North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University is the nation’s largest historically black university, ranked number one among public HBCUs by U.S. News & World Report. It is a land-grant, doctoral high-research classified university by the Carnegie Foundation and constituent member of the University of North Carolina system. A&T is known for its leadership in producing graduates in engineering, agriculture and other STEM fields. The university was founded in 1891 and is located in Greensboro, North Carolina.
 
Everyday billions of people wake up hungry world wide, requiring at least one meal a day. North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University’s School of Agriculture & Environmental Sciences, and Cooperative Extension  services, in support of the state’s $84 billion Agriculture industry, are all hands on deck conducting workshops, tours, farming demonstrations and more in support of small scale farming in conjunction with the university mission as a Land-Grant Institution  N.C. A&T to Host Small Farms Field Day
 
COAACH at N.C. A&T to Host Second Caregiver College

Tonya Dixon

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (May 24, 2019) –The Center for Outreach in Alzheimer’s, Aging and Community Health, (COAACH)will host the second annual COAACH Caregiver College (C3), June 10 – 13, 2019.

C3 is a community-engaged and intervention-based education program designed to improve awareness, care management and health outcomes for families impacted by Alzheimer’s, diabetes and related conditions. The program stresses disease literacy, diabetes management and care giving strategies.

COAACH is working closely with faith-based organizations to identify individuals as part of the 2019 Lay Health Ambassadors graduating class of C3. Participants will learn from evidence-based healthy aging modules, engage in hands-on activities and create culturally relevant materials. Those individuals will in turn host three events at their church and/or community to promote healthy living.
 
College of Engineering at N.C. A&T to Offer Free Cybersecurity Camp; Enrollment Open Now
 
Tonya Dixon

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (May 3, 2019) –The College of Engineering at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University will host two sessions of its free GenCyber Summer Camp, July 22–26 and July 29–Aug. 2, 2019, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.  The day camp is open to rising eighth through 12th grade students. Campers will learn cryptography, network security and digital forensics through hands-on activities, as well as correct and safe online behavior and cybersecurity ethics.

Summer Camps at N.C. A&T Provide Enrichment Opportunities for Local Students
Tonya Dixon

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (May 31, 2019) – Students of all ages will participate in hands-on, summer enrichment camps at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University July 8 – Aug. 2, 2019. Each camp will run from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday – Friday.  From Paul Robeson Theatre to Science Xploration to Cadets That Code, multiple camps will be offered to provide enrichment activities and interdisciplinary learning in science and technology, the arts, mathematics and much more.
 
Drones Prove an Agile, Affordable Mechanism to Inspect Aging Civil Infrastructure
Tonya Dixon


EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (May 24, 2019) – How do you inspect a bridge for signs of hazardous weakening or deterioration? It’snot easy, but one method is an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV).  In October 2019, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University associate professor Dr. Ali Karimoddini, will assist North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) on a project titled “Developing a Safe and Cost-effective Flight Control Methodology for a UAV-enabled Bridge Inspection.” Dr. Abdollah Homaifar, also from N.C. A&T, and Dr. Navid Goudarzi from UNC Charlotte will assist him on the project. “We are one of few universities in the nation with these types of facilities,” said Karimoddini. “Our facilities have enabled us to attract government agencies like NCDOT to investigate the development of drone technologies and their applications.”
 
Gallup Survey Shows N.C. A&T Alumni Lead UNC System in Enthusiasm for Alma Mater
Todd Simmons
EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (May 23, 2019) – Alumni of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University are more likely to recommend A&T to family and friends and more strongly attached to their alma mater than alumni of any other campus polled in the University of North Carolina System, results from a new Gallup survey show. When asked, “On a scale of 0 to 10 where 0 means you are not at all likely and 10 means you are extremely likely, how likely is it that you would recommend A&T to family, friends, or colleagues,” 84 percent of A&T alumni respondents replied “10,” while 10 percent more indicated 9 or 8.
 
College of Engineering at N.C. A&T to Offer Free Cybersecurity Camp; Enrollment Open Now
 
 Tonya Dixon

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (May 3, 2019) –The College of Engineering at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University will host two sessions of its free GenCyber Summer Camp, July 22–26 and July 29–Aug. 2, 2019, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

The day camp is open to rising eighth through 12th grade students. Campers will learn cryptography, network security and digital forensics through hands-on activities, as well as correct and safe online behavior and cybersecurity ethics.

