Congratulations to Lia Novak ‘28 on being this year`s recipient of the Peter W. Hart Graduate Student Award! 👏

Lia is currently doing her graduate studies in the Department of Forest Biomaterials and expects to graduate in May 2028.

During her time in the college, she has received the Goodnight Doctoral Fellowship. Lia also received the second-place poster award at the 2025 Mid-Atlantic Sustainable Bioproducts & Bioenergy Consortium conference.

“This award grants me the opportunity to travel and present my work to other like-minded people. Presenting and learning from others will not only help me academically, but also professionally. This recognition shows me that the work I’ve been doing for the past two years is important and also serves as motivation to keep going, growing and learning.”

After graduation, Lia plans to go back into the industry. After her undergraduate education, she worked for two years as a research associate.

“My supervisor and other co-workers who held doctorate degrees were so gracious and willing to teach me. In a kind of “pass it on” mentality, I’d love to manage a lab and hopefully help, teach, and inspire others.”

Meet Paige Neiman ‘24, youth community outreach specialist for the Carolina Hurricanes. 🏒

In the spring of 2024, Paige graduated from the College of Natural Resources with a bachelor’s in sport management. During her sophomore year, she got her first view into the world of college sports as a football recruiting intern for NC State Football.

Later, Paige became involved with the college’s Women in Sports Leadership Summit. "This conference, started by me and a group of women in the sport management program, is for both faculty and students, and works to facilitate the sharing of connections and information between women in the sport industry,” she said. “It has since expanded to include mentorship programs with local high school students.”

In her spare time, Paige has volunteered and worked with the Raleigh Parks and Recreation Department. In the spring of 2024, she secured an internship with the Pittsburgh Pirates, working in their community department. It was there that she solidified her passion for working in professional sports, particularly in community relations.

Since February 2025, Paige has worked for the @canes as their youth community outreach specialist. This January, she also took over the team’s girls and women’s outreach efforts. For Paige, a typical week during the season includes youth game day activations, creating and planning events, supporting youth hockey efforts through coaching or running clinics, and many other tasks.

“My time with the Canes has connected me with a lot of great people within the triangle area. Whether it`s students or professionals, I have been able to expand my network and find new opportunities in the community.

I have learned so much about the world of hockey and the way this team operates. Being able to plan and activate playoff community/marketing events has been such a valuable experience.” -@paige_neiman

Congratulations to the Carolina Hurricanes on winning the Stanley Cup! 🏒 🎉

One of our own alumni, Peyton Odum ‘24, has had the wonderful opportunity to work on the Canes Crew. Peyton, who graduated with his bachelor’s in sport management, spent most of his college journey working with the @canes.

While at @ncstate, Peyton also interned as a player personnel and scouting assistant with NC State Football and as a sports reporter with CBS 17 News. Outside of his internships, one of the most impactful parts of Peyton’s time at NC State was being a member of the James Buzzard Leadership Program.

Since August 2023, Peyton has worked for the Carolina Hurricanes as a member of the Canes Crew. “From being on the ice for an intermission game, to tossing T-shirts around the arena, to representing the team at community events, our job is ultimately quite simple: make the fan experience unforgettable,” he said.

Halfway through this year, Peyton was fortunate enough to be asked to step into a new role as the Carolina Hurricanes’ entertainment assistant and stage manager. Most nights, he can be found in Section 229 wearing a headset and helping bring the producer`s vision to life.

Whether it`s coordinating a siren sounder, executing an in-game presentation, or working with the team’s anthem singers and honor guards before the puck drop, Peyton`s role is all about making sure everyone knows exactly where they need to be and what to expect. He ensures the show unfolds smoothly from start to finish.

“There aren`t enough words to describe how much this journey with the Canes has impacted my professional development. The relationships I`ve built with people inside the organization have taught me what it means to consistently perform at a high level while also having fun along the way.

Beyond that, there`s a certain weight that comes with saying you work for the Carolina Hurricanes. People understand the standard that this organization represents. It has already opened doors, sparked conversations and created opportunities that I`m incredibly grateful for." -@po1505