November 30, 1999

$1 Million Endowed Chair in Computer Science Established at NC State

A $1 million endowed chair in computer science has been established in the College of Engineering at NC State University through the generosity of SAS Institute Inc. of Cary.

SAS Institute gave $666,000 to the Department of Computer Science to endow a distinguished professorship in data warehousing, an important software methodology for delivering and managing information for decision making by users.

The gift was eligible for a matching grant of $334,000 from the Distinguished Professors Endowment Trust Fund maintained by the University of North Carolina General Administration, thus bringing the total value of the computer science endowment to $1 million.

The chair is named the SAS Institute Professor of Computer Science. It will enable the department to recruit a world renowned computer scientist who will contribute to the development of data warehousing processes through student academics and research.

In announcing the establishment of the SAS Institute chair, Dean of Engineering Nino A. Masnari said, "SAS Institute has long been a strong supporter of the College of Engineering and our Computer Science Department. We deeply appreciate the Institute's continuing commitment to the success of our programs as evidenced by this most recent gift."

NC State Chancellor Marye Anne Fox said, "We are grateful to SAS Institute for its commitment to higher education and for its generous support that has made possible the enhancement of this gift. This distinguished professorship will bring an outstanding individual to our campus to enrich the education of our talented students and will strengthen the University's position as a leader in computer science, engineering and technology."

In recent years, computer science at NC State has emerged as one of the most rapidly growing disciplines on campus. In the past six years, the department has hired 14 tenure-track faculty members, five of whom have received National Science Foundation Career Faculty Development Awards. Undergraduate enrollment has grown from 500 to 943; graduate enrollment, from 113 to 206. Academic programs have been focused on emerging areas of computer science, including electronic commerce, network security, optical networks, and quantitative human-computer interface design.

"We are very excited about the growth and leading-edge research and teaching activities that have been going on in our department," said Dr. Alan L. Tharp, head of the Department of Computer Science. "The SAS Institute professorship will help continue this momentum, and most exciting is what this scholar will be able to contribute to the educational experience of our students."

A concentration in data warehousing is in keeping with the department's goal to move into new areas, said Tharp.

He expressed appreciation to SAS "for allowing us to move forward in program goals to provide highly qualified people for the areas that can definitely help the economy of North Carolina."

"By establishing this professorship, SAS Institute can help ensure that NC State remains a leading university in engineering and computer science," said Dr. Jim Goodnight, president and CEO of SAS Institute. "We also hope this will help increase the number of computer science graduates who can provide the talent to lead companies like SAS Institute into the next millennium."

In addition to this most recent donation to NC State University, SAS Institute also provides four endowed scholarships in the departments of Computer Science and Statistics.

November 17, 1999

Engineering Firm Provides Scholarship Endowment

Clancy and Theys Construction Company of Raleigh has donated $75,000 to the College of Engineering to endow the I.E. Clancy Scholarship.

The gift, initiated by company president Tim Clancy, will support merit scholarships valued at $3,750 each.

November 17, 1999

NC State Alumnus to Endow Scholarship in Engineering

Dwight Edwin "Ed" Rose (CE '82) of Charlotte, president and general contractor of Shelco Inc., has pledged $25,000 to endow the Rose/Shelco scholarship in Civil Engineering as part of a $100,000 endowment with Barry Gardner (CE-Construction '75) of Shelco Inc. and the Shelton Foundation.

November 15, 1999

SAS Creates Computer Science Scholarship

SAS Institute, Inc., of Cary, has given $5,000 to the College of Engineering at NC State University to create the Esaki Scholarship in the Department of Computer Science. The scholarship honors the Japanese Nobel Prize-winning physicist, Dr. Leo Esaki, and will be awarded to a computer science student from Japan. Dr. James Goodnight and John Sall, co-founders of SAS Institute, are NC State alumni. The world's largest privately held software company, SAS Institute hires numerous engineers from NC State's Department of Computer Science.

June 22, 1999

Fujitsu Network Communications Supports Engineering Scholarships

Fujitsu Network Communications Inc. has pledged $20,000 to continue its support of merit scholarships in the College of Engineering. Zdenek Holy, director of switching and development for Fujitsu Network Communications, recently presented a check to Dean Nino A. Masnari for the first $10,000 payment toward the $20,000 pledge.

The scholarship fund will support one $2,500 scholarship to be awarded to a freshman each year and seven $2,500 scholarships to be awarded to continuing students. Fujitsu scholars are required to participate in extracurricular activities such as community service, athletics or innovative science achievement. The scholars are also given an opportunity to learn about Fujitsu's research and development efforts.