Applications are available at GenCyber online and must be received by Wednesday, May 15, 2019. Applicants will be notified by email before June 1, 2019.

The GenCyber Camp is hosted by the Center for Cyber Defense at N.C. A&T, a center for Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education. The program is designed to engage students at an early age in cybersecurity and inspire them to become skilled cybersecurity professionals.

The GenCyber program is a national initiative providing free summer cybersecurity camps across the nation for students and teachers at the K-12 level. Funding for the GenCyber program is provided jointly by the National Security Agency and the National Science Foundation. As part of the solution to the nation's shortfall of skilled cybersecurity professionals, the primary purpose of the program is to support the growth of the next generation of cybersecurity experts for the nation.

 
Summer Camps at N.C. A&T Provide Enrichment Opportunities for Local Students
Tonya Dixon

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (May 31, 2019) – Students of all ages will participate in hands-on, summer enrichment camps at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University July 8 – Aug. 2, 2019. Each camp will run from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday – Friday.

From Paul Robeson Theatre to Science Xploration to Cadets That Code, multiple camps will be offered to provide enrichment activities and interdisciplinary learning in science and technology, the arts, mathematics and much more.

New to this year’s summer enrichment camps, the College of Health and Human Sciences will offer CHENGE Program (changing habits through education, networking, goals and engagement). The program is offered to students 13 – 18 years old as a job-readiness, career preparation and early financial success camp that offers a variety of activities to enhance teens’ decision-making, problem-solving and critical thinking skills for success. Two sessions will be offered July 8 – 12 and July 15 – 19.

Whether campers are new to the programs or experienced, each camp is designed to expose and broaden horizons. In addition to the weekly enrichment camps facilitated through the Office of Continuing Education, many university colleges and departments offer various opportunities specifically for high school age youth.

Camp descriptions and registration information are available online. For information regarding the CHENGE Program contact Trina Pratt at tlpratt1@ncat.edu or 336-334-7712.

About North Carolina A&T State University
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University is the nation’s largest historically black university. It is a land-grant, higher-research classified university by the Carnegie Foundation and constituent member of the University of North Carolina system. A&T is known for its leadership in producing graduates in engineering, agriculture and other STEM fields. The university was founded in 1891 and is located in Greensboro, North Carolina.
 
Drones Prove an Agile, Affordable Mechanism to Inspect Aging Civil Infrastructure
Tonya Dixon


EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (May 24, 2019) – How do you inspect a bridge for signs of hazardous weakening or deterioration? It’snot easy, but one method is an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV).

In October 2019, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University associate professor Dr. Ali Karimoddini, will assist North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) on a project titled “Developing a Safe and Cost-effective Flight Control Methodology for a UAV-enabled Bridge Inspection.” Dr. Abdollah Homaifar, also from N.C. A&T, and Dr. Navid Goudarzi from UNC Charlotte will assist him on the project.

“We are one of few universities in the nation with these types of facilities,” said Karimoddini. “Our facilities have enabled us to attract government agencies like NCDOT to investigate the development of drone technologies and their applications.”

A national leader in autonomy capabilities and infrastructure for control of drones, N.C A&T has two UAV laboratories on campus, run by Karimoddini and his colleagues. Along with industry and government agencies, the laboratories have attracted many autonomy students.

“Our students have easy access to hands-on labs showing our cutting-edge technology, and they see career opportunities inthis field when customers like the NCDOT express interest in using our technology.”

Previously, bridge inspections required entities like NCDOT to take extensive measures -- closing traffic lanes, lowering inspectors on ropes, raising them on scaffolds or using specialized trucks or cranes. Additionally, the process of inspecting bridges has always been costly and dangerous.

UAVs are nimble enough to scan bridge spans and nose into hard-to-reach and hard-to-see crevices that humans find difficult to navigate. As they hover close to aging trusses, piers, and other structures, drones take high-resolution images and/or video enabling inspectors to collect and analyze data from the ground. Special software assembles the information into 3-D models, which engineers can examine on computers.
 

