On November 7, 2008 the NC State Alumni Association held their annual Evening of Stars Alumni Gala at Prestonwood Country Club.  Each college at NC State honored an alumnus with this high honor.  The College of Textiles chose Charles L. Little, Jr., class of 1978.

Little is a group manager at Greenville-based Batson Group Inc., a company that supplies machinery, equipment and accessories for the textile industry. For 66 years, Little's family has been involved in the textile industry. His childhood was spent playing in the warehouses and delivery trucks of the Little Cotton Manufacturing Co. After graduating from NC State, he followed in his father's footsteps in the yarn industry, witnessing enormous changes brought about by mechanization and globalization. In 2002, Little was named president of American Yarn Spinners Association, an organization his father also led. He is a member of the Southern Textile Association and the Association of Nonwoven Fabrics and a past president of the Anson County Chamber of Commerce. Little served 22 years on the board of the N.C. Textile Foundation, eight years on its executive committee and two years as its president. He was instrumental in helping the college create the infrastructure needed to become a world leader in textile innovations.

The following is the acceptance speech that Little gave to the distinguished guests the evening of the gala.  The College was honored for him to say these words about the College and we feel that Charles exemplifies all that our graduates can accomplish.

I would like to thank the University, the College of Textiles and Dean Blanton Godfrey. I appreciate and am humbled by this recognition.
I am grateful for the love and support of my family and am honored by their presence. Here with me are my wife of 26 years Janie, our daughter Meg, my Mom Lucy Little, my sister Effie Richert and her husband Gary, as well as my sister Corinne's daughter Effie Glover and her husband Colin. Our special guest is Centennial Scholar Katie McCree.
The textile industry has long provided economic opportunity for me and for my family, and continues to do so today. Contrary to popular misconceptions, the industry today has vibrancy and a bright future. The metamorphosis from the production of basic materials to the research, development and manufacture of advanced technical fabrics and structured materials is largely complete.
The College of Textiles of North Carolina State University has not just adapted to the changing world of textiles; it has been at the forefront of this evolution. The College has been instrumental in providing the direction, counsel and creative thinking and has served as a spring board for innovation and implementation.
I am honored to be the recipient of this distinguished alumnus award. Similarly, I relish my association with the College of Textiles and am proud of its integral role in shaping the future of this industry and in addressing national and global issues of critical importance.
To whom would the Department of Defense turn to research and evaluate materials that protect against chemical and biological threat- the College of Textiles

To whom would the global leader of integrated technology solutions donate $11 Million of 2 and 3 dimensional software to – Our College of Textiles

Who would CNN feature in March of this year as a co-creator of an anti-viral fabric that kills viruses on contact – College of Textiles Professor Stephen Michielsen.

Who was recognized for outstanding accomplishments in the advancement of industry technology in the field of non wovens- our Non Woven Institute Director Behnam Pourdeyhimi.

What college has won more of the prestigious Olney Awards for outstanding achievement in the field of textile chemistry than any other institution and more than all other universities combined – Our College of Textiles.

North Carolina State University launched in October a development center for a new system that uses an environmentally friendly process to apply water repellent, stain repellent and moisture management properties to apparel and other common textiles. The new system holds the potential to create garments that stay clean longer, are more comfortable to wear and do not show perspiration, yet cost less than garments finished with current conventional processes.

In cooperation with APJeT Inc., Morrison Textiles Machinery, and Air Products and Chemistry Inc., the NC State pilot facility will contain and test the state-of-the-art atmospheric plasma system to support the textile industry by studying the system's efficacy on a variety of materials.

Once trained on using the new equipment, NC State undergraduate and graduate students, particularly in the fields of textile chemistry and polymer science, will work with laboratory staff and APJeT personnel to use the system for testing and development, giving the students hands-on experience solving real-world problems.

"The goal is to not only replace conventional application of finishes, but to develop novel methods and original products you would not be able to get with conventional systems," said Dr. Peter Hauser, professor and director of graduate programs in NC State's College of Textiles. "This new system will benefit the entire textile industry, as well as the state of North Carolina, and shows that NC State is on the cutting edge of technology."

