South Raleigh News

North Carolina State's Wolfpack Club raises funds for athletic scholarships and toward the cost of facilities.

The club, also known as the N.C. State Student Aid Association, aims in all activities to strive "with the highest integrity for academic and athletic excellence." It supports varsity teams from N.C. State, which compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) across all sports.

Men's teams include baseball, basketball, cheerleading, cross-country, football, golf, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field and wrestling. Women compete in basketball, cheerleading, cross-country, golf, gymnastics, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field and volleyball.

Donors and former student-athletes have told their stories on the Wolf Pack Club website.

Courtney Barbee Dobbins, of Knightdale, described how the Carter-Finley Stadium has been a second home almost since she was born. Prior to this year, she missed only three home football games in her life, and is a former president of the Student Wolfpack Club.

"It's just in my blood," Dobbins told wolfpackclub.com. "It's a way of life and how I was brought up. After graduation, [joining the Wolfpack Club is] what you do. There was no question.

"My grandfather graduated here in 1950. He and my dad always came to games. Then my mom started coming to games and then, when I was born, I started coming to games. My dad became a Wolfpack Club representative and through that, [the passion] just flourished. Driving every fall, it was two hours to Raleigh, so it just became a way of life. That's what you did. Growing up, my grandfather would take me on tours of the N.C. State campus and it was in my blood to begin with."

Former student-athlete, Harli Hubbard, a softball standout in the Class of '18, described how the club helped her.

"The countless hours of practice, traveling and ice baths are all worth it because I am living out a dream that I have had since I was 8 to be a Division 1 pitcher at a major university. "When I was 8 I did not realize that I would be here at State, and I thank my lucky stars that I have this opportunity to be at this outstanding school.

"If it wasn’t for college athletics scholarships and help from the Wolfpack Club, I would not be able to live this dream. I am incredibly thankful for all our Wolfpack donors. You truly are making dreams come true.”