June 14, 1999

Professor's Estate Leaves $1.5 Million to College of Engineering

The estate of Dr. N.F.J. "Sy" Matthews, professor emeritus of electrical and computer engineering at NC State University, has given approximately $1.5 million in deferred gifts to the College of Engineering. Matthews and his wife, Betty, made arrangements for the gift prior to his death on April 18 of this year. The gift will fund merit scholarships in electrical and computer engineering.

A native of Clinton, Matthews joined the NC State faculty in 1964. He earned the admiration and respect of his colleagues and students through his dedication to teaching, research and service to the university and the community. He received several teaching awards and was named an Alumni Distinguished Professor in 1992. He retired from the university in 1998.

Matthews' research aimed at developing a unified field theory. He published the principal results of his 31-year research effort in a monograph, Unification of Electromagnetism, Kinematics, and Gravitation, in April of this year. The theory he developed could reveal the internal structure of electrons and other elementary particles.

Prior to his retirement from NC State, Matthews held several administrative positions, including director of graduate programs for the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and chair of the Courses and Curricula Committee for the department. He served as a mentor and friend to young faculty members and provided counsel to his peers.

Matthews received his BSE and MSE in mathematics from George Washington University in 1957 and 1959. He received his master's and doctoral degrees in electrical engineering from Princeton University in 1961 and 1964.

May 31, 1999

Simon B. Woolard Endows Merit Scholarship at NC State University

Simon Brown Woolard of Ormond Beach, Fla., a retired engineer with General Electric, has pledged $50,000 to establish the Simon Brown Woolard Scholarships in the College of Engineering at NC State University.

An NC State alumnus, Woolard received his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering in 1938. He also earned a master's degree in electrical engineering from Texas A&M University in 1940.

Woolard worked in aerospace electronics with General Electric Corp. for 35 years. Following his retirement from GE in 1975, he taught avionics courses at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Fla. He retired from his teaching position in 1985.

Valued at $2,500 per year, the scholarship will be awarded to students on the basis of merit. Recipients must be enrolled in an engineering curriculum with a preference given to students from Martin County, N.C.

The scholarship will be administered by the North Carolina Engineering Foundation Inc. The endowment is part of the universitywide Campaign for NC State Students, a volunteer-led campaign, which, to date, has raised more than $94 million in endowments for scholarships and fellowships.

Chancellor Marye Anne Fox said of the Woolard endowment, "This commitment by Mr. Woolard is another important step in NC State's mission to educate tomorrow's leaders. The scholarships and fellowships endowed by this campaign will help attract the best and brightest students to NC State and will strengthen the university's position as a leader in science, engineering and technology."

May 31, 1999

Thomas D. Pearson Endows Merit Scholarship at NC State University

Thomas D. Pearson of Charlotte, owner and president of Pearson Land Corporation, has pledged $25,000 to establish the Thomas D. and Tressa L. Pearson Scholarship at NC State University.

An NC State alumnus, Pearson received his bachelor's degree in furniture manufacturing and management in 1965. He also holds an MBA from Emory University.

Prior to forming Pearson Land Corporation in 1985, Pearson served as an executive vice president for Northwestern Mortgage Corporation.

Valued at $1,250 per year, the scholarship will be awarded to students on the basis of merit. Recipients must be enrolled in an engineering curriculum with a preference given to students interested in industrial engineering. The scholarship will be administered by the North Carolina Engineering Foundation. The endowment is part of the universitywide Campaign for NC State Students, a volunteer-led campaign, which, to date, has raised more than $94 million in endowments for scholarships and fellowships.

Chancellor Marye Anne Fox said of the Pearson endowment, "This commitment by Mr. Pearson is another important step in NC State's mission to educate tomorrow's leaders. The scholarships and fellowships endowed by this campaign will help attract the best and brightest students to NC State and will strengthen the university's position as a leader in science, engineering and technology."

May 31, 1999

William E. Highfill Endows Scholarship at NC State University

William Earl Highfill of Salem, S.C., retired chief project manager for Exxon Research and Engineering Co., has donated $43,537 to the College of Engineering at NC State University.

An NC State alumnus, Highfill received his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering in 1941. Following his graduation, he served as an electrical engineer for the Tennessee Valley Authority.

Highfill worked as an electrical engineer for Alcoa Inc. from 1942 until 1944, when he joined the U.S. Army and served in the Signal Corps Headquarters. In 1946, he joined Exxon Research and Engineering Co.; he retired from the company in 1984.

The unrestricted gift of 600 shares of Exxon Corporation stock will benefit the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at NC State and will be administered by the North Carolina Engineering Foundation Inc.