The system's unique process uses an environmentally friendly "dry" ionized gas to impart a nanolayer coating of water repellent, stain repellent and wicking (moisture management) characteristics to the treated fabric. Unlike conventional stain-repel treatments, which require chemical-based "wet" treatment, the plasma process can produce a single fabric that will repel rain, snow and oil-based stains on one side, while the other side of the same fabric wicks moisture from the body.

Today's industry standard for fabric finishing includes applying the finish out of a chemically treated water solution, wringing out the water and then using thermal power to cure and dry. APJeT's proprietary plasma technology eliminates the use of water, thereby eliminating the need for wastewater remediation and providing a double benefit to textile manufacturers already under pressure from foreign competition in countries with less stringent environmental regulations.

The pilot facility will allow outside companies to bring their materials and finish various products, including knits, wovens and non-wovens.

"We chose NC State University because of its vast nanotechnology expertise," said John A. Emrich, president and CEO of APJeT. "We want to take this technology from development to commercial applications, and this partnership with the College of Textiles provides us with that opportunity."

North Carolina State University researchers are launching a new project that will standardize forensic crime scene investigation training throughout the state, decrease the cost of providing the training to law enforcement personnel and forensic scientists, and hopefully contribute to the establishment of nationwide standards for death investigations.

A team of NC State scientists, led by Dr. Ann H. Ross, has received a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice's National Institute of Justice (NIJ) tasking the researchers with the development of a multimedia training course that will allow law enforcement and forensics personnel to learn how to properly identify, collect and preserve physical evidence from the scene of a crime through podcasts and online coursework.

The multimedia approach being developed under the NIJ grant will allow law enforcement officials to train from their home agencies rather than traveling to distant training sites – saving the agencies a significant amount of money and ensuring that they do not have to operate with reduced personnel during the coursework training period. The multimedia training sessions would be followed by approximately two and a half days of hands-on fieldwork, in order for trainees to apply their online training in a practical setting.

"It is important for law enforcement agencies to be adequately trained in protocols that can help bring death investigations to a successful close," Ross says. "We seek to narrow the gap in training across all counties, while at the same time providing a standardized training program to optimize state agency responses in the time of need."

The research team covers a wide variety of forensic specialties. Ross, an associate professor of anthropology, provides expertise on forensic anthropology, the analysis of skeletonized remains. Dr. David Hinks, associate professor of textile engineering, chemistry and science, is an expert on fiber and color analysis. Dr. Wes Watson, associate professor of entomology, is an expert on insects that may be found at a crime scene. Dr. Billy Oliver, adjunct assistant professor of anthropology, is an archaeologist who specializes in recovering human remains. Dr. Jason Byrd, a forensic entomologist at the University of Florida, is also part of the grant team.

North Carolina State University's College of Textiles unveiled a new Textile Fundamentals distance education course at the Industrial Fabrics Association International (AFAI) expo on October 22. Due to increased industry interest in continuing professional education, the College of Textiles has developed a course catered to give industry professionals a broad overview of various topics important to the industry – fabric finishing, textile fibers, fabric preparation, dyeing and preparation, and non-woven fabrics, among others.

These courses - conducted via the internet and include instructor commentary, text, pictures, animation and video - cater to various industry professionals and can be customized to meet a company or institution's needs. This is a flexible tool that companies will use to reach their education goals in a short time frame and at a relatively low cost to the company.

Recent years have seen a shift in the client base of Textile Extension Education. TexED continues to offer professional education opportunities to textile and allied industries, but you may be surprised at which professionals are taking our technical textile courses. Students range from textile manufacturers, retailers, fiber producers, law enforcement agencies, government research agencies, military research agencies, performance fabrics and garment manufacturers, technical fabric users, shoe manufacturers, window treatment manufacturers, textile material handling equipment manufacturers, sportswear fabrics and garment manufacturers, forensic scientists, home laundry manufacturers and others.

And with the recent unveiling of TexED's latest offering, Textile Fundamentals distance learning courses, we expect to reach an even broader range of the new world of textiles.  Our eLearning program caters to various textile industry professionals and is conducted via the internet.  The courses can be customized to meet a company or institution's needs so it's a flexible tool that companies will use to reach their education goals in a short time frame and at a relatively low cost.  Go to www.texed.ncsu.edu and click eLearning Opportunities for a demo and full details or contact debbie_mostek@ncsu.edu.

