveled to Chile as part of the second iteration of the Paper International Experience (PIE) program. In 2007, PIE sent 22 students to China for 10 days.

The goal of PIE is straightforward -- to increase the global awareness of PSE students by exposing them to the culture and the paper industry of another country. It is hoped that more globally-aware students can help the US industry compete more effectively in the global market.

The trip, based in Concepcion, was a smashing success. Students were able to tour an amazing array of different technical venues, including:
> The University of Concepcion (Biotechnology Center and Forestry)
> The UDT Technology Center (biofuels and biomaterials development)
> Norske Skog, Bio-Bio (pressurized groundwood newsprint mill)
> Celulosa Arauco, Nueva Aldea (modern sawmill and enormous market kraft pulp mill)
> INFORSA, Nacimiento (modern TMP newsprint operation)
> CMPC, Sante Fe (one of the world's newest and largest kraft market pulp mills)

Equally important, the students received good exposure to Chilean culture. They met and interacted with faculty and students from the University of Concepcion. They were able to do extensive exploring, dining and shopping in Concepcion. They visited a Chilean boutique winery. They experienced an amazing hiking visit to the Nahuelbuta National Forest. They went deep down into a coal mine!

What was true for the first trip is 2007 was also true for this one -- the students were able to participate at a very attractive price because of funds raised to subsidize costs. What made this trip even more special was that friends and supporters of the PSE program believed enough in the PIE experience that they still donated funds -- even in the middle of a disastrous economic climate. We are proud that all funds raised for this trip came from individuals and from past company sponsors -- no Foundation funds were used, and no general appeal was issued to the Foundation membership, alumni, or friends.

Our earnest thanks go out to the companies and individuals who supported this worthwhile cause. A formal report is being issued that recognizes all supporters -- it will be available in PDF form in the blog update next quarter.

There is little doubt that the student participants in PIE 2009 will never be the same. It is our hope that they are now poised to be better global citizens and to help the US industry keep a competitive edge.

In front of the enormous CMPC Mill at Sante Fe

If you'd like to follow the activities of the students via Dr. Byrd's trip blog, go to

pie-chile-2009.blogspot.com

If you'd like to look at some hilarious mini-movies for each day of the trip, click on each link below:

PSE Has New Faculty Member...and New Course!

2009-06-18T11:16:00.000-07:00

The Paper Science & Engineering welcomed a new faculty member in January of this year. Dr. Sunkyu Park joined the faculty as an Assistant Professor, with a research focus on biofuels science and technology.

A native of Raleigh, Sunkyu received his undergraduate education at Seoul National University in South Korea. He received his Ph.D. from NC State in 2006. Afterwards, he had post-doctoral experiences at the University of Tennessee and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado.

Sunkyu is married and has two children.

Beginning in Fall 2009, Dr. Park will be the instructor for a new core course in the PSE curriculum. PSE 425, Bioenergy & Biomaterials Engineering, is a 3-credit course taught at the senior level. The goals for this course include increasing student understanding of biomass and renewable resources and how they can be converted into energy, fuels, and materials. The course will focus on basic principles, engineering operations, and economics. It is hoped that this new course will enhance student strength and marketability in an area that is growing in importance, both within the paper industry and beyond.

Faculty Visting Mills This Summer

2009-06-18T11:02:00.001-07:00

In a re-establishment of an old tradition, Med Byrd and Hasan Jameel will be hitting the road each summer, to visit with friends and alumni at various mills in our recruiting area. Their goal is to meet alumni and friends of the PSE program at each site and get a feel for the technical and recruiting/staffing needs.

For Summer 2009, the plan is to visit mills in the southeastern region (South Carolina, Georgia, Florida. If you are interested in being visited, e-mail Med at med_byrd@ncsu.edu.

Welcome to Our 2nd Blog Installation

2008-12-02T09:13:00.003-08:00

The posts below, dated November 18 through December 2, represent the second installation of our PSE Program Update blog. We hope that this blog helps you feel connected to your PSE program at NC State!

Be sure to click on the "Older Posts" link at the bottom to see the earlier posts for this installation, as well to see archived posts from our first installation in May.

As always, your feedback and comments are welcome (med_byrd@ncsu.edu).

