{"id":26392,"date":"2023-04-26T09:51:25","date_gmt":"2023-04-26T13:51:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/?p=26392"},"modified":"2024-11-11T10:54:03","modified_gmt":"2024-11-11T15:54:03","slug":"skye-pham-fulbright-award","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/2023\/04\/skye-pham-fulbright-award\/","title":{"rendered":"Skye Pham \u201823 Receives Fulbright Award to Study Abroad in Finland"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n

Growing up, Skye Pham discovered that many challenges can be solved with a little bit of ingenuity and hard work. When she wanted new clothes for her dolls, for instance, she learned to create them herself by sewing together old fabrics. So it\u2019s no coincidence that Pham will soon depart NC State to study how to develop sustainable solutions through one of the nation\u2019s most prestigious scholarship programs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pham, who is expected to graduate from the College of Natural Resources in May 2023 with a bachelor\u2019s degree in sustainable materials and technology with minors in art and design and renewable energy assessment, has been named a recipient of the Fulbright U.S. Student Program award<\/a>. The award will allow her to pursue a master\u2019s degree in creative sustainability from the School of Chemical Engineering at Aalto University, a public research university located in Espoo, Finland. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program is the federal government\u2019s flagship international educational exchange program that provides grants to graduating seniors and recent graduates to study, teach English or conduct research overseas. Recipients are selected in an open, merit-based competition that considers leadership potential, academic and\/or professional achievement and record of service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m incredibly honored to be named a Fulbright award recipient, and I\u2019m excited to continue developing my knowledge of bio-products while also learning how different disciplines can help to inform my field,\u201d Pham said. \u201cMy undergraduate degree has furthered my interest in understanding sustainability from a holistic perspective. Aalto University is the perfect fit for me to further my knowledge in this field.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Road to Success<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Pham\u2019s interest in sustainability is largely a product of her childhood abroad. Though she was born in Chapel Hill, she spent many of her elementary years in Vietnam and China. There she was exposed to a variety of cultures \u2014 and their responses to their surrounding environments. By the time Pham reached high school, she had moved back to North Carolina. And upon enrolling in an environmental science course during her junior year, she quickly realized that her family\u2019s regular habits of repurposing used materials and growing their own vegetables were considered \u201csustainable\u201d practices. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After graduating as valedictorian of her class in 2019, Pham enrolled in the sustainable materials and technology degree program<\/a> in the Department of Forest Biomaterials. \u201cAt the time, I felt that the sustainable materials and technology program offered a more hands-on and practical approach to a sustainability-focused degree, and of course, it did,\u201d Pham said. \u201cWhile it has a material science focus, it also emphasizes interdisciplinary learning, including courses in business, ethics, and design.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
Pham spent much of her early childhood in Vietnam and China, where she was exposed to a variety of cultures and environments. Photo provided<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

NC State students enrolled in the sustainable materials and technology program gain an in-depth understanding of how to create and manipulate materials derived from renewable natural resources such as wood, bamboo and grasses. As part of SMT 444: Sustainable Composite and Biopolymers, for example, Pham and her classmates worked in teams to build boats out of carbon fiber and other composites and then tested their ability to float in the swimming pool at Carmichael Gym. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe College of Natural Resources has prepared me for my future by providing me with enriching academic and extracurricular opportunities,\u201d Pham said. \u201cThrough these experiences, I have been able to build my knowledge of sustainability from different perspectives and gain hands-on experience addressing environmental issues.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

During her sophomore year, Pham joined the Social Innovation Fellows<\/a> program and worked with the university\u2019s Compost Facility and Research Cooperative to develop a solution to on-campus waste sorting and contamination problems. She introduced a bill to the student senate that would require all of NC State\u2019s incoming students to complete online modules about waste sorting in order to reduce compost contamination. The bill was passed and went into effect in the fall semester of last year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Skye<\/a>
Pham working in the Hodges Wood Products Laboratory at NC State. Photo by Becky Kirkland<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Pham also served as a technical analyst for the Hodges Wood Products Laboratory<\/a>, an experience that she cited as being integral to her decision to apply for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program and to pursue her graduate degree. Opened in 1960, the Hodges Wood Products Laboratory is the industry\u2019s premier testing and technical service facility for investigating the properties of wood, forest biomaterials and energy products. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy experience with the Hodges Wood Products Laboratory really helped me to realize just how many jobs are available in this field,\u201d Pham said. \u201cIf it hadn\u2019t been such a great experience, I probably wouldn\u2019t feel as certain about my future as I do now.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Bright Future Ahead <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Once Pham graduates from NC State this spring, she will begin the preparations for her departure to Finland in August. While at Aalto University, Pham will work as part of an interdisciplinary team of students to develop sustainable solutions for human, urban, industrial and business environments. She will spend two years at the university before returning to the U.S. to either pursue a doctoral degree or full-time career. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pham said her upcoming trip to Finland has brought about mixed emotions. While she\u2019s nervous about moving abroad without family and friends, she\u2019s also excited for the opportunity to visit a new country. Pham discovered a passion for cultural exchange while serving as the creative director and internal vice president for the Vietnamese Student Association<\/a> at NC State. In fact, she’s already begun learning the Finnish language on DuoLingo and thinking of possible destinations and attractions, including the northern lights. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI was a child and depended on my parents when I moved to Vietnam and China. Now I\u2019ll be doing it on my own,\u201d Pham said. \u201cIt\u2019ll be a good growing and learning opportunity.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Skye<\/a>
Pham (center) performs with other members of NC State\u2019s Vietnamese Student Association as part of Viet Night 2022 at the Witherspoon Student Center. Photo provided<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Of all the things that Pham is leaving behind at NC State, she said she\u2019ll mostly miss the community of faculty, staff and students who have provided invaluable guidance and support throughout her journey. \u201cThe College of Natural Resources is a really small, tight-knit community so you get to know everyone,\u201d she said. \u201cThe faculty and staff truly make you feel supported, and being surrounded by students who are also passionate about the environment has been inspiring. I\u2019m going to miss it a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pham extended a special mention of gratitude to a number of faculty and staff, including Perry Peralta<\/a> and Ilona Peszlen<\/a> of the Department of Forest Biomaterials; Lyndsey Campbell of the Hodges Wood Products Laboratory; Raj Narayan<\/a> of the Kenan Institute for Engineering, Technology and Science; and Courtney Hughes<\/a> and Kristen Hetrick<\/a> of the University Fellowships Office. She also thanked the donors who supported her through scholarships, including the Linde Natural Resources Scholarship<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n