NCREN’s 25th Anniversary Nears Record Attendance
Posted: 11-25-2009 : RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C.

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. – More than 300 government officials, business leaders, and educators from throughout North Carolina and beyond have registered for the North Carolina Research and Education Network’s (NCREN) 25th Anniversary Community Celebration on Thursday, Dec. 3 and Friday, Dec. 4, at SAS Worldwide Headquarters in Cary. This year’s theme is Connect. Innovate. Lead.

A limited amount of seats remain. Online registration ends Nov. 30. Please check the attendee list to view colleagues who will be joining the celebration. This year's program details also are available online.

Highlights include:

North Carolina Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton and the STEM / Regionalism panel discussion
Former North Carolina Governor Jim Hunt Howard Lee, former N.C. Senator, and Executive Director of the N.C. Education Cabinet, who also will be signing copies of his new book, “The Courage to Lead, One Man’s Journey in Public Service.”

Presenters from regional networks including: George Laskaris, Chief Executive Officer of NJEdge.Net and Paul Schopis, Chief Technology Officer at OARnet. Thursday evening networking reception with music by Durham's C.E. Jordan High School Jazz Band

The celebration will feature several interactive panel discussions:

STEM / Regionalism Panel Lt. Governor Walter Dalton will give brief remarks and lead a panel of statewide community leaders who will focus on education and economics in our rapidly changing world and the value STEM Communities will bring to our state in responding to these global changes. Featured panelists include Linda Bost of Davie County Schools, Tom Vermillion of Down East Protection Systems, and Jane Smith with BRAC Regional Task Force. Learn more.

N.C. Education Panel
This panel will be moderated by MCNC President and CEO Joe Freddoso and focuses on the role of technology in K-20 education and collaboration. Featured panelists include leadership from North Carolina’s education systems: State Superintendant June Atkinson; Alan Mabe, Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, UNC-General Administration; Hope Williams, President of the North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities; and R. Scott Ralls, President of the North Carolina Community College System.

Cisco Systems NERV Demonstration
As a Platinum Sponsor, Cisco Systems will be showcasing their NERV (Network Emergency Response Vehicle) on Dec. 3 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the parking lot of Building V at SAS. The NERV enables a unique level of customer support to Cisco customers in the midst of crisis, and is an example of the network-based communications transformation now underway in public safety. 

MCNC annually hosts the NCREN Community Day for its users and constituents to gain updates on programs and initiatives, hear from leaders in the community, and share applications, best practices, successes and ideas experienced by peers through the use of NCREN and its related services. Started in the late 1990s, the first NCREN Community Day focused primarily on updates to projects and initiatives. Today, the annual December gathering has evolved to a two-day event, showcasing community networking activities and panel discussions.

MCNC also is using a broad range of interactive tools to encourage participation and community action including the use of social networks such as Facebook and Twitter. MCNC will provide real-time updates during the event on Twitter and is offering a special prize for the follower who posts the most re-tweets of our updates.

2009 Sponsors
Thank you to our generous sponsors. This year’s platinum sponsor is Cisco Systems. Gold sponsor is FRC/PalmettoNet. Silver is Hewlett-Packard. Bronze is Intel Corporation. Keynote sponsor is NetStar.

Thank You to SAS
SAS has graciously agreed to host this year's event inside a newly-refurbished facility. We respectfully ask that no beverages be inside the new auditorium, and no smoking anywhere on the SAS Campus - including personal vehicles. Power will not be available in the auditorium, but a power station will be available for your convenience. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.   

Interviews/Photographs/Presentations
Interviews with keynote speakers and panelists will be made available upon request. To schedule interviews, please email April Connery. All reporters, photographers, and videographers are asked to RSVP prior to the event. Audio recordings and video will be made available post event. Presentations may be made available post event by request only and contingent to the wishes of individual presenters. Thank you for your cooperation.

About MCNC
MCNC provides advanced communications technologies and support services that enable access to 21st century learning applications that improve teaching, learning, research and collaboration among North Carolina's K-20 education community. MCNC, through its management of NCREN and its predecessor networks, has serviced the advanced networking technology needs of the University of North Carolina General Administration institutions and other higher education clients for the past 20 years. Please visit www.mcnc.org for more.

About NCREN
The North Carolina Research and Education Network (NCREN) is one of the nation's first statewide education and research networks. It provides broadband communications technology services and support to K-12 school districts, higher education campuses and academic research institutions across North Carolina. MCNC offers the NCREN network, technology tools and services to guarantee equal access to 21st century learning by providing a future-proof technology network that is the foundation for change and innovation in our educational systems. It creates possibility and provides an equitable educational experience throughout the state.

https://www.mcnc.org/events/community-celebration-2009-program.html