Amy Reamer and Tronda Lee met passing notes in class. Now, they fund scholarships to support future NC State engineers.
In a packed lecture hall at NC State’s Harrelson Hall 25 years ago, Amy Reamer and Tronda Lee sat beside each other in an ST 371 statistics class. Their professor was known for his strict no-talking rule, but that didn’t stop them. Instead, they passed notes back and forth in Reamer’s notebook.
“I still have that notebook somewhere,” Reamer recalled with a smile. “We studied together, started tailgating for Wolfpack football games together, and the rest is friendship history!”
That small moment sparked a lifelong friendship. From their love of NC State athletics to their shared passion for various hobbies, Reamer and Lee quickly realized they were kindred spirits.
“We have a lot in common, from our love of Wolfpack sports to our affinities for mathematics, organizing and traveling!” Reamer said. “Tronda is from Salisbury, NC, where my grandmother was born and raised, and I always thought that was such a neat connection.”
Beyond common interests, their friendship has been built on loyalty and kindness. “She is the most loyal friend you could ever have,” Reamer said. “If you need something, she is there in no time at all with Panera soup in tow.”
For Lee, their bond goes even deeper. “There are so many factors that have led to my lifelong friendship with Amy,” she said. “However, if I have to pinpoint something, it would be the alignment of our moral compass and values.”
Their friendship, which started with simple notes in class, has stood the test of time. Reamer hopes her children will one day have a friendship as meaningful as hers with Lee. “I count her friendship as one of my most treasured blessings,” she said. “I hope my kids are lucky enough to have a Tronda in their life someday—someone who is funny, smart and a passionate community advocate.”
Paying it Forward
But their bond goes beyond friendship. Their shared experience in NC State’s Edward P. Fitts Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE) shaped their careers and inspired them to give back.
“I owe pretty much all of my professional success to the ISE department,” Reamer said. “I wouldn’t be who I am today without the opportunities afforded to me in ISE at NC State.”
Reamer recalls how the support from faculty, staff and fellow students—especially their academic advisor, Clarence Smith—made a lasting impact. “As many alums will attest, I am particularly grateful for the support of Clarence Smith, the department’s academic advisor. He has remained a valued mentor long since I turned the tassel on my graduation cap.”
Lee agrees and appreciates how ISE prepares students for technical and business challenges. “I decided to support the ISE Department because it provides a diverse perspective of technical skills and business acumen to their students, which is not offered by all disciplines of engineering,” she said.
Both women received scholarships while at NC State, which allowed them to focus on their education. Now, they want to give others the same opportunity. “As a student, I was fortunate to receive financial support from the College of Engineering and ISE, which enabled me to focus primarily on my studies,” Reamer said. “I hope our scholarship affords the same opportunity to a current ISE student—to be able to treat their education as a full-time job and take advantage of co-curricular opportunities that maximize their collegiate experience.”
They also encourage students to build strong relationships with mentors. “Make connections with your professors and academic advisors by visiting them during office hours.” Reamer said. “During those visits, I learned about ISE content certainly, but I also enjoyed getting to know them as people.”
Lee added, “Stay curious! Actively question assumptions to expose hidden opportunities and to refine your understanding.”
From passing notes in class to funding a scholarship for future engineers, Reamer and Lee have come full circle. Their lifelong friendship and dedication to NC State’s ISE department will help shape the next generation of engineers.