54th Annual Foundation Meeting Report

2008-12-02T08:04:00.000-08:00

On Thursday and Friday, October 23 and 24, the 54th Annual Meeting of the Pulp & Paper Foundation was held at the Embassy Suites in Cary, NC. It was one of the most successful annual meetings held in recent years, with 68 industry attendees, PSE faculty and staff, graduate students, and 110 PSE students (almost 95 % of the student body!).

On Thursday morning, the Foundation Board met, as did various committees. The house was packed Thursday afternoon for presentations from from Omnova Solutions, NewPage, and Koch Industries/Georgia Pacific. The speakers focused on strategic issues facing the paper industry. The presentations were followed by a panel of mill managers, who answered questions solicited earlier from PSE students.

A packed house for Thursday
afternoon's sessions

Over 110 students attended the afternoon sessions and the banquet!

Thursday night, a celebration banquet was held. Med Byrd served as the emcee, and a variety of traditions were observed, including Meet the Seniors, recognition of donors, and recognition of scholarship recipients. Four new endowments were announced: the Class of 2007 Endowed Scholarship; an undergraduate scholarship from the PSE faculty; an undergraduate scholarship from Jim Bowen; and an endowed professorship from Woody Rice.

Emcee Med Byrd presents an
appreciation gift to Gus
Cottros,who has volunteered
his time to assist with
Foundation activities

Plaques for four new
endowments

The final Friday morning session featured committee reports, followed by updates from Steve Kelley about the state of the undergraduate program. Three students spoke briefly about their unique undergraduate experiences, based on the theme "A Flexible Education." Mikko Koskinen, the first exchange student at NC State for a joint program with the Technical University of Helsinki (TKK), talked about his experiences and about the differences between the Finnish and American university systems. Trevor Treasure, a PSE senior, talked about his undergraduate research work, using GEMS and other modeling software to evaluate options for ethanol production from woody biomass. PSE junior Richard Pridgen spoke about his ground-breaking summer internship with Gold East Paper in Zhenjiang, China.

PSE junior Richard Pridgen
talks about his summer
internship in China

Alumni, friends, and industry personnel are strongly encouraged to attend next year's annual meeting (dates yet to be announced) -- you will leave this event feeling optimistic about the PSE program, about NC State, and about the future of our industry!

3rd Annual Golf Tournament a Success

2008-11-21T06:00:00.000-08:00

On Wednesday, October 22, the Pulp & Paper Foundation hosted the 3rd Annual Foundation Golf Tournament at the Crooked Creek Golf Club. 14 teams competed, with a total of 56 individuals participating. Players included alumni, Foundation members, program supporters, and PSE students, faculty and staff. It was a beautiful autumn day, spirits were high, and the level of fellowship was outstanding.

The original concept for the golf tournament was that it would serve not only as a good social event associated with the annual meeting of the Foundation, but that it would also help to raise valuable funds for scholarships and PSE student activities. This year's event raised over $12,000. Most of the funds will go into the scholarship fund; some will go to the student TAPPI chapter, and some will be used to support the upcoming Paper International Experience trip to Chile.

The check-in table, left-to-right: Ruth Graves (event coordinator
for the students), Carrie Hanayik (PSE recruiter), and Genevieve Pike
(TAPPI student chapter volunteer)

If you were not able to attend this year's event (or even if you did!), click on the two links below to see two fairly-amusing video clips (if they don't come up as active links, just cut and past them into your browser address bar). We hope to see you next year!

www4.ncsu.edu/~medbyrd/Golf Registration.mov

www4.ncsu.edu/~medbyrd/Hole 14.mov

The winning team (8 under), sponsored by Paperchine. Left to right: Bob Harley (Paperchine), Marty McDonald (ABB), Carter Smith (PSE Student), Wes Johnson (NCSU Staff)

Renovations Made Possible by Donations

2008-11-20T13:15:00.000-08:00

The generosity of two alumni/friends of the PSE program has made possible the renovation of two critical student areas.

Student Study Room

Mary Ashcraft, wife of Foundation Director David Ashcraft, donated funding for the renovation of the Student Study Room (the so-called "TAPPI lounge"). This room is used heavily by the students for individual and group study, as well as group meetings and social activities. The room's lace facelift was many years ago, and the carpet and furniture were showing signs of wear and tear.

The donation permitted the following changes:
> Leveling of floors
> Installation of three windows on the inside wall, to promote a better sense of openness
> New carpet
> New paint
> New, modern furniture that accommodates individual, small group, and large group study
> Storage closets for TAPPI materials and program shirts
> Three PC work stations and printer
> 40-inch plasma panel for displaying student work from PC's or laptops
> New large white board

The change was stark! The photos below show the room before and after. Student feedback has been very positive.

