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Paul Burke ‘17 engineers his own path

Paul Burke

Even before he applied to NC State, Wilson College of Textiles alumnus Paul Burke ‘17 had a deep connection here. His grandfather, J. Perry Watson, served as music director at NC State from 1960 until his retirement in 1991.

“He was responsible for composing and writing the ‘Red and White Song’ and our former alma mater ‘I Wanna Go Back,’” said Burke. “I am reminded of his legacy constantly while watching our basketball and football games, and I am so honored that I could carry on the music tradition in our family through a cappella at NC State.”

While in school, Burke was a member of the award-winning Grains of Time a capella group, founded in 1968 during his grandfather’s tenure. A Centennial Scholar, he majored in both Textile Engineering (TE) and Chemical Engineering, while participating in the University Honors Program, the Textile Engineering SocietySigma Tau SigmaTextile Honor Society, Kappa Tau Beta Leadership Fraternity, and the University Ambassadors. He also worked as a team leader at Chick-fil-A, served as assistant to the IT support specialist in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, was a research technician for Tethis (a company focusing on bio-based and compostable superabsorbents), and served as an energy technology intern for nonprofit research institute RTI International.

Read more at the Wilson College News site →