Newsday 031826

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N.C. A&T to Host Thurgood Marshall College Fund Pitch Competition March 19-21

Charity L. Cohen

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (March 13, 2026) – North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University will host The Pitch™, an innovation experience in partnership with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF), Thursday, March 19, through Saturday, March 21.

As part of TMCF’s Innovation & Entrepreneurship programming, The Pitch™ is an immersive, place-based learning experience designed to empower historically Black college and university students with the technical, creative and business skills needed to excel in emerging technology fields.

The program will bring together 100 North Carolina A&T students to develop solutions to real-world challenges, build prototypes and compete in a culminating pitch competition. Anchored in a curriculum that blends “intrapreneurial” and entrepreneurial principles, the three-day event will feature hands-on product development, builder workshops and a high-impact pitch competition. Participants will gain real-world experience solving industry challenges while benefiting from direct mentorship, industry exposure and a startup-style innovation environment.

Events begin at 8 a.m. March 19-20, and will take place in the Student Center, primarily in the Deese Ballroom, while the final pitch competition March 21 will be held throughout Frye Hall.

Students will work in teams of five through an innovation process that moves ideas from concept to prototype while exploring real industry challenges and gaining experience in product development, startup simulation and strategic problem-solving.

The event begins Thursday with an opening keynote in the Deese Ballroom followed by hands-on workshops that introduce students to design thinking, AI-assisted innovation and emerging technologies. Throughout the day, participants will develop ideas and take part in sessions focused on business model development, product design and early prototyping.

On Friday, March 20, teams will continue building their products, participate in pitch practice sessions and receive feedback from mentors and industry professionals before competing in a qualifying round to determine which teams advance.

The program culminates in a final pitch competition Saturday, March 21, in Frye Hall with professional development sessions and the final pitch competition. Students will also have opportunities to connect with employer partners during a recruitment fair and networking event. The top teams will present their final pitches before a panel of judges, with winners announced during the closing awards ceremony.

While student participants have already been selected to take part in this experience, some sessions including keynotes, networking opportunities and the pitch competition viewing are open to the public.

UNC System joins U.S. Census Bureau postsecondary employment outcomes initiative, New database helps students and families explore career and earnings outcomes

ANDY WALLACE

RALEIGH, N.C. – Students and families increasingly want clear information about the value and return of a college degree. The University of North Carolina System is helping provide those answers.

With support from the North Carolina Department of Commerce, the UNC System has joined the U.S. Census Bureau’s Postsecondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) initiative, an interactive database that provides visibility into earnings and employment outcomes across a wide range of academic programs.

“North Carolina has a growing, dynamic economy, and our public universities offer great pathways to a fulfilling career,” said UNC System President Peter Hans. “This will help students explore their options and find a degree program that matches their interests and ambitions. We are grateful to the North Carolina Department of Commerce for its support.”

The decision to join PSEO is part of the UNC System’s ongoing effort to demonstrate the value of a UNC System degree to students and families. The interactive tool, hosted on the Census Bureau website, allows users to compare outcomes one, five and 10 years after graduation, including data comparing career outcomes for bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree holders.

USDA NIFA Launches New Rapid Response Grants Opportunity to Combat Emerging Agricultural Threats

(KANSAS CITY, MO., March 16, 2026) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announces the launch of a new competitive grants program aimed at rapidly addressing emerging and re-emerging pest and disease threats across the nation's food and agricultural systems.

The grants program, Rapid Response to Emerging and Re-emerging Pest and Disease Events Across Food and Agricultural Systems, is designed to deploy timely, science-based solutions to protect agricultural productivity, ecosystem health, and food security.

"Invasive and emerging pests and diseases can devastate crops, livestock, and ecosystems, disrupt supply chains and threaten food security," said NIFA Director Dr. Jaye Hamby. "This program empowers researchers and Extension professionals to act quickly, delivering practical solutions that safeguard our agricultural communities and the nation's food supply."

This program is part of NIFA's Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), designed to improve plant and animal production and sustainability, and human and environmental health. AFRI is the nation's leading and largest competitive grants program for agricultural sciences. These grants are available to eligible colleges, universities, and other research organizations.

With a maximum award of $500,000 and a grant duration of 12 to 24 months, the program supports grants for research, Extension, or integrated projects. Applications are accepted on a continuous basis, within 180 days of a qualifying pest or disease event, ensuring swift mobilization of resources when threats arise.

Applications must directly address the effects associated with the emergence or re-emergence within the last 180 days of pests and/or disease in animal and/or plant production systems or within the food supply, and one or more of the following emphasis areas: One Health, plant and animal health, and ecosystem health.

Funded projects will focus on applied research and Extension and outreach activities that generate actionable knowledge and tools. These may include:

Rapid understanding of pest/pathogen ecology, epidemiology, and immunology.
Development and validation of diagnostics, vaccines, and control methods.
Communication strategies, training programs, and best practices for mitigation.
Technologies and protocols for detection, management, and prevention.

To ensure impact, projects must implement or develop at least one deliverable within six months of award receipt, with all activities completed within the grant period. Proposals are encouraged to integrate biological and social sciences, engage public-private partnerships, and support small- and medium-sized farms and ranches.

"This program reflects USDA's commitment to proactive, science-driven responses to agricultural threats," Hamby said. "By supporting rapid innovation and collaboration, we're helping communities stay resilient in the face of evolving challenges."

The program also welcomes proposals that address ecosystem health, including strategies to mitigate the environmental impacts of pests and diseases affecting plants, animals, and pollinators. Projects that incorporate community development, youth development, and 4-H are also eligible, provided they align with the program's emphasis areas.

Applicants are encouraged to coordinate efforts across institutions and regions, and to contact program staff at afri-rapidresponse@usda.gov with questions regarding project fit. While this program is designed for short-term, rapid response efforts, longer-term projects may be better suited for other AFRI program area priorities such as Agricultural Biosecurity, Diseases of Agricultural Animals, or Food Safety and Defense.

For more information, visit nifa.usda.gov or email afri-rapidresponse@usda.gov.

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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

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