Many thanks to Mary for this strong show of support for our students and our program.

Main Classroom

Classroom 2221 is the "main" teaching classroom used by PSE. It was installed when the new (west) wing addition was completed in 1991, and it has seen heavy use since then (it is used almost continuous by PSE and by other programs in the College of Natural Resources).

According to David Ashcraft, one of the program's alumni (who has asked to remain anonymous) was touring the building, came upon the classroom, and was unhappy with the old-style fixed seating, worn carpet, and clunky audio-visual capabilities. He offered to make a sizable donation to "spruce the place up a bit."

The resulting re-design called for the following changes:
> Reducing maximum seats from 70 to 50
> Removing fixed seating and installing movable chairs and tables, to permit breakout groups
> New, modern carpet
> Single-cabinet A/V system with touch-screen selection of sources

Unfortunately, work of that scope can only be done during summer months (when no classes meet in that room), and the timeline did not permit this "full" renovation to be done in Summer 2008. So, NCSU approved a smaller-scoped intermediate renovation for the short term -- and the full renovation will be completed in Summer 2009.

The result of the intermediate renovation (which uses movable chairs with sidearm tablets) can be seen in the before and after photos below. The room is now much more modern and flexible, and it lends itself much better to modern teaching methods. Feedback from students, visitors, and other users of the room has been positive.

The PSE program owes our anonymous alumnus donor a great deal of thanks. This donation will have lasting impacts on the program for many years to come.

2009 P.I.E. Will Take PSE Students to Chile

2008-11-19T08:14:00.000-08:00

Paper Science & Engineering students are asking for the support of friends, companies, and alumni to help with the 2009 Paper International Experience (P.I.E.).

The Paper International Experience program was launched in 2007 with two main goals: 1) Immerse PSE students in another culture, to improve their understanding of the world, and 2) To let PSE students observe the pulp and paper industry in other countries and think about ways that the US industry can compete better in the global market. P.I.E. is designed to be conducted every two years, with students participating as either juniors or seniors. The students are asked to provide support funding for the program by making an appeal to industry, supporters, alumni, and friends.

In the first iteration of P.I.E. in May 2007, 21 students traveled to China and had the chance to tour five state-of-the-art paper manufacturing operations, as well as interact with paper engineering students at the Nanjing Forestry University. This trip was, by all accounts, a great success.

For the 2009 trip, the student body has voted to go to Chile. This choice was a logical one, considering that A) The PSE faculty has established good contacts with the University of Concepcion; B) Friends and alumni of the program have good connections with the pulp and paper industry in Chile; and C) there are opportunities to see not only modern papermaking facilities, but also chemical pulping, mechanical pulping, recycling, and fast-growth forest plantations.

The trip, scheduled for the third week of May, will take the students to Santiago and Valparaiso for a few days of cultural immersion, followed by interactions with students at the University of Concepcion. The students will then go on 5-6 days of intensive mills visits in the vicinity around Concepcion.

The total costs per student for the trip, including air travel, are estimated at $3000. It is hoped that students will be able to participate by paying only $1000. Thus, if 25-30 students go on the trip, it will be necessary for them to raise funds in the amount of $50,000 - 60,000. As they did in 2007, the P.I.E. student organizing committee will be approaching individuals, companies, friends and alumni for assistance in raising funds.

A copy of the program brochure may be found at this link

www4.ncsu.edu/~medbyrd/PIE Chile 2009 Brochure.pdf

Students are encouraging individuals to come along on the trip as sponsor/participants. (Take it from Dr. Byrd....10 days traveling with these excitable and outstanding students will change your life FOREVER!).

All donations for P.I.E. 2009 are tax-deductible. Donating companies can sponsor 1/4- to full-page ads in the professionally-produced final report. A copy of the outstanding 2007 report may be found at the link below.

www4.ncsu.edu/~medbyrd/PIE Final Report 2007.pdf

New $1 Million USDA Grant for Forest-Based Bioethanol

2008-11-19T06:38:00.000-08:00

(from NCSU News Services)

Dr. Vincent Chiang and Dr. Hasan Jameel, both professors in the Department of Wood & Paper Science, were recently announced as principal investigators for a an exciting new research project funded by the USDA Rural Development Grant program.