Along with the new Textile Fundamentals eLearning program, TexEd offers nine technical textile courses each year which are held at the Zeis Textile Extension Education for Economic Development Center located at the College of Textiles. And we can tailor our technical textile courses to fit a company or organization's specific educational needs and teach on-site at the company's location.

What isTextile Connect?

Textile Connect is an information warehouse created and maintained by North Carolina State University's College of Textiles with initial funding from the North Carolina Department of Commerce. Textile Connect is designed to connect global textile event, product, market, and company information from government, industry, and academic sources to the North Carolina textile complex. Textile Connect is in the form of a website that can be found at the following two web addresses: www.nctextileconnect.com and www.textileconnect.com. This project builds on the research study completed in Summer 2006 by the College of Textiles entitled, “State of the Union of the Textile Industry in North Carolina: Improving Global Market Competitiveness with Identification and Assistance of Core Competencies.”

Why is Textile Connect Needed?

The results of the 2006 study indicated that the North Carolina textile complex still consists of over 1,400 establishments that employ nearly 120,000 people in 90 of North Carolina's 100 counties. These results represent the restructuring of the North Carolina textile complex with decline in textile manufacturing and growth in management, new product development, design, logistics, research, and manufacturing in growing niche product markets.

The goal of Textile Connect is to provide such a resource by supplying vital information in a comprehensive, user-friendly format that is available to the public free of charge within the domain of one website.

North Carolina State University's College of Textiles and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Global Intellectual Property Center (GIPC) partnered in September to sponsor an event that examined the devastating effects of counterfeiting and piracy on the economy. The event included a reception, a panel discussion, and a screening of the National Geographic film Illicit: The Dark Trade.  The panel included:

Counterfeiting and piracy cost the U.S. economy approximately $250 billion annually, have led to the loss of more than 750,000 American jobs, needlessly exposed consumers to dangerous and defective goods, and halted the progress of innovation.  For more information on counterfeiting and piracy or to view a trailer of the film, please visit http://www.theglobalipcenter.com/gipc/default.

Collection 2009: Cotton Couture is a design competition gathering the best designs from the students in the Fashion Program at the College of Textiles.   The show will be January 15, 2009 at 7:30 pm at Stewart Theatre in Talley Student Center on campus. This design competition arose from collaboration between the College of Textiles and Cotton Incorporated, thus the unique theme for this year's design competition is “Cotton Couture” and all entries must be made of 75-100% cotton fabric.  The purpose is to promote the use of cotton in clothing and to provide an opportunity to recognize excellence in design.  Many of the designs for this show will come from class projects as well as individual and team designers from the College.  Four categories of skill level will be represented in this design competition: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, and Collection.

With the success of next year's design competition the College of Textiles hope to continue promoting the use of sustainable textiles in years to come.  To learn more and to purchase tickets please visit http://www.cotcollection.com/.

In lieu of selecting a traditional Homecoming king and queen, NC State recognizes a pair of students who make outstanding contributions to NC State through the Leader of the Pack program. Finalists are selected based on grade-point average, essays and interviews as well as a student-body vote. A College of Textile Engineering student had the privilege of being selected this year.

When I started at N.C. State in the fall of 2005 I knew exactly what I wanted to do after graduation. I was going to be a buyer for a department store. I chose the College of Textiles in order to reach this goal. A College of Textile Engineering student had the privilege of being selected this year.

http://www.popecenter.org/commentaries/article.html?id=2072

AJ Medford '09, a textile engineering student has been nominated for three different scholarships. The Churchill Scholarship (http://www.winstonchurchillfoundation.org/) includes one year of study at the University of Cambridge in STEM disciplines. The Marshall Scholarship (http://www.marshallscholarship.org/) which includes two years of study at a United Kingdom university of the candidate's choice in an unrestricted field.  The Mitchell Scholarship (http://www.us-irelandalliance.org/) which includes one year of study at a University in Ireland or Northern Ireland of the candidate's choice in an unrestricted field.  AJ competed in a rigorous selection process to become a NC State representative for each of these scholarships and should hear very soon from the national boards.

