Each year, NC State Innovation and Entrepreneurship (IE) supports students who are pushing the boundaries of creativity, problem-solving and leadership. Through generous donor-funded scholarships, these students gain more than financial support; they gain the freedom to explore, innovate and bring their ideas to life.
The 2025 scholarship recipients shared how these awards have transformed their experiences at NC State and inspired them to pursue their entrepreneurial goals. Their stories highlight how IE continues to spark passion, build confidence and empower students to make a meaningful impact across disciplines.
Turning Vision into Opportunity
For Carter Wright, a sophomore studying business administration and sport management, the Sameer Murarka Entrepreneurship Scholarship was more than just financial help; it was a chance to focus on his academic and career ambitions. “It has eased my financial burden, allowing me to pursue internships that align with my long-term goal of attending law school,” Wright shared. “I’ve been able to invest more time in opportunities that strengthen my understanding of the legal and business landscape.”
Building Ideas Through Technology
Aimane Abdane, a first-year computer engineering student and e5x Scholarship recipient, is already diving into software development and tech entrepreneurship. “This scholarship gave me the freedom to build apps and explore launching my own SaaS product,” he said. “It’s motivating to know there’s support for students who want to take risks and build their own projects.”
He emphasized the power of IE’s community and mentorship and hopes to see more technical majors involved in the entrepreneurial experience in the future.
Encouraging Female Founders
For Anastasia Crosby, a senior in studying business administration with an information technology concentration, the Drs. Frank and Anoma Newlands Entrepreneurship Scholarship reaffirmed her commitment to the entrepreneurial journey. “It has inspired renewed confidence and will assist in building my entrepreneurial portfolio,” she explained.
Crosby appreciates how IE “empowers young female entrepreneurs” and hopes for even more communication about niche opportunities that intersect technology and the arts.
Innovation in Medicine
Connor Moore, a biomedical engineering major with minors in biological sciences and biotechnology, sees entrepreneurship as essential to advancing healthcare. As a Sameer Murarka Entrepreneurship Scholar, he shared, “Research alone is not enough; we need ways to bring new ideas into practice so patients can benefit.”
He hopes to merge his entrepreneurial mindset with his goal of attending medical school and developing new treatments. “Collaboration across disciplines helps generate new perspectives,” he says.
From Commuter to Community Builder
Aaron Balvaneda, a senior studying business administration, described how his Entrepreneurship Scholarship made a tangible difference in his daily life. “This scholarship allowed me to live near campus,” he said. “Otherwise, I would have had to commute over an hour each day, making my studies and entrepreneurial efforts much harder.”
Balvaneda values IE’s hands-on experiences, like VenturePack Challenge, which give students the chance to refine ideas and receive feedback. He’s eager to get more involved, realizing “there’s so much more to take advantage of” in the entrepreneurship community.
Where Data Meets Discovery
Jessica Ardeshana, a biomedical engineering major and data science minor, received the Alagu Periyannan and Theivanai Palaniappan Entrepreneurship Scholarship. She shared how it transformed her ability to focus on innovation: “Because the financial pressure eased, I finally had time to show up for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, things like the Pendo event, mentorship meetups, and Data Science Academy workshops.”
Ardeshana’s journey blends engineering, data and creativity. Her projects in biomedical modeling and AI-driven research show how interdisciplinary innovation can change lives. “IE gives me the mindset to keep asking questions and pushing boundaries,” she said.
Fostering a Culture of Innovation
Across all disciplines, these scholarship recipients demonstrate how innovation and entrepreneurship extend beyond startups. They represent a growing community of thinkers, creators and problem-solvers who see challenges as opportunities.
As Ardeshana summarized, “IE makes it easy to meet founders, staff and other students on the same journey as me. Almost every event leaves me thinking in a new way that I couldn’t have learned from Google.”
Through continued support from donors and mentors, NC State Innovation and Entrepreneurship ensures that the Wolfpack remains a hub for ideas that change the world.
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