The new three-year grant, worth almost $1 million, will allow NC State to test the efficacy of growing genetically-modified trees across North Carolina and using them to produce ethanol inexpensively.

The special trees, developed by Dr. Chiang, grow faster, have more cellulose, and have to 50 per cent less lignin than normal trees.

NC Senator Elizabeth Dole personally delivered the grant check, in a ceremony attended by Chancellor Oblinger in August. The photo below shows students in the PSE program with Senator Dole, along with Dean Robert Brown and the Chancellor.

Got Equipment We Can Use?

2008-11-19T06:31:00.000-08:00

A large part of the success of the PSE program is based on the extensive hands-on laboratory activities. The labs, in turn, are successful because of the wide array of lab- and pilot-scale equipment. Most of this equipment is present because of the kindness and generosity of the industry.

If your company is closing research, testing, production, or other assets, and it is considering donation of some of the equipment made redundant, please keep NC State in mind. Contact Med at med_byrd@ncsu.edu to see if we can make good use of some of the items. Donations are tax deductible.

Currently, we are seeking equipment to beef up our coating laboratory, including the following: automated draw-down machine; small high-shear dispersion mixer; benchtop/lab coater (we have a CLC). We are also seeking a small (10-30 liter) rotating digester.

Thanks for keeping your PSE program in mind.

Alumni Updates

2008-11-19T06:13:00.000-08:00

Send your updates to med_byrd@ncsu.edu. If you sent one in previously, but it is not shown below, sorry -- I am still working bugs out of the system..send it again!

Brian Jones (B.S. PPT 2000) is currently Reforming Process Supervisor at the
ExxonMobil Refinery in Beaumont, Texas. His wife, Jamie (Bushnell) Jones
(B.S. PSE 2004), is the Business Analyst at the ExxonMobil Beaumont Chemical
Plant. They welcomed a baby girl, Avery, to their family in December 2007!

David Abrecht (B.S. PSE/CHE 2007) is a graduate student in the chemical engineering Ph.D. program at Caltech.  He is the newest member of the Giapis research group, which specializes in plasma-based materials processing, ionic interactions with surfaces, and nanoscale materials manufacture and characterization.

Ray Uptegrove (B.S. PPT 1963) retired at the end of 2003, after 40.5 years with MeadWestvaco in Charleston, S.C.

Stephen Bidwell (B.S. PPT 1993) just completed a school year teaching Algebra I and Pre-Algebra to 7th graders at Kelly Mill Middle School. Elise Todd (B.S. PPT 1993), now Elise Bidwell, is a Financial Advisor for Edward Jones. They live in Columbia, SC and have two boys.

Jeff Reese (B.S. PPT/CHE 1985) is an Engineering Fellow for International Paper in Loveland, OH, focusing on reducing paper machine energy consumption. He is married and has three children aged 5, 10, and 15.

Gene Foster (B.S. PPT 1997) is the West Region Service Operations Process Leader for Honeywell Building Solutions. He lives in Smithfield, NC with his wife and son Graham.

Jason Harman (B.S. PSE 2007) is Technical Sales Representative for Hercules Inc. and lives in Wilmington, NC.

Kevin Lowe (B.S. PPT 2003) is now the Superintendent on the #1 Paper Machine at the International Paper mill in Georgetown, SC.

Eliot Malak (B.S. PPT/CHE 1996) is now the Superintendent on the #1 and #2 Paper Machines at the International Paper mill in Georgetown, SC.

Another Strong Year for Jobs

2008-11-18T07:56:00.000-08:00

Despite the recent economic downturn, we have just completed another successful recruiting season for Paper Science & Engineering. This fall, 26 companies conducted interviews on our site, with another 12 or so making external requests for resumes. The companies included paper and board manufacturers, converters, and suppliers (chemicals and equipment). 224 student interviews were conducted on site. Offers for permanent hires, summer interns, and semester co-ops were abundant. Starting salaries and signing bonuses continued to rise. It's a good time to be graduating from our program!

Pat Hill, our Student Services Assistant in charge of job placement, says its not too late to come by and interview PSE students for all types of jobs -- good candidates are still available! Companies are encouraged to conduct interviews well into the Spring 2009 semester. E-mail Pat (pat_hill@ncsu.edu) for information on doing on-site or remote recruiting.

Economic Downturn Affects PSE Scholarships -- Your Help is Needed!