COAACH at N.C. A&T to Host Second Caregiver College


Tonya Dixon

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (May 24, 2019) –The Center for Outreach in Alzheimer’s, Aging and Community Health, (COAACH)will host the second annual COAACH Caregiver College (C3), June 10 – 13, 2019.

C3 is a community-engaged and intervention-based education program designed to improve awareness, care management and health outcomes for families impacted by Alzheimer’s, diabetes and related conditions. The program stresses disease literacy, diabetes management and care giving strategies.

COAACH is working closely with faith-based organizations to identify individuals as part of the 2019 Lay Health Ambassadors graduating class of C3. Participants will learn from evidence-based healthy aging modules, engage in hands-on activities and create culturally relevant materials. Those individuals will in turn host three events at their church and/or community to promote healthy living.

Where : The Center for Outreach in Alzheimer’s, Aging and Community Health 2105 Yanceyville St. Greensboro, NC

Applications to participate in the 2019 C3 are open. Those interested should contact Rosalind Pugh-Scott at 336-285-2165 oremail ropughscott@ncat.edu.

 
Gallup Survey Shows N.C. A&T Alumni Lead UNC System in Enthusiasm for Alma Mater
Todd Simmons
EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (May 23, 2019) – Alumni of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University are more likely to recommend A&T to family and friends and more strongly attached to their alma mater than alumni of any other campus polled in the University of North Carolina System, results from a new Gallup survey show.

When asked, “On a scale of 0 to 10 where 0 means you are not at all likely and 10 means you are extremely likely, how likely is it that you would recommend A&T to family, friends, or colleagues,” 84 percent of A&T alumni respondents replied “10,” while 10 percent more indicated 9 or 8.

On questions that Gallup considers indicative of alumni attachment, such as “A&T was the perfect school for people like me” and “I can’t imagine a world without A&T,” respondents showed the highest level of attachment – 65 percent – of any UNC System campus surveyed. Gallup’s national alumni database shows only 20 percent of alumni are attached to their colleges or universities.

The findings are good news for the nation’s largest historically black university, as well as one of North Carolina’s top three public research universities. It has produced more than70,000 alumni over the past 128 years, and graduates more African American engineers and agricultural science majors each year than any university in the nation. It is also rated the country’s no. 1 public HBCU by U.S. News & World Report.

“These results give definition to something we’ve known for a great many years -- there has always been something special about the educational experience and environment at North Carolina A&T,” said Chancellor Harold L. Martin Sr. “Even so, it was gratifying to see that 99 percent of our alumni respondents said that if they had to do it all over again, they would still obtain their bachelor’s degree, and 96 percent would attend A&T.”

As part of its survey of alumni across the UNC System, Gallup contacted 2,718 A&T alumni. The survey was conducted Nov. 15, 2018 through Feb. 1, 2019, and yielded a total of 77,695completions from undergraduate alums who graduated from UNC campuses between 1940 and 2018.

Other findings of note for A&T included:
•Asked to respond to the statement, “My education from A&T was worth the cost” on a 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree) scale, 75 percent answered with a 5, and another 17percent with a 4.
•On the same scale, 85 percent of respondents replied with a 5 or 4 to the statement, “My professors at A&T cared about me as a person,” and 94 percent with a 5 or 4 to the statement, “I had at least one professor at A&T who made me excited about learning.”
•In assessing their lives since graduation, 95 percent of respondents described themselves as “satisfied” with their personal lives today.
•While respondents graduated from a wide range of academic programs with a diverse list of career possibilities, 64 percent said they currently hold “professional” positions, while another 16 percent described their positions as “managerial.” A total of 62 percent indicated total household income, before taxes, of at least $90,000 and as high as $240,000 or more per year.

“These findings paint a picture of an Aggie Nation that is thriving and that has great affection for our university,” said A&T Associate Vice Chancellor for Alumni Relations Teresa. Davis. “We see that manifest in the many thousands of alumni who return each year for our nationally renowned homecoming celebration and in the generosity that so many of our alumni are showing in the Campaign for North Carolina A&T.

“ ‘Aggie Pride’ is more than just a slogan you hear called out wherever Aggies get together, it’s a sentiment that comes from our hearts.”