Friday night, members of the Beaufort County N.C. State Alumni Association came together for its 4^th annual oyster roast.

At the social event, attendees heard words from N.C. State Chancellor Randy Woodson about the university’s academic and athletic status as a school, and other university officials came out to support the local network, which is considered one of the most active in the state, said Stuart O’Neal, co-chair of the association. The event started out as a reward to the association for winning Most Outstanding Network by the National N.C. State Alumni Association in 2011, but after being well received and well attended, the local chapter decided to make it an annual event, O’Neal said.

The event was held at the home of Forest Sidbury, a local alumnus and co-chair of the association. With about 150 people in attendance, the group met in Sidbury’s barn and enjoyed a low country boil and roasted oysters, cooked by Scott Harris and Keith Hart, while socializing and reminiscing on times had at the university. The association invited new and old alumni, as well as Beaufort County students, who are planning to or thinking about attending N.C. State, O’Neal said.

“It’s a lot of fun,” O’Neal said. “We have a strong alumni network in this county, and I’m proud we have such a strong network. It’s just a great network we’ve built here. I’m just happy to be a part of it. It’s a great group of people, a very positive environment, and we’re Pack Strong so I feel very fortunate to be a part of the Pack Movement.”