AJ is not only a textiles engineering major but also in the University Scholars Program and undergraduate Research Program (energy award).  AJ is from  Harrisburg, NC.  AJ has made the most of his tenure as an undergrad at NC State. He entered planning to simply get an engineering degree, get a job, and maximize his income. Then, he studied abroad with a College of Natural Resources program in Australia and realized that he could be part of the solution working in clean and renewable energy. He returned to campus, embraced research opportunities, and is now the author on two articles that have been submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals. He has served as a tutor in the Undergraduate Tutorial Center and for student athletes. He has also held resident adviser positions, rising to a level of seniority in that organization.

In his spare time, he scuba dives and runs. AJ has discovered that his textile engineering education at the intersection of several engineering and science disciplines uniquely positions him to address the challenges associated with green energy, and he will take advantage of every opportunity to continue to develop those tools. Should he win a Churchill or Marshall Scholarship, AJ will attend the University of Cambridge. If he wins a Mitchell, he will attend University College, Dublin.

187 freshmen began classes at the College of Textiles this semester.  Learn more about who they are
http://www.tx.ncsu.edu/college/collegenews/2008freshmen.htm

A committee composed of NC State Alumni Association Distinguished Graduate Professors has reviewed the nominations for the Graduate School Thesis and Dissertation Awards.

Vasantha Datla was a college-level winner for the Graduate School Thesis and Dissertation Awards. The committee who reviews nominations are composed of NC State Alumni Association Distinguished Graduate Professors. Vasantha received a monetary award for the recognition.

As the calendar year end approaches, please consider the College of Textiles in your philanthropy and make a gift through the North Carolina Textile Foundation.  The NCTF, established in the 1940's to “promote the welfare, future development and reputation of the College of Textiles as the premier institution for textile education and research.”  This year the NCTF was able to provide essential support to the College with a grant of over $1.2 Million for scholarship, faculty, advising services, student services, student recruitment and facilities.  Please join other alumni, parents, and friends in supporting key funds including:

Thank you in advance for your generosity which will help ensure the continued success of the College.

To make a gift on line, please go to http://www.tx.ncsu.edu/giving. For additional information about giving, please contact Juliette Merer Ciani, the Executive Director of the North Carolina Textile Foundation, at 919-515-3878.

Dr. Behnam Pourdeyhimi, has received the TAPPI Nonwovens Division 2008 Technical Award and Mark Hollingsworth Prize in the amount of $1,000 from INTC. This award recognizes outstanding accomplishments that have advanced the industry's technology in the field of nonwovens.
   
Dr. Pourdeyhimi is a Klopman distinguished professor of textile materials, professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, associate dean for industry research and extension at the College of Textiles and director of the Nonwovens Institute and the Nonwovens Cooperative Research Center at NCSU. He received his Ph.D. from Leeds University in 1982 and has held research positions at NCSU and Cornell University. His contributions to fiber/textile science, engineering and technology and his contributions to the profession have been well recognized. He has published several books and monographs, more than 150 journal articles and over 150 conference presentations.

On, November 17th the NC State University 2008 Innovators Awards Ceremony was hosted by the Office of Technology Transfer.  Award Presentations for U.S. Patents for the university were recognized.  The College of Textiles had 7 patents honored.

Methods and systems for selectively connecting and disconnecting conductors in a fabric
Dr. Abdel-Fattah M. Seyam; Textile and Apparel Technology and Management
Dr. Tushar Ghosh; Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science

Fabric and yarn structures for improving signal integrity in fabric-based electrical circuits
Dr. Abdel-Fattah M. Seyam; Textile and Apparel Technology and Management
Dr. Tushar Ghosh; Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science

 Product and method for treating cotton
Dr. Carl Brent Smith; Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science
Dr. Mohamed Mahmoud Hashem; Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science
Dr. Peter J. Hauser; Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science

Ionic cross-linking of ionic cotton with small molecular weight anionic or cationic molecules
Dr. Carl Brent Smith; Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science
Dr. Peter J. Hauser; Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science

Cationic bleach activator with enhanced hydrolytic stability
Dr. Peter J. Hauser; Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science
Dr. David Hinks; Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science

Composite hydroentangling nozzle strip and method for producing nonwoven fabrics therewith
Dr. Behnam Pourdeyhimi; Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science

Hydroentangling jet strip device defining an orifice
Dr. Behnam Pourdeyhimi; Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science

The College of Textiles has set up an alumni Facebook page.  The group is called NC State College of Textiles Alumni.  We will be posting events, news, alumni polls and more on this site.  So stay connected and create a Facebook page if you don't have one or join the group if you do.

