Passionate Pack Participants Climb Rocks, Train for Marathon and More

Forty-eight NC State employees registered to participate in the 2025 Passionate Pack Challenge. The initiative challenged employees to spend at least three cumulative hours in June pursuing a personal passion or purpose. A goal of the program is to demonstrate that engaging in a passion or purpose can have a positive effect on one’s overall well-being. HR Wellness, which conducts the challenge, randomly selected 10 of the challenge participants to receive NC State swag for taking part in the initiative. Here is how some of them engaged in the challenge:

Emily Anderson, Prevention Services

Emily Anderson, the outreach and resilience coordinator in Prevention Services, set a goal to spend more time outdoors engaging in physical activities, such as kayaking and cycling. During the challenge, she took both her children kayaking for the first time.

“I am someone who tries to stay active, and I know that I benefit most when I can do this in nature,” Anderson said.

Laura Fleming, Poole College of Management

Laura Fleming, a communications specialist in the Poole College of Management, went rock climbing. Fleming made it a priority to climb at least three times a week, including going on two outdoor rock-climbing adventures.

“I love climbing because it’s a great workout, but more than that, it’s something that challenges me both physically and mentally,” Fleming said. “Every route is like a puzzle, and solving it with the support of a climbing partner adds a fun, social element.”

James Hudgens, Campus Enterprises

James Hudgens, a visual arts specialist for Campus Enterprises, started training to run in a marathon for the first time. He plans to participate in the St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend in his hometown of Memphis, Tennessee, in December.

Hudgens said health challenges he faced earlier this year motivated him to run in the marathon. He said with the help of friends, he put together a 169-day training plan to prepare him to run in the marathon.

“Every day so far has brought something new, whether it’s a long run, strength work or learning how to fuel my body the right way,” Hudgens said. “It has been a commitment but one that feels meaningful and hopeful.”

Rosalinda Kowalczewski, Women’s Center

Rosalinda Kowalczewski, assistant director of the Women’s Center, spent time caring for the plants on her balcony. Kowalczewski said she downloaded an app called Planta that reminded her when to water her plants and take pictures of their progress. She said the time she spent on her balcony caring for her plants motivated her to decorate her balcony and make it a more relaxing space.

Lisa LaBarbera-Mascote, Division of Academic and Student Affairs

Lisa LaBarber-Mascote, senior director of Student Success Operations in the Division of Academic and Student Affairs, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2009. She said the diagnosis scared her, but it spurred her to participate in the annual Bike MS: Historic New Bern Ride, which she has done every year since 2011.

“I had always been a pretty active person, and suddenly I was faced with a disease that could take that all away from me,” LaBarbera-Mascote said of her diagnosis. “I felt like I was a failure, and my body was a failure.”

Bike MS is a cycling event and fundraising campaign that supports efforts to find a cure for multiple sclerosis. In June, LaBarbera-Mascote began training for the Bike MS event that will take place in September.

She participated in three training rides last month — riding her bike for about 65 miles — and two fundraising events. One of the training rides was special for LaBarbera-Mascote because her 10-year-old daughter Rose participated on her new hybrid bicycle.

“I couldn’t be more proud,” LaBarbera-Mascote said.

Shipra Pandey, University Human Resources

Shipra Pandey, HR Project Management Office and portfolio manager, rekindled her passion for upcycling old and broken furniture.

Pandey, who works in University Human Resources, found a metal corner stand with foggy, unstable glass shelves at a garage sale. She tightened the stand’s screws, reinforced it with adhesive and repainted it. Pandey also covered the foggy glass shelves with decorative paper.

“What draws me to upcycling is that it encourages mindful reuse and a greater appreciation for what we already have, rather than chasing more,” Pandey said. “It also helps me embrace the beauty of imperfection.”