CSC News

Senior Design Center’s ‘Posters & Pies’ 30th Anniversary Celebration a Success

Hundreds gathered at the McKimmon Center on April 23, 2025 for the #NCStateCS Senior Design Center’s ‘Posters & Pies’ 30th Anniversary Celebration. In addition to showcasing student projects, this year’s celebration began with a panel discussion on the history of the SDC, plus goals for the center’s future. 

For three decades, the SDC has brought student teams and corporate sponsors together to work on real-world problems, with a goal of creating viable products, services and solutions. This is one of the department’s strongest programs, helping develop and differentiate graduates as they enter the industry in a time of change, collaboration and growth. More on the SDC.

SDC Assistant Director Ignacio Domínguez gave a brief welcome before kicking off the panel. SDC Communications Coordinator Aimee Allard moderated the discussion.

Panelists: 

• Alan Tharp: professor emeritus; former Department of Computer Science head; SDC co-founder
• Robert Fornaro: professor emeritus; SDC co-founder, first director and co-creator
• Margaret Heil: current SDC director, lecturer, advisor and co-creator
• Alex Cail: software developer at Katabasis; 2023 alumna; Spring 2025 project sponsor
• CJ Saretto: CTO at Axiom; 2001 alumnus (M.S.); CS Hall of Fame member; Spring 2025 project sponsor

237 students, split into 47 teams, presented their capstone projects this semester. In a testament to the strength of the course in preparing students for the workforce, this was the largest class in the center’s 30 year history. After the panel, attendees enjoyed dessert pies and had a chance to see each of the teams’ poster presentations. 

A key aspect of the SDC is the working relationship students build with industry professionals, including sponsors, mentors and attendees of Posters & Pies. 

“It’s really meaningful to me to be a project sponsor,” said CJ Saretto. “I get the opportunity to work directly with students, and to hopefully impart upon them the same skills that I learned at NC State, and help jumpstart their careers in the same way that mine was jumpstarted by the center.”

Thanks to the Department of Computer Science ePartners Program and the faculty and staff who make Posters & Pies a highlight each semester. 

View the full 30th Anniversary photo gallery here.

~brown~