2008-11-18T07:05:00.000-08:00

Scholarships awarded by the Pulp & Paper Foundation are funded in part by a market-based investment pool. With the recent sharp downturn in the yield of the market, the funds available for new freshman scholarships have decreased. For Fall 2009, the in-state award amount will be reduced for incoming freshmen, and the number of in-state and out-of-state awards will have to be decreased.

Scholarships play a critical role in attracting outstanding students into an applied program like Paper Science & Engineering. Now, more than ever, the program needs the strong support of alumni, friends, and companies if we are to continue our tradition of producing high-quality graduates for the industry.

During this difficult time, you can have a significant and positive impact on our success by considering the following:

> Making a personal donation to the Foundation -- Donations from individuals can be ear-marked 100 % for the scholarship fund, and they are tax-deductible. Did you know -- if only 30 % of our alumni donated $100 each year, we could offer 10 additional in-state awards or three more full-ride out-of-state awards? If you are interested in making an individual contribution, e-mail Med Byrd (med_byrd@ncsu.edu) or David Ashcraft (david_ashcraft@ncsu.edu).

> Getting your graduating class to endow an award -- Your graduating class can have a lasting effect on our program by endowing an award that will yield one new scholarship each year. If you can "round up" 10 classmates who will agree to give $500 each year for five years, you can have an award named after you. If you are interested in pursuing this option, and for help in contacting your classmates, e-mail David Ashcraft (david_ashcraft@ncsu.edu).

> Encouraging your company to join the Foundation! -- Annual dues paid by companies to the Foundation form a large part of the funding used for new scholarships. There are a surprising number of companies in the industry that are not Foundation members. To see if your company is a member, and to obtain information on membership levels, contact David Ashcraft at (david_ashcraft@ncsu.edu).

Welcome to Our Blog!

2008-05-29T11:58:00.001-07:00

Welcome to the first edition of a new blog designed to keep alumni and friends of the NC State PSE program updated on the life of and events happening in the program. The blog will be updated quarterly, and you will receive an e-mail at that time, with a link to the blog.

Please note that we need your help to make this blog successful:

1. We need your feedback. Please feel free to use the "comments' button under each post to publicly post comments about each news item or announcement. Alternately, please send your comments to Med Byrd at med_byrd@ncsu.edu.

2. We need YOUR announcements! In future editions of the blog, we want to feature an "Alumni Update" item with a short blurb about what our graduates are up to. If you want to participate, send Med Byrd (med_byrd@ncsu.edu) a short update on your status and location. Here is an example:

John Doe (B.S. PPT 1984) is Eastern Region Product Manager for Major Chemicals. He lives in Williamsburg, VA with his wife and two kids.

13 New PSE Grads For May 2008

2008-05-29T09:10:00.000-07:00

At the NC State commencement activities in May, 13 new students were awarded B.S. degrees in Paper Science & Engineering. Of those 13, 4 also received degrees in Chemical Engineering, while 2 received B. A. degrees in Chemistry.

When added to the 7 students receiving degrees in December 2007 and two students receiving degrees in Summer 2008, a total of 22 students were graduated with PSE degrees in the 2007-2008 academic year.

Job placement was 100 %, with most students receiving multiple offers and attractive signing bonuses. Forecasts call for a continued strong job market.

The photo above shows May 2008 graduates, from left to right:

(Back Row)

Will Trick -- Georgia-Pacific, Savannah, GA

Devin Cribb -- International Paper, Augusta, GA

Diana Hoffert -- Domtar, Kingsport, TN

Andy Rutledge -- Sonoco, Holyoke, MA

Charles Gordon -- New Page, Wycliff, KY

Johnson Scarboro - Rayonier, Jesup, GA

Andy Cibils -- Sonoco, Richmond, VA

Liam Royce -- Graduate School, Univ. of Iowa, Ames

Amber Nettles -- Domtar, Bennettsville, SC

Mandy Bedard -- Hercules, Jacksonville, FL

(front row)
Tristen Trivett -- Rayonier, Fernandina Beach, FL

Curtis Powell -- Kapstone, Roanoke Rapids, NC

(not shown)

Dionne Kimani -- DuPont, Richmond, VA

"Paper Super Scholars" Announced for 2008

2008-05-29T08:28:00.000-07:00

Now in its second year, the Paper Super Scholars program is a competitive scholarship program for out-of-state freshman students applying to the Paper Science & Engineering program at NC State. What makes this program remarkable is that the award is a "full ride" -- it pays for all student costs for four years, including tuition and fees, room and board, and other expenses. 5-6 of these scholarship are awarded each year.

