Zach Galifianakis – Actor and Comedian
While you might know him from the “Hangover” trilogy, Galifianakis has had a prolific career in comedy, voice acting and celebrity journalism. He grew up in North Carolina, enrolled in the undergraduate degree in communication at NC State and now lives on a farm in Sparta, North Carolina. His talk show series “Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis” has featured guests ranging from former president Barack Obama to Brad Pitt. He has received two primetime Emmy Awards and two Actors Awards, and was appreciated by many as Humpty Dumpty in “Puss In Boots.”
Russell Wilson – NFL Quarterback
A name that is recognizable even to non-sports fans, Wilson has been one of the most successful quarterbacks in the NFL. He was a Super Bowl XLVIII Champion with the Seattle Seahawks, where he played for a decade. Most recently, he was the starting quarterback for the New York Giants in the 2025 season. Surprisingly, Wilson started his career playing both football and baseball at NC State. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in communication in three years before going to play for the University of Wisconsin and earning a masters degree there.
Hesham Qandil – Former Prime Minister of Egypt
Qandil, an Egyptian native, graduated from NC State with a PhD in biological and agricultural engineering with a minor in water resources. He went on to climb the ranks of the Egyptian government as an expert in water management. In 2012, he was named Prime Minister, who is functionally the head of the executive branch, and held office during a tumultuous, post-revolution time. He resigned in 2013 to protest the killing of citizens who were demonstrating against the President.
Christina Koch – Astronaut
After earning bachelor’s degrees in electrical engineering and physics and a master’s degree in electrical engineering from NC State, Koch trained and worked at NASA. She launched to the International Space Station in 2019 and stayed in space for 328 days, the longest ever for a woman. In December 2020, NC State awarded Koch an honorary Doctor of Science degree. She is slated to return to the stars in 2026 as a part of the Artemis II crew.
Rhett and Link – YouTubers
Rhett McLaughlin and Link Neil, internet personalities known for their series “Good Mythical Morning,” are proud North Carolina natives and NC State alumni. In fact, their careers began with comedy sketches made for the NC State chapter of Cru, a Christian Ministry. They have shown great support for the school over the years, and although the duo is now located in LA, they frequently visit North Carolina. In 2024, as a part of their series “Wonderhole,” McLaughlin and Neil collaborated with the NC State College of Engineering to create axes made out of peanut butter. This project reflects how they apply their respective backgrounds in civil and industrial engineering to create engaging, unconventional content.
Bill Burr – Actor and Comedian
Known for his role in “Breaking Bad” and season one of “The Mandalorian”, Burr briefly attended NC State for two semesters. He described his time there as a routine of going from his apartment to the library and back while taking online classes. He said he “really wished it worked out” for him at NC State but ultimately graduated from Emerson College in 1993 with a degree in communications.
Dawn – Drag Queen
Gaven Kerr, who performs as the drag queen Dawn, is a Raleigh native. She graduated from NC State in 2020 with a degree in engineering, and went on to perform on season sixteen of “Ru-Paul’s Drag Race.” On the show, she was known for her outlandish outfits and creativity and placed sixth overall. She is still actively performing in the drag scene and creating content on Youtube out of Brooklyn.
Connie B. Gay – Music Entrepreneur
Connie B. Gay is considered a “founding father of present-day country music.” Starting with a little radio show called “Town and Country Time,” he grew a country music radio and television empire in the 50’s and 60’s. Notable achievements include founding the Country Music Association, discovering Jimmy Dean and graduating from NC State with an undergraduate degree in agricultural education.
