{"id":80325,"date":"2025-12-04T06:39:08","date_gmt":"2025-12-04T11:39:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/?p=80325"},"modified":"2026-03-26T20:45:16","modified_gmt":"2026-03-27T00:45:16","slug":"paying-success-forward","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/news\/paying-success-forward\/","title":{"rendered":"Paying Success Forward"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n

For Bob and Terri Lamendola, giving to the North Carolina Plant Sciences Initiative<\/a> has been a chance to continue their long-time support of education, contribute to the initiative\u2019s momentum and, at the same time, honor deeply meaningful family ties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In recognition of the Lamendola\u2019s support, NC State University\u2019s Board of Trustees recently approved the naming of the Lamendola & Trigilio Family Study Room on the third floor of the Plant Sciences Building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gifts like these help cultivate innovation, fuel discovery and empower the next generation of agricultural leaders.<\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

With their contribution, the Lamendolas join over 30 individuals, families, companies, farms and other organizations who made donations to name spaces in the building while furthering the N.C. PSI\u2019s mission and impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are so grateful for the Lamendolas\u2019 support,\u201d said N.C. PSI Executive Director Adrian Percy. \u201cGifts like these help cultivate innovation, fuel discovery and empower the next generation of agricultural leaders, which are all important steps toward ensuring long-term food security and sustainability here in North Carolina and beyond.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opening Doors<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Through the N.C. PSI, the Lamendolas saw the opportunity to help open the door to rewarding experiences for students.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Earlier this month, on their first visit to the study room named for their family, they saw glimmers of the good that might come from their gift as they passed a school group visiting the N.C. PSI\u2019s Demo Lab.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Three
Bob Lamendola looks on as students engage in an plant biology experiment in the Demo Lab.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe kids were so excited,\u201d Terri noted afterward. \u201cIt was great to see their enthusiasm.\u201d

Bob had experienced similar excitement when he first toured the Plant Sciences Building a year ago. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI was very impressed with the different groups that are using the building and the things that the professors here are working on. They’re just brilliant people,\u201d Lamendola recalled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Legacy of Giving<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Lamendolas say they see giving to the N.C. PSI as a way to continue paying forward the support that helped position Bob for career success. The couple has a long history of giving to educational institutions, scholarships, children\u2019s hospitals and other charitable causes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe both come from poor families, and the success or luck that I’ve had in business allowed us to establish a charitable trust and give back to a lot of different things, including education,\u201d said Bob, the retired president and chief executive officer of The St. Paul Companies\u2019 Surety and Insurance Division.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are happy to share with our success by helping other people,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s been important for us to helping kids like us that really grew up with nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both Bob and Terri entered the workforce immediately after high school. Terri worked as a secretary, and Bob joined the military, serving overseas in the late 1960s. When he returned from service, he decided to enroll as an undergraduate at Buffalo State University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s been important for us to helping kids like us that really grew up with nothing.<\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Terri continued working, and support from her salary, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and a scholarship to the Buffalo State University allowed Bob to become the first in his family to earn a college degree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Bob quickly established himself in the insurance industry, Terri stepped back from work, choosing to turn her full-time attention to raising their children, Leigh and Rob.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over time, the children dispersed \u2013 Leigh to Greensboro, where she and her husband, Marc Trigilio, are attorneys, and Rob, an engineer, to Connecticut. Bob and Terri visited each frequently, and, after their son decided to move to the Triad, they followed suit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe was down here closing on his house, and we\u2019re sitting in Cape May, New Jersey, saying, \u2018Why are we here?\u2019\u201d Bob recalls. \u201cOur daughter had been in Greensboro for 20 years, so we knew the area, and we loved it here. So, we just gave each other a knowing look, like \u2018It\u2019s a gift. It\u2019s important.\u2019 And now we are here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Gift That Keeps Giving<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Being in Greensboro has given the Lamendolas the chance to spend more time with their three granddaughters and to become part of the extended Wolfpack family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two of their granddaughters have studied in NC State\u2019s College of Humanities and Social Sciences: Carlina Trigilio is a current student, and Liliana Trigilio earned her bachelor\u2019s degree from the college before entering law school at Villanova University earlier this year. Their third granddaughter is in high school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Bob
While visiting the Plant Sciences Building, the Lamendolas checked out the Lamendola & Trigilio Family Study Room.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Lamendolas say their gift is, in part, a celebration of their granddaughters and a tangible reminder of the value of maintaining deep family ties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a value they have seen play out in their own families over many generations. While material goods were scarce in their childhoods, Bob and Terri saw a richness in the deep connections among their extended families \u2013 his of Italian descent, and hers, Polish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s the way we were brought up,\u201d Terri said. \u201cHopefully our granddaughters will keep that tradition going.\u201d
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About the N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

