The Heartbeat of Our Pack: Celebrating an Incredible Year and Our Phenomenal Student Employees!

What a year it has been for NC State Wellness and Recreation! From the bustling courts and pools to the adventurous trails and empowering wellness spaces, the energy and dedication of our team have been truly inspiring. And at the very heart of it all? Our incredible student employees.

This academic year, an astounding 650 student employees have filled over 1,100 diverse positions within Wellness and Recreation, bringing their passion, skills, and Wolfpack spirit to every corner of our department. Student employees are the friendly faces at the front desk, the watchful eyes by the water, the guiding voices in sports, the motivating fitness instructors, the adventurous leaders on outdoor excursions, the meticulous hands ensuring our facilities run smoothly, and the compassionate individuals supporting student well-being. From ensuring fair play as officials to leading thrilling trips, from motivating workouts to welcoming members, you are the lifeblood of our programs, and your contributions have been nothing short of extraordinary.

This past Wednesday, April 16, we had the immense pleasure of celebrating and recognizing these exceptional individuals at our annual Wolfies celebration. It was a night filled with laughter, appreciation and a deep sense of pride in the collective achievements of our team.

While every single student employee deserves our heartfelt gratitude, we want to extend a special congratulations to the remarkable individuals who received the prestigious Wolfies of the Year awards:

• Emily Palmer – Aquatics Lifeguard
• Madison Payne – Aquatics Swim Lesson Instructor
• Eliza Ayers – Aquatics Health and Safety Instructor
• Daniel Atkins – Aquatics Supervisor
• Parker Seay – Facility Operations Assistant
• Andrew Whitehead – Facility Operations Supervisor
• Isabella Cogan – Group Fitness Instructor
• Anneke Lam – Fitness Coach
• Avery Doughty – Fitness Personal Trainer
• Audrey Henderson – Marketing Assistant
• Bridgette Pullium – Member Services Entrance Assistant
• Jayanth Ramanidharan – Member Services Supervisor
• Marjaneh Mollaahmad – Outdoor Adventures Rental Assistant
• Jimmy Kinsella – Outdoor Adventures Trip Leader
• Elaine Vespa – Outdoor Adventures Climbing Wall Specialist
• Holden Rossi – Outdoor Adventures Climbing Wall Supervisor
• Zane Bryan – Outdoor Adventures Challenge Course Facilitator
• Joshua Rodarmel – Sports Programs Official
• Brayden Kauffman – Sports Programs Evaluator
• Ethan McCoy – Sports Programs Supervisor
• Ashley Wiederspiel – Wellness Specialist
• Sydney Jett – Wellness Coach

Your dedication, leadership, and commitment to excellence have truly shone this year, and you are all shining examples of the incredible talent within our student staff.

We also want to take a moment to recognize our graduating seniors and the dedicated members of our 4-Year Club. Your long-term commitment and consistent contributions have been invaluable to our department. Thank you for your years of service and for leaving a lasting impact on Wellness and Recreation.

• Nathan Benjamin, Outdoor Adventure
• Charlie Buss ‘25, Sports Programs
• Emily Hall ‘25, Sports Programs
• Jinny Hompoonsup ‘25, Fitness (5 years!)
• Kylie Karabinos, Fitness
• Ravi Pavuluri, Sports Programs
• Kyleigh Pegram ‘25, Aquatics
• Kaylyn Poole ‘25, Facility Operations
• Julia Stover ‘25, Member Services

To every single one of our 650 student employees, thank you. Your hard work, your enthusiasm, and your unwavering commitment are the heartbeat of our pack. You create a welcoming and vibrant environment for our students, faculty, and staff, and you play a vital role in fostering a culture of well-being across NC State. The success of Wellness and Recreation this year is a direct reflection of your dedication, and we are immensely grateful for your contributions. We look forward to seeing all that you will continue to achieve!