In the fall of 1999, 18 men stepped onto the campus of NC State University. They didn’t arrive as a group, but through orientation, shared classes, the African American Symposium and the inevitable grind of freshman year, they found one another. What began as a handful of cliques — some bound by high school connections, others by dorm life or shared majors — slowly distilled into something stronger. Today, more than 20 years later, they call themselves The Foundation.

Their story is rare: the young Black men, all from different states and backgrounds, not only started college together at what remains a predominantly white institution, but graduated together and remain connected as professionals, husbands and fathers. Their legacy, as they see it, is not just about friendship — it’s about collective success and what comes next.

Finding Each Other

Ronald Funderburk ’04, now working in the North Carolina Department of State Treasurer’s office after earning an MBA from Harvard, first connected with future Foundation brothers through the African American Symposium. “Brian Foster was my roommate during orientation, and he introduced me to Chris Johnson ’04 and Kevjorik Jones ’05,” he recalled. “Through the National Society of Black Engineers and an Intro to Engineering course taught by Dr. [Tony L.] Mitchell and Alisa Hunt Lowery, I developed bonds that lasted a lifetime.”

Troy J. Neal ’03, who later earned his MBA from Columbia, had a similar path. “The Foundation started as a clique of cliques. Some knew each other from high school, some from the same hometown and some from orientation. We all shared a desire to motivate one another through grades, social activities or spirituality. Eventually, the walls broke down, and we became a brotherhood.”

That bond deepened quickly. At the Symposium, facilitators warned students that statistically, only one in three would graduate. For Black men, the odds were worse. Neal said the group refused to accept that. “As a collective of 18 Black men, we decided to break that mold. Every single one of us graduated.”

“As a collective of 18 Black men, we decided to break that mold. Every single one of us graduated.”

Bonding in Action

College can test even the closest friendships, but The Foundation members rallied around one principle: no one left behind.

Funderburk remembers nights in the library when no one left until the last person understood the material. He remembers the 4 a.m. phone call when a friend needed help, and, without hesitation, he went. “We weren’t going to leave our people in a difficult situation, no matter the time of day,” he said.

Neal recalls a more emotional test. Two members clashed over a girl, a situation that could have splintered the group. Instead, all 18 met late one night to confront the conflict head-on. “There was no yelling or punches thrown — just real accountability, honesty and some tears,” Neal said. “That was our transition from young men to grown men.”

“While some of us also ended up becoming members of different fraternities as students, it never conflicted with our bond as friends, nor did it cause us to drift away from our friends who didn’t go Greek. Our bond remained strong regardless of our affiliations outside of our group,” said member Demarcus Williams ‘03, a higher education communications professional who serves on the NC State Alumni Board of Directors.

Whether on the basketball court, working side jobs as resident advisors or chasing internships, the group’s mantra was the same: success was collective.

Carrying the Bond Beyond Campus

College friendships often fade, but for The Foundation members, the bond only grew. They stayed in touch through listservs, reunions and homecomings. As members got married and had children, their families blended into a single, extended network.

Professionally, they leaned on each other just as they had at NC State. They guided each other through MBA programs at Harvard, Wharton, Columbia and Duke. They swapped investment advice, made referrals and supported entrepreneurial ventures. Today, their careers span finance, consulting, textiles and design.

ClayVon Lowe’ 03, an industrial designer, serves on NC State’s Design Leaders Council. Robert Smith ’03, now vice president of raw materials at Victoria’s Secret, remains engaged with the Wilson College of Textiles. Funderburk and others see their own board-level ambitions as part of the group’s next chapter – which includes giving back to NC State through endowments and mentorship.

“Our families are part of it now,” Funderburk said. “Our wives and kids know one another. We’re uncles to each other’s children. That’s what has kept us strong,” he said.

“Our wives and kids know one another. We’re uncles to each other’s children. That’s what has kept us strong.”

Shaped by NC State

Both Neal and Funderburk are clear about how NC State shaped their journeys. The campus provided resources, like the African American Cultural Center,  that gave them a foothold in a large institution. But it also tested them.

Neal said. “NC State taught me how to navigate a large enterprise, find my lane and recognize my gifts. Collectively, we all took on leadership roles like fraternities, student organizations, newspapers and intramurals. Those experiences taught us how to lead from a young age.”

Asked what it means to be part of a story about Black male friendship and achievement, both men had to really think about it.

“Our group’s collective success should be standard, not unique,” Funderburk said. “I’m grateful to have brothers to count on. Hopefully, our story can inspire the next generation to set the bar even higher.”

“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”

Neal framed it with an African proverb: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. Our story is an example of how intentionality breeds success,” he said. “We weren’t motivated by ambition or organizations. We simply came together to elevate one another, and that’s why it lasted.”

Looking Ahead

More than two decades later, The Foundation members still gather at homecomings, reunions and family events. They’re not just reminiscing; they’re looking toward the future, asking how they can collectively give back to NC State and pave the way for students who will follow.

“If it wasn’t for NC State, I would have never met these guys,” Neal said. “That’s the gift. Now the question is – How do we return that gift to the next generation?”

Returning the Gift

Alumni are encouraged to get involved by connecting with the Wolfpack through engagement events, volunteer opportunities and programs that strengthen the Wolfpack community. You can make a meaningful impact by mentoring students, supporting initiatives that matter to you or by giving to help fuel student success. Your involvement – big and small – helps shape the future of NC State and keep the Pack strong.