On November 15, 2008 the College of Textiles held the 18th annual Textile Alumni Tailgate.  Approximately 250 alumni, friends, students, faculty, and staff gathered in the tent adjacent to the RBC to see old friends and network with all that were present.  Attendees heard about various activities happening within the College of Textiles from the Dean and the NC Textile Foundation and learned how to stay connected with the College and NC State University.

Please check www.tx.ncsu.edu this spring to see which football game will be the Textile Alumni Tailgate in 2009.

Brian Price (BSTC 1999) and his wife, Katie announce the birth of their first child, Keeley Anne Price, born November 5, 2008.  Keeley weighed 4 ½ pounds and 16 ¼ inches long.  Brian is employed with BB&T in Wilmington, NC.  The Prices reside in Wilmington, NC.

Leah (Reynolds) Donovan (BS TXM 1997) and her husband Major Edward Donovan (US Marine Corps) announce the birth of their daughter, Emma Grace Donovan, born September 21, 2007.  Emma weighed 6 lbs. 8 oz. and was 19 1/2 inches long.  The Donovan's are stationed in Naples, Italy.

Lesley Hatcher Rossato (BSTT 2002, MST 2004) and Martin Rossato (BSTE '03) announce the birth of their first child, Finley Martín Rossato, born July 8, 2008 at 3:10 pm. Finley weighed 7lbs. 8 oz. and was 20" long.  The Rossatos reside in Greensboro, NC.

Matt (BSTXM 2001) and Melissa (Hood) Poovey announce the birth of Annabelle Stuart Poovey, born June 16, 2008 at 12:23pm. She weighed 8 lbs, 6 oz and was 19.5 inches long.

Gavin Wilkes Atkinson was born on October 2, 2008 to Zeb Atkinson (BSTE 1998, MBA 2000) and Stephanie Atkinson (ZO-1997).  Gavin weighed 6.9 lbs and was 19.75" long.  Zeb is employed as a Senior Development Engineer with Milliken & Company, and Stephanie is employed as a Nurse Practitioner with Spartanburg Regional Hospital.  The Atkinsons live in Spartanburg, SC.

Dr. Russell Gorga, assistant professor in the Textile Engineering, Chemistry, and Science Department and his wife announce the birth of their first child, Leonardo Tomas Boudreau Gorga.  Leonardo was born at 2:23 am on September 5, 2008 and weighed in 9 lbs 6 oz with a length of 22 ½ inches.

Dr. Mendel Leno Robinson, Jr., 77, died on September 28, 2008.
He was born on May 4, 1931 in Camden, SC to his parents the late Mendel L. Robinson Sr. and Mittie Rebecca West Robinson.

Dr. Robinson, lovingly referred to as "Robi" was a graduate of NC State University. He received his BS degree, a Masters degree in Textiles and two doctorate degrees in Textiles and Education. During his many years of teaching, he was awarded with two Outstanding Professor of the Year awards. He was a man of high intellect and extraordinarily thoughtful of others. He enjoyed reading, sports cars, and communicating with friends and family through his computer. His quest for more knowledge was always an inspiration to others.

He will be lovingly remembered by his life-long sweetheart, his wife Donna, "Fang", of 56 years; brother- in-law, Al and Peggy Padgett; sister- in-law, Betsy Robinson; nieces and nephew, Cindy Gates, Sharon Hipp, Joe Hipp III, Kani Garren, and Matt Robinson.

He was predeceased by his parents, brother, John Robinson, sister, Gwen Hipp, and brother-in-law, Danny B. Padgett.

A memorial service was held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 30, 2008 at the Chapel of Mitchell Funeral Home at Raleigh Memorial Park, 7209 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Humane Society, in memory of Dr. Robinson.