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McNeal Honored with Friday Medal

friday institute

The setting sun shines on a field of soybeans.

Jul 1, 2026

NC State (and America) the Beautiful

As the nation celebrates its 250th anniversary, discover how NC State has contributed to its prosperity, defense, culture and more.
A banner for the Friday Institute reads "The Friday Institute: The Building of Ideas."

Dec 11, 2025

Friday Institute Marks 2 Decades of Innovation in Education

From the expansion of the World Wide Web to the dawn of artificial intelligence, the William & Ida Friday Institute for Educational Innovation has been there to help educators prepare their students for the technology and careers of tomorrow.
A large group of people who participated in the event in front of a red wall

Sep 18, 2024

Literacy and Community Initiative Shares Framework for Critical Literacy and Successes of Program in New Book

The success of the Literacy and Community Initiative and its critical literacy framework are outlined in a new book entitled Amplifying Youth Voices through Critical Literacy and Positive Youth Development: The Potential of University-Community Partnerships, which is written by Associate Professor Crystal Chen Lee, Professor and Friday Institute Deputy Director Jose Picart and recent College of Education graduate Jennifer C. Mann ’23PHD.
Tech guys pose inside the Friday Institute.

Feb 20, 2023

Serious Fun

Three staffers almost went viral in 2007 with a catchy music video promoting the benefits of VMware's virtualization software. It turns out that the educational innovation behind the one-hit wonder improved computer access for K-12 students across the state.

student in a lab

Aug 26, 2021

Friday Institute Puts Equity at the Forefront

An annual conference for teachers, held last month, is just one tool the institute is using to help students thrive in the classroom.
High school students carried water in a project designed to teach them about global water access.

Jun 1, 2021

How To Engage Students in Addressing Global Problems

NC State researchers challenged 11th graders to find solutions to address the global problem of clean water access.
Photo of campus gateway.

Feb 18, 2020

Grant From the U.S. Dept. of Labor to Support AI Apprenticeships

NC State receives a four-year, $6 million grant to support 5,000 workers in artificial intelligence.

Jun 8, 2017

Friday Institute Names 7 Superintendents 2017 Friday Medalists

The Friday Institute will present the 2017 Friday Medals to seven superintendents of rural school districts in North Carolina who have improved student learning and implemented digital-age approaches to teaching and learning.

Mar 14, 2016

How Is North Carolina Doing With Digital Learning?

NC State's Friday Institute has released a new report that maps North Carolina's progress in using learning technologies and digital content.

Nov 18, 2015

Friday Institute Honors Wise

An education advocate and former governor won NC State's Friday Medal.

Oct 21, 2015

Picart Honored at West Point

An NC State administrator has been named professor emeritus and distinguished faculty alumnus at the United State Military Academy, where his leadership helped shape academic programs for nearly three decades.

Feb 11, 2015

5 Questions on Digital Learning

Mary Ann Wolf explains NC State's efforts to help school districts make the most of digital learning.

Nov 12, 2014

Spires to Design Model School in China

A Chinese developer has tapped the Friday Institute's Hiller Spires to design a high school for students who hope to enroll in top U.S. universities.

Aug 9, 2012

Web Conference on Digital Transition

Take part in a free Web conference offered by a project at the Friday Institute targeted at K-12 educators, administrators and education faculty.

Nov 23, 2011

McNeal Honored with Friday Medal

NC State honored Dr. Bill McNeal, longtime leader and former Wake County superintendent, with the Friday Medal for contributions to education.