With over 100 faculty affiliates from nine NC State colleges, the N.C. PSI brings together the brightest minds from academia, government and industry to solve complex agricultural challenges through interdisciplinary scientific discovery and innovation, extension outreach and engagement, and education and workforce development. It is part of NC State\u2019s C<\/a>ollege of Agriculture and Life Sciences<\/a>, with ties to the Office of University Interdisciplinary Programs<\/a>. The state-of-the-art Plant Sciences Building, which opened in 2022, serves as the initiative\u2019s headquarters.<\/p>\n","protected":false,"raw":"\n\n\n\n\n

For Bob and Terri Lamendola, giving to the North Carolina Plant Sciences Initiative<\/a> has been a chance to continue their long-time support of education, contribute to the initiative\u2019s momentum and, at the same time, honor deeply meaningful family ties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In recognition of the Lamendola\u2019s support, NC State University\u2019s Board of Trustees recently approved the naming of the Lamendola & Trigilio Family Study Room on the third floor of the Plant Sciences Building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gifts like these help cultivate innovation, fuel discovery and empower the next generation of agricultural leaders.<\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

With their contribution, the Lamendolas join over 30 individuals, families, companies, farms and other organizations who made donations to name spaces in the building while furthering the N.C. PSI\u2019s mission and impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are so grateful for the Lamendolas\u2019 support,\u201d said N.C. PSI Executive Director Adrian Percy. \u201cGifts like these help cultivate innovation, fuel discovery and empower the next generation of agricultural leaders, which are all important steps toward ensuring long-term food security and sustainability here in North Carolina and beyond.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opening Doors<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Through the N.C. PSI, the Lamendolas saw the opportunity to help open the door to rewarding experiences for students.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Earlier this month, on their first visit to the study room named for their family, they saw glimmers of the good that might come from their gift as they passed a school group visiting the N.C. PSI\u2019s Demo Lab.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Three
Bob Lamendola looks on as students engage in an plant biology experiment in the Demo Lab.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe kids were so excited,\u201d Terri noted afterward. \u201cIt was great to see their enthusiasm.\u201d

