As the cost of living rises, graduate students increasingly struggle to pursue their academic dreams while supporting themselves and their families. But a new endowment will make life for some College of Natural Resources master’s and doctoral candidates a bit more manageable.

William Paige Jr. and his wife, Jane Farmer Paige, established the Paige Forestry and Environmental Resources Graduate Student Support Endowment to help cover everyday expenses for on-campus graduate students in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources.

The Paiges know what it’s like to make it through graduate school on a tight budget. Both worked full time — he for the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality and she as editor of The Cary News — while raising a family as he pursued his graduate degrees.

Their three children were born while William was pursuing his master’s degree and Ph.D. in civil and environmental engineering at North Carolina State University. In fact, their son, now a College of Natural Resources alumnus, was born just a week before William earned his doctorate.

“I had a good job, Jane had a good job. But we still had to balance the basic needs while I was going to school. We were trying to save money to purchase a house, and trying to put food on the table,” William said. “And things have only gotten worse these days in terms of rent and cost of living. Students shouldn’t have to worry about food and shelter while pursuing a higher degree.”

The Paiges’ gift does more than keep food in the fridge, pay the rent and keep the lights on. The couple believes graduate students make essential contributions to environmental research and innovation. Their gift helps cover basic living expenses, allowing students to focus on research, scholarship and professional development.

After a career with the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality and then GE and Duke Energy, William returned to campus as a lecturer in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources. Jane, who earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, is now retired. 

The couple, who have been married 48 years, share great memories from his graduate school years but hope to make the journey easier for today’s students.

“I especially think of foreign students,” Jane said. “They have the challenges of being in a foreign country, a different language, often with no local support system. We had family that could help us, but for those who are here making it on their own, they need this extra help.”

The Paiges hope their gift will ease some of that financial burden, giving graduate students and their families the opportunity to spend less time worrying about everyday expenses and more time enjoying their campus experience. William said he and his wife are thrilled to be in a position to make this gift.

“I’ll be perfectly honest. The last thing I would ever have thought we would be able to do is create an endowment,” William said. “But we read some articles about giving from NC State and talked to our financial advisor and found that we really could do this. We also felt a real responsibility to give back and to try to help others.”

He added, “We didn’t hesitate for a minute — we looked at each other and knew we would create an endowment for the College of Natural Resources.”

The Paiges believe their gift will pay it forward in other ways.

“Obviously NC State wants to get the best graduate students. They want to attract the top people to come into their programs, so they in turn can attract the top faculty,” William said. “So the more you can offer these graduate students to come, then you will get the top students and top faculty.”

For William, supporting graduate students is also a way to invest in the university’s future. He encourages alumni at every stage of life — from recent graduates to longtime supporters — to give back in whatever way they can.

“Don’t ever give up on the idea that you can help those coming along after you,” he said. “There’s a real good chance that the student who gets your gift would not be where they are today or in that position to give back if it had not been for the assistance through the university.”

Jane agreed. “You don’t have to be a trillionaire to give money back. Every little amount helps. And if you can’t give money, give time. Volunteer, offer an internship if you can or simply share your experience at the university. Giving can have a real domino effect.”

This article was written by Beth Grace for the College of Natural Resources.