CSC News

Mark Wyatt: From SAB to Scholarships

Giving Pack: Stories of Support from the NC State Department of Computer Science

Department of Computer Science (CS) alumnus Mark Wyatt believes in the power of connection and engagement. 

It’s what brought him back to the department in the early 2000s, two decades after graduating with a B.S. in 1980. Wyatt, who retired in 2013 after 34 years with Duke Energy, and his wife Robin, who also worked for Duke, have been stalwart supporters of the department for decades.

But Wyatt’s relationship with the department didn’t start with giving financially. It started with giving his time.

“It was in the early 2000s that I got more actively engaged with the university, primarily through supporting the Department of Computer Science from two perspectives,” said Wyatt. “The department’s senior design center was in need of corporate participation in its capstone projects, which included the need for financial support for these projects, so I was able to get Duke [Energy] to sponsor a number of projects over several years. This sponsorship ultimately led to me getting the opportunity to be on the Strategic Advisory Board.”

Wyatt has served NC State in many capacities, including on the College of Sciences Foundation Board, the College of Engineering Foundation Board and the CS Strategic Advisory Board (SAB) from 2007-2012, which he chaired from 2009 to 2010.

“I was able to get a better appreciation of the needs and activities within CS,” said Wyatt of being on the SAB, “as well as more broadly with the College of Engineering.”

After a few years of work with the SAB, establishing meaningful relationships with CS staff and students, Mark and Robin approached the department with a question: how could their financial support make a difference? These conversations, and the growing connections they had with the department, led the couple to create the Mark and Robin Wyatt Scholarship Endowment. At the time, their gift was the largest known planned gift from an NC State computer science alum. 

The Wyatt’s scholarship was announced on March 26, 2009. It seems like kismet that the scholarship will celebrate its 16th anniversary on March 26, 2025 on Day of Giving. The Wyatts are proud not just of the value it provides student recipients, but of their deep connection to NC State to this day.

“The key theme here is: the more we worked with the department, the more we were exposed to the university’s wide array of engagement opportunities, the more we understood the financial challenges the university has in providing enough scholarship funds. As a result, we decided to pursue a path of endowing our scholarship sooner than originally anticipated,” said Wyatt. “And today we’re in a position where, if everything goes according to plan, we will be able to award four new scholarships each academic year with each scholarship being renewable for up to three additional years.”

Another pivotal step in the Wyatt’s journey of giving? Meeting the recipients of their scholarship. 

“We attend the annual scholarship dinner events that we have with recipients. This opportunity is extremely rewarding for both Robin and I,” said Wyatt. “It’s nice to be able to chat with the student that’s getting your scholarship, and see the value that you’re generating.”

Mark and Robin understand there are any number of worthy causes they can donate to. But giving to NC State provides them with something truly special: personal connection.

“We've yet to talk to any scholarship recipient that is not appreciative of the scholarship support they receive. It's a real joy for us to give back,” said Wyatt. The couple not only gives to NC State, but to Robin’s alma mater, Appalachian State, as well.

Wyatt would like to make one thing clear: he and Robin’s philanthropic journey began after working hands-on with the university. He has a message for fellow alumni and potential donors:

“If you have a desire to give back, the first thing you need to do is learn more about the university, learn more about your department, learn more about what has changed,” said Wyatt. “So get engaged. Participate as a mentor, on advisory committees or any other engagement opportunity afforded to you by the university. You’ll get increased confidence through engagement and learning more about the tremendous value that your alma mater provides each and every day.”

Growing their relationship with the Department of Computer Science has been crucial for the Wyatts, and they encourage others to stay connected after any philanthropic commitment, no matter the size of the gift.

“This is about sticking with it. This is about seeing the value. This is about influencing where it goes,” said Wyatt. “So whether you give $5 or $500,000, I don't think you need to walk away when it's done. I think you need to stay actively engaged.”

Connection: it worked for the Wyatts. 

~brown~