This level of award is made possible by special state legislation which grants in-state tuition status to out-of-state students who receive the equivalent of a "full ride." It was designed to maintain the traditional regional nature of the program, in the face of rapidly-rising out-of-state tuition costs.

Finalists are selected based on an application and essay question responses. These finalists then attend a "Finalists Day" at NC State in mid-February, at which they are interviewed by a panel of faculty, alumni, and supporters.

Competition for the awards this year was intense. The qualifications and credentials of the 14 finalists were amazing, and the selection committee had a difficult time selecting 6 recipients. Their photos are shown below.

If you are aware of out-of-state high school students who might be good candidates for this scholarship, please contact the PSE Recruiter, Carrie Hanayik, at carrie_hanayik@ncsu.edu.

Noel Cline

West Point, VA

Kelly Fitzwater

Lexington Park, MD

Taylor Resparc

Brecksville, OH

Katie Payne

Walkerton, VA

Jacob Vrooman

Moon, VA

Ashley Massey

Edgewood, MD

Our Program -- Still Strong!

2008-05-29T08:14:00.000-07:00

The Paper Science & Engineering program at NC State continues to be one of the largest and strongest in the country -- and the outlook for the future is quite bright.

Currently, 43 freshmen have completed their first year and are moving forward to their sophomore year. 22 new freshmen have been recruited for Fall 2008. It is hoped that this core freshman group will be augmented with the addition of 10-15 students who initially applied to NC State in Chemical Engineering, Engineering Undeclared, or other programs.

The traditional "gospel" of the PSE program -- individual attention, hands-on learning, outstanding facilities, strong scholarship support, summer jobs and co-ops, high placement rates and salaries -- continues to resonate with students on campus. Joint administration of the PSE degree by the College of Natural Resources and the College of Engineering has resulted in greater exposure of this message to a variety of students.

The Paper International Experience

2008-05-29T08:10:00.001-07:00

In 2007, a new international travel opportunity was created for PSE students. Called the "Paper International Experience (PIE)," this program was intended to expose undergraduates to a different culture and to let them examine the paper industry in a different country. It was hoped that funding could be collected from individual supporters, companies, and organizations and used to reduce the costs for each student attendee. PIE was designed to be done every two years, with students participating as either juniors or seniors.

In the first PIE trip in May 2007, 21 PSE students traveled with two staff members, one faculty member, and one industry representative to China. During the 10-day trip, the participants interacted with students from the paper program at Nanjing Forestry University, and they visited five very modern papermaking facilities. They also toured Shanghai and Beijing.

Because of enormous support from the industry and from friends, students were able to attend the first PIE for a very low cost.

Overall, it is hoped that PIE will help the PSE program to produce a more "globally-aware" graduate that can help the US industry to be more competitive in the world market.

For the second PIE in May 2009, students have voted to visit mills in Chile. Alumni and industry representatives who are interested in participating in this exciting event should contact Med Byrd at med_byrd@ncsu.edu.

Seven PSE Students Inducted Into New Professional Society

2008-05-29T07:37:00.000-07:00

In May, seven PSE seniors were inducted into a newly-formed national engineering professional society, The Order of the Engineer. This society was formed with two principles in mind: 1) The primary purpose of engineering is to serve the public; and 2) All engineers share a common bond.

In the induction ceremony, the students publicly accepted the "Obligation of an Engineer," the formal statement of an engineer's responsibilities to the public and the profession. In addition, they received a small, stainless ring, as a symbol of membership in the profession. The ring is supposed to be worn on the 5th finger of the working hand.

Shown in the picture are, from left to right: Tristen Trivett, Diana Hoffert, Charles Gordon, Amber Nettles, Mandy Bedard, Curtis Powell. Not shown: Liam Royce.

All graduates from accredited engineering programs are eligible to join the Order of the Engineer. Graduates with PSE degrees who are interested in participating in the ceremony in December 2008 or May 2009 should contact Med Byrd at med_byrd@ncsu.edu.

Graduates Faithful to Paper Industry

2008-05-29T07:28:00.000-07:00

A recent review of PPT/PSE graduates for the 1995-2007 time period showed that 76 % selected a paper-related company for their first job (15 % chose a non-paper company, while 9 % chose graduate school), and approximately 80 % of those graduates stayed with the paper industry.