The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1527657
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2024 ■ 9 ■ WOLFPACK CLUB NEWS Jeff Wright used to see Jim Valvano in the hallways of Reynolds Coliseum. Wright was an NC State Naval ROTC student at the time. Valvano was in the final years of his tenure in Raleigh. Wright graduated from NC State in 1991 with a degree in political science. His fondest memories with the Pack in- clude watching basketball games inside Reynolds — the same building where he attended classes. Sometimes, he and other midship- men would see Valvano, and the Wolf- pack men's basketball coach would stop to briefly speak with them. Earlier this year, Wright saw NC State reach a level it had not attained since the program was being led by its legendary coach. "I was able to go to all of our NCAA games," Wright said. "I went to Pitts- burgh, and then Dallas, and then took my family to Phoenix for the Final Four game. That was very special." He took in the historic runs through March Madness for both the men's and women's basketball teams and also en- joyed watching the women's cross coun- try squad win its third consecutive na- tional championship and the baseball team make the College World Series. A longtime fan and Wolfpack Club member, alongside his wife, Kelly, Wright has been giving back to his alma mater for more than a decade. They are invested in the athletics department and are doing what they can to make a mean- ingful impact on the NC State commu- nity. Wright was commissioned as a U.S. Naval Officer upon graduation in '91. He lived on the West Coast for years and now splits time between North Carolina and Washington. He and his wife have established sev- eral scholarships with NC State, includ- ing one with the Poole College of Man- agement and the Naval ROTC. Then they endowed the Veterans Center on campus with a sizable gift. "About 12 years ago, I joined the NC State Foundation Board as a way to give back to the university and help them focus on growing the endowments and supporting NC State holistically," Wright said. His family was already changing lives within the university, and now they're helping out Wolfpack student-athletes as well. Over the years, Wright has gotten to know Wolfpack Club executive director Ben Broussard and athletics director Boo Corrigan. The two NC State administra- tors both have connections to the U.S. military as well. Broussard served in the Marine Corps, and Corrigan was athlet- ics director at Army. When Wright attends the annual Vet- erans Day commemoration at Reynolds Coliseum and the Memorial Belltower, representatives of Wolfpack athletics are often there. He said baseball coach Elliott Avent brings his whole team to the event sometimes. "It was very apparent that the athlet- ics department had a great respect and support for the U.S. military," Wright said. Wright noted that wrestling coach Pat Popolizio shows a "deep admiration" for members of the military. He met with a few NC State wrestlers who are also in the ROTC program. That helped inspire the Wrights to set up an endowment for a military scholarship within athletics. "When I realized that there were a number of NC State athletes who were also pursuing a military career after their time in college and post-graduation, I was thinking, 'Wow, that's pretty amaz- ing,'" Wright said. As the endowment grows, Wright will help support athletes who are either pur- suing careers in the U.S. military or are a part of a military family. He said the process of funding those scholarships is about halfway complete. The longtime Wolfpack fan and alum- nus wants to give back to the university that helped him get to where he is today. He sees a need for this new scholarship, and his contribution will make a clear impact on NC State's athletes. "When we make a donation to the uni- versity, we want it to be long-lasting and impactful, and also have a personal con- nection to where the funds are going," Wright said. W P C D O N O R S P O T L I G H T JEFF WRIGHT Wright and his wife, Kelly, have been dedicated supporters of NC State and its athletic programs for many years. They have established several scholarships, including with the Poole College of Management and the Naval ROTC. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE UNIVERSITY