Bob had experienced similar excitement when he first toured the Plant Sciences Building a year ago. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI was very impressed with the different groups that are using the building and the things that the professors here are working on. They're just brilliant people,\u201d Lamendola recalled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Legacy of Giving<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Lamendolas say they see giving to the N.C. PSI as a way to continue paying forward the support that helped position Bob for career success. The couple has a long history of giving to educational institutions, scholarships, children\u2019s hospitals and other charitable causes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe both come from poor families, and the success or luck that I've had in business allowed us to establish a charitable trust and give back to a lot of different things, including education,\u201d said Bob, the retired president and chief executive officer of The St. Paul Companies\u2019 Surety and Insurance Division.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are happy to share with our success by helping other people,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s been important for us to helping kids like us that really grew up with nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both Bob and Terri entered the workforce immediately after high school. Terri worked as a secretary, and Bob joined the military, serving overseas in the late 1960s. When he returned from service, he decided to enroll as an undergraduate at Buffalo State University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s been important for us to helping kids like us that really grew up with nothing.<\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Terri continued working, and support from her salary, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and a scholarship to the Buffalo State University allowed Bob to become the first in his family to earn a college degree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Bob quickly established himself in the insurance industry, Terri stepped back from work, choosing to turn her full-time attention to raising their children, Leigh and Rob.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over time, the children dispersed \u2013 Leigh to Greensboro, where she and her husband, Marc Trigilio, are attorneys, and Rob, an engineer, to Connecticut. Bob and Terri visited each frequently, and, after their son decided to move to the Triad, they followed suit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe was down here closing on his house, and we\u2019re sitting in Cape May, New Jersey, saying, \u2018Why are we here?\u2019\u201d Bob recalls. \u201cOur daughter had been in Greensboro for 20 years, so we knew the area, and we loved it here. So, we just gave each other a knowing look, like \u2018It\u2019s a gift. It\u2019s important.\u2019 And now we are here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Gift That Keeps Giving<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Being in Greensboro has given the Lamendolas the chance to spend more time with their three granddaughters and to become part of the extended Wolfpack family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two of their granddaughters have studied in NC State\u2019s College of Humanities and Social Sciences: Carlina Trigilio is a current student, and Liliana Trigilio earned her bachelor\u2019s degree from the college before entering law school at Villanova University earlier this year. Their third granddaughter is in high school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Bob
While visiting the Plant Sciences Building, the Lamendolas checked out the Lamendola & Trigilio Family Study Room.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Lamendolas say their gift is, in part, a celebration of their granddaughters and a tangible reminder of the value of maintaining deep family ties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a value they have seen play out in their own families over many generations. While material goods were scarce in their childhoods, Bob and Terri saw a richness in the deep connections among their extended families \u2013 his of Italian descent, and hers, Polish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s the way we were brought up,\u201d Terri said. \u201cHopefully our granddaughters will keep that tradition going.\u201d
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About the N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

With over 100 faculty affiliates from nine NC State colleges, the N.C. PSI brings together the brightest minds from academia, government and industry to solve complex agricultural challenges through interdisciplinary scientific discovery and innovation, extension outreach and engagement, and education and workforce development. It is part of NC State\u2019s C<\/a>ollege of Agriculture and Life Sciences<\/a>, with ties to the Office of University Interdisciplinary Programs<\/a>. The state-of-the-art Plant Sciences Building, which opened in 2022, serves as the initiative\u2019s headquarters.<\/p>\n"},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A Greensboro couple\u2019s gift to the N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative serves as a tangible reminder of the good that comes from giving back and maintaining strong family ties.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":80326,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"source":"","ncst_custom_author":"","ncst_show_custom_author":false,"ncst_dynamicHeaderBlockName":"ncst\/default-post-header","ncst_dynamicHeaderData":"{\"caption\":\"Terri and Bob Lamendola recently visited NC State's Plant Sciences Building, where a study room has been named for their family. \",\"showAuthor\":true,\"showDate\":true,\"showFeaturedVideo\":false,\"subtitle\":\"A Greensboro couple\u2019s gift to the N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative serves as a tangible reminder of the good that comes from giving back and maintaining strong family ties.\",\"displayCategoryID\":117}","ncst_content_audit_freq":"","ncst_content_audit_date":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[117,107,110,177,109],"tags":[9],"_ncst_magazine_issue":[],"class_list":["post-80325","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gifts-and-awards","category-leadership","category-nc-psi","category-newswire","category-plant-sciences-building","tag-_from-newswire-collection-80"],"displayCategory":{"term_id":117,"name":"Gifts and Awards","slug":"gifts-and-awards","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":117,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":76,"filter":"raw"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80325","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/22"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=80325"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80325\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":80333,"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80325\/revisions\/80333"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/80326"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=80325"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=80325"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=80325"},{"taxonomy":"_ncst_magazine_issue","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/_ncst_magazine_issue?post=80325"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}