The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1407083
8 ■ THE WOLFPACKER ■ WOLFPACK CLUB NEWS Where did you grow up: "Rocky Mount, N.C." Where did you go to high school? "Rocky Mount Senior High School." What college did you graduate from? "NC State undergrad 2007, NC State grad school in 2009. Both degrees were in Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management." What is your responsibility at the Wolfpack Club? "I oversee the Wolfpack Club's Annual Giving program. I focus on donor retention, donor acquisition and increasing the annual giving within the donor levels. Also, implementation of new revenue streams within the annual giving platform to produce additional annual giv- ing dollars for NC State athletics. "I have a few major gifts responsibili- ties as well and try to move annual-giving donors up to hopefully a major gift that supports the Wolfpack Club and NC State athletics in some fashion." How long have you been with the Wolf- pack Club? "Ten years. In grad school, I did a graduate internship at Campbell in my final semester. It was in the Camel Club. Then I interviewed for an internship with the Wolfpack Club and did that for a year. As my internship was ending, the university was beginning the 'Think and Do' campaign. "The Wolfpack Club, obviously being a part of that, was expanding its annual giv- ing team, and that's where I came in after my initial internship." What is your favorite part of the job? "I feel like I am one of the donors. I have familial history at NC State. My granddad, Dudley Whitley, played baseball here. My mom, Beth Pridgen, is a CHASS graduate, and my uncle Dee Whitley played football here. I am a third-generation Wolfpacker, which is not too uncommon within the do- nor base. "The fun part of the job is just meeting and interacting with people like myself, being able to talk about the history of NC State. They all have their own different stories, but we are all tied in some way, shape or form. The fun part is that we are not a bandwagon group. It's all of us in the foxhole together." Family: "My wife, Lisa, went to NC State. She graduated with a communica- tions degree in 2009. We have two children. Ava just turned 4, and Lucy turned 1 in September." What are your hobbies? "I love to play golf any chance I get. My family and I love going to the beach. With two daughters, I love hanging out with them. We like to do little trips within the state of North Caro- lina. We are foodies who like to try to dif- ferent restaurants in the state." Favorite TV show: "'Friends.'" Favorite musical artist: "Kenny Chesney." Favorite restaurant: "Second Empire in Raleigh." Favorite Wolfpack memory: "I'll give you three that were in different stages of my life. A lot of NC State fans remember the Gator Bowl, but what I remember is driving down to Jacksonville and just see- ing how many NC State people were going on I-95. The atmosphere of that game was incredible. To be a part of that was fun. "The next one was the 2003 game when Virginia was here. It was Matt Schaub and Philip Rivers. I was a freshman that year. That was my first big-time game as a stu- dent — a night game with what ended up being two future NFL quarterbacks show- ing off. It was back-and-forth, and that was an awesome experience. "The third, as an employee, would be the Thursday night Louisville game here in 2017 when Germaine Pratt sealed the deal with a pick-six. That is probably the best atmosphere that I, as an employee of the Wolfpack Club, have been a part of at Carter-Finley." What is something most people don't know about you? "I finished second in an Opie lookalike contest at a Carolina Mud- cats game when I was about 10 years old. It was Mayberry night, and we just went randomly." ■ WOLFPACK CLUB STAFF SPOTLIGHT: Will Pridgen, Director of Annual Giving Pridgen, pictured with wife Lisa and daughters Ava and Lucy, is a third-gener- ation Wolfpacker. COMPLIANCE CORNER "ASK BEFORE YOU ACT" by contacting NC State Athletic Compliance directly. Toll Free: 1-855-5 COMPLY (1-855-526-6759) Text: 919-675-4424 E-mail: ask_compliance@ncsu.edu Online: gopack.com/compliance CAN I HAVE A STUDENT-ATHLETE OR THE TEAM OVER TO MY HOUSE FOR DINNER? Answer: Yes, donors/supporters can provide student-athletes with what is called an "occasional meal." There are VERY specific NCAA requirements about this, so contact the compliance staff and the coaching staff if you want to do this. WHEN I WATCH A GAME AND SEE A TALENTED HIGH SCHOOL PLAYER WHO I THINK WOULD BE GREAT FOR NC STATE, WHAT SHOULD I DO WITH THIS INFORMATION? Answer: Contact the coaching staff of that sport and pass along the information. You cannot be a recruiter for NC State, which means you cannot be communicat- ing with recruits, but if you occasionally see a player who seems like a great fit for us, then by all means, pass along the information. If you are ever in doubt, contact the compliance staff BEFORE doing what you want to do! Thanks for everything you do to keep NC State safe!