May 31, 1999

Joseph S. Colson Jr. Endows Merit Scholarship at NC State

Joseph S. Colson Jr. of Cary, president of Colson Consulting, has given $190,000 to endow the Dr. Joseph S. Colson Scholarship Endowment for studies in the College of Engineering at North Carolina State University.

A 1968 electrical engineering graduate of NC State, Colson endowed the scholarship in honor of his father. The endowment will support several merit scholarships for students enrolled in engineering at NC State.

Colson has served on the NC State University Board of Visitors and on the Board of Trustees for North Carolina A&T State University. He has served as president of AT&T Affiliates, AT&T Network Systems. In 1998, he retired as president of International Regions and Professional Services at Lucent Technologies, Inc.

Named as one of "America's Most Powerful Black Executives" by Black Enterprise Magazine in 1993, Colson holds a master's degree in electrical engineering from Stanford University and received an honorary doctor of humanities degree from NC A&T State University in 1995. Colson and his wife, Sharon, have three children, Timothy, Angela and Joseph Michael.

The endowment will be administered by the North Carolina Engineering Foundation Inc. The endowment is part of the universitywide Campaign for NC State Students, a volunteer-led campaign, which, to date, has raised more than $94 million in endowments for scholarships and fellowships.

Chancellor Marye Anne Fox said of the Colson endowment, "This commitment by Mr. Colson is another important step in NC State's mission to educate tomorrow's leaders. The scholarships and fellowships endowed by this campaign will help attract the best and brightest students to NC State and will strengthen the university's position as a leader in science, engineering and technology."

May 28, 1999

BP Amoco Foundation to Support Engineering Programs

The BP Amoco Foundation has selected the College of Engineering at NC State University as one of 10 colleges nationwide to receive support for engineering programs. The foundation will provide $50,000 each year for three years.

The funds will be used in the College of Engineering to support student programs, including recruiting and retention. The BP Amoco Foundation grant specifically focuses on supporting programs that provide academic scholarships for recruiting and increasing diversity, expand pilot mentoring programs that impact retention, increase engineering outreach using student ambassadors, provide incentive for faculty involvement in recruiting and undergraduate research, and expand research experiences for undergraduates.

Dr. Tony Mitchell, assistant dean and director of minority engineering programs, developed the proposal for the BP Amoco Foundation.

March 3, 1999

Joseph H. Sherrill Endows Merit Scholarship at NC State University

Joseph H. Sherrill of Winston Salem, retired president of Arjay Equipment Co. and retired vice president of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., has given $50,000 to endow the Joseph H. and Mary S. Sherrill Scholarship for studies in the College of Engineering at North Carolina State University.

An inventor and developer of machinery for the tobacco industry during the 1960s and 1970s, Sherrill earned his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering in 1932 from NC State. He retired from his positions with Arjay Equipment Co., Reynolds Industries and R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. in 1976. From 1975 to 1981, he served as president and chairman of the North Carolina Agribusiness Council.

An active alumnus, he has served as director of the North Carolina Engineering Foundation, the North Carolina State University Foundation and the Engineering Advisory Council. He was vice president of the NC State University Alumni Association in 1971. Sherrill's wife, Mary, is a graduate of Duke University. The couple has three sons.

The scholarship, valued at $2,500 per year, will be awarded to students on the basis of merit. Recipients must be enrolled in an engineering curriculum.

The scholarship will be administered by the North Carolina Engineering Foundation.

January 14, 1999

Lockheed Martin Donates $175,000 for Engineering Scholarships

Lockheed Martin Corporation has pledged $175,000 to establish scholarships in the College of Engineering at NC State University. William B. Bullock, president of Lockheed Martin Aeronautical Systems in Marietta, Ga., presented a ceremonial check to College of Engineering Dean Nino Masnari, initiating the five-year commitment to the college.

The Lockheed Martin Merit Scholarships will support students enrolled in mechanical and aerospace engineering, electrical and computer engineering and computer science.

"We greatly appreciate the support of Lockheed Martin in establishing these scholarships," said Masnari. "We hope that our relationship will continue to grow to the mutual benefit of the university and Lockheed Martin. This scholarship support will greatly enhance our ability to create new opportunities for recruiting the best students to our programs."

Following the check presentation, Bullock, a 1957 graduate in mechanical engineering at NC State; Al Pruden, a 1955 aerospace engineering graduate of NC State and F-22 program manager for advanced product development; and Stephen Pigott, senior business management analyst, toured Engineering Graduate Research Center on Centennial Campus and laboratories in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. Students in the mechanical and aerospace engineering senior design class gave a presentation on the progress of their current project--designing and building a Delta-wing aircraft.

At the conclusion of the tour, Bullock gave a seminar for faculty and students on the opportunities available in engineering fields with diverse companies such as Lockheed Martin.