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Academics

Honoring Our 2020 Graduates

Meet some of the 2020 graduates who have left their mark on several programs within the Division of Academic and Student Affairs.

Wolf statue with a red tassel in its mouth

On Friday, December 4, NC State University will recognize its May and December graduates during a virtual commencement ceremony. Prior to the celebration, we reached out to some of the graduates from Wellness and Recreation and other programs within the Division of Academic and Student Affairs to ask them about their NC State experience and what comes next.

Evan Kearse rock climbing

Evan Kearse

Major: Sustainable materials and technology

Post-grad plans: Teaching snowboarding lessons in Utah

“NC State helped to prepare me for my career through the ski team that I was a part of all four years of college. The outdoor leadership minor taught me how to teach, and by working for Outdoor Adventures in WellRec, I got experience in outdoor education and leadership.”

Gabby Xiong

Gabby Xiong

Major: Applied nutrition

Post-grad plans: Working as a nutrition assistant and fitness coach before attending a dietetics graduate program in fall 2021

“I am grateful for the various resources NC State has that allow me to explore my interests by studying, working and growing in the field of health and wellness. I became a certified fitness coach through the training the university provided and gained amazing work experience in Wellness and Recreation. In the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the undergraduate courses have prepared me to attend a graduate program in public health and become a dietitian, which is my ultimate career goal.”

Amanda McCloskey

Amanda McCloskey

Major: Business administration — human resources concentration

Post-grad plans: Employed with a Raleigh startup, Murphy’s Naturals, as a customer service representative.

“NC State allowed me to grow academically and personally in ways I could never have imagined, feeding my desire to learn about business and so many topics outside of my major. There are endless opportunities on this campus, and I will miss being a student and having so much freedom to explore those. I will take that wisdom into the professional working world, and I look forward to seeing what it has in store for me.”

Alyssa Cox

Alyssa Cox

Major: Mechanical engineering

Post grad plan: Pursuing a career involving biomechanics and sports product development, while working at Adidas starting next year.

“NC State’s interdisciplinary programs like the Social Innovation Fellowship and Engineering Entrepreneurship Program have allowed me to engage with real world problems and learn how to creatively find and execute solutions. The wonderful communities I have been a part of include women’s club rugby, WellRec, Park Scholarships, and the Shelton Leadership Center, and they have supported me and enabled me to grow both personally in my character and professionally in my ability to be a servant leader.”