Honors Wednesday Memo: Volume 9, Issue 20, February 11, 2026
Dear Honors Community,
In a meeting with a faculty mentor yesterday, I was reminded of how impactful the interdisciplinary focus of this Honors College has been on my own experience. In brainstorming ideas for ways to explore a creative project, I came to see how I could analyze my senior thesis topic/question through a different lens. This form of collaboration between students and faculty and across disciplinary boundaries defines Honors education. In our Honors College, this is cultivated through HON seminars, study abroad experiences, community-engaged learning, thesis projects, and more. We grow as individuals by actively engaging in discussions with people who have different perspectives. You can find new ideas for new discussions each week in the Honors Wednesday Memo.
Warmly,
Em
Upcoming Opportunities
Dr. Klima is happy to help you apply; send her an email at klimavw@appstate.edu.
The Hispanic Scholarship Fund
The February 15, 2026 deadline for the Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) is fast-approaching. HSF empowers individuals of Hispanic heritage by providing awardees with the resources to make higher education their top priority. The Office of Nationally Competitive Scholarships is available to help you craft a strong application. Schedule a meeting today or contact them via email.
CEL AppLEADS Certification (Resilience)
The Office of Community-Engaged Leadership (CEL) is offering the third workshop in the AppLEADs program series: Resilience on either February 17, 18, or 19, 2026. Participants who complete all five workshops in the AppLEADs program will earn a certificate demonstrating their commitment to leadership development. Register on Engage for the Advanced session and five workshops. For any questions, contact Kaleigh Del Greco, interim coordinator with CEL.
Career Development Center: Pitch Night
The Career Development Center is hosting “Pitch Night – Master Your Elevator Pitch for Job Interviews, Career Fairs, Networking” on February 24, 2026, from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m., in the Career Development Center (PSU 222). Prizes will be given to the best elevator pitches.
Call for Abstracts: 2026 Bringing Southeast Asia Home Workshop
The 2026 Bringing Southeast Asia Home workshop is currently accepting abstracts from all academic disciplines. The workshop will be held at UNC Chapel Hill on April 19 from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. The theme of this year’s workshops is sustainability, but all submitted abstracts will be considered, whether or not they address the theme. Proposals are due by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 5, 2026. To learn more about the event, visit their website.
BRWIA: Brittany Robinson Memorial Scholarship
Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture (BRWIA) is proud to announce the annual Brittany Robinson Memorial Scholarship Fund. This scholarship honors Brittany Robinson’s passion and commitment to agriculture, animal husbandry, and sustainability. It is designed to support the next generation of agricultural leaders in the High Country of North Carolina and is available to a student intending to pursue education in agriculture, sustainable development, or animal sciences. The application deadline is March 21, 2026. To learn more about the scholarship and apply, check out BRWIA’s website.
Stay in the Know
Hayes School of Music Performances
The Hayes School of Music (HSOM) has several upcoming events this week. An Evening of Valentine’s Jazz with Todd Wright and Friends will be held on February 12, 2026, at 8:00 p.m. in Rosen Concert Hall. On February 17, in Rosen Concert Hall, the Brass Ensemble Concert will take place at 6:00 p.m., followed by Curtis on Tour: Bernstein, Bruch, and Schubert at 8:00 p.m. All events have free admission. Visit the Hayes School of Music Performance Calendar for details and updates on all upcoming events.
AILEY II Brings Beloved Masterpiece “Revelations”
Appalachian Arts welcomes Ailey II: The Next Generation of Dance, one of the nation's most acclaimed contemporary dance companies, to the Schaefer Center on Friday, February 20 at 7:30 p.m. The dance will feature Streams, Down the Rabbit Hole, and Revelations. Tickets are on sale now on the Schaefer Center website. After the performance, Dr. Ray Miller, professor in the Department of Theatre and Dance, will moderate a post-show Q&A with Francesca Harper and members of the company. Ailey II will also be offering a free community masterclass focused on Revelations on Thursday, February 19, from 5:00 – 6:15 p.m. in the Varsity Gym Dance Studio 208. To register for the class, fill out this RSVP.
Barberry Removal Workday at Strawberry Hill Arboretum in Boone
The Department of Sustainable Development and the Office of Sustainability and Energy Management are joining Mountain True, Transition Blue Ridge, and the Town of Boone Mayor’s Ecological Task Force in the Barberry eradication effort at Strawberry Hill Arboretum. The workday is Friday, February 27, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Volunteers will help cut stems and dig up the invasive bush's roots. To sign up, click this link.
2026 STEAM Expo Volunteer Opportunity
The Mathematics and Science Education Center is hosting the 2026 STEAM Expo: Discover Your Future on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, from 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Students are invited to volunteer for set-up and breakdown, help at the interactive station, and direct groups around campus. Volunteering can count as a professional development opportunity for students. The deadline to complete the Volunteer Registration Form is Friday, February 20, 2026. Contact(link sends e-mail) Leah Greer in the Mathematics and Science Education Center with any questions.
Pet Food Drive
The Veterinary Technology Program has extended its campus pet food drive to benefit Watauga Humane Society’s Pet Food Pantry until February 17, 2026. There are donation boxes set up across campus, including: Anne Belk, Belk Library, University Hall, Holmes Center, Sanford, Broyhill Music Center, Plemmons Student Union, Motor Pool Office, Peacock Hall room 4072, and I.G. Greer office 201. They are accepting donations of dog food, cat food, and cat litter. For further questions, contact Mary Beth McKee.
In the Honors Spotlight
Honors College students travel to Coban, Antigua, and Copal AA La Esperanza, Guatemala, to study education and sustainability
Dr. Greg McClure, professor in the Department of Learning, Teaching, and Curriculum, and Dr. Christopher Van Loan, professor in the Department of Child Development, Literacy, and Special Education, led Honors College students to Coban, Antigua, and Copal AA La Esperanza, Guatemala, July 20 - 31, 2025. In this Faculty-Led Education Abroad Program (FLEAP), students earned 3 semester hours of credit for HON 3515: Education and Sustainability in Indigenous Guatemala. They met the Honors College international education requirement, which asks students to broaden their perspectives by exploring other cultures, worldviews, and frames of reference and considering global interconnectedness.
In this study-abroad course, students engaged with the Copal AA community to collaboratively learn about education and sustainability. Their activities included: meeting with the local town council members to learn about their customs, comparing cultures with middle school students, trips along the River Chixoy, and more.
Read the full spotlight story to hear from these Honors College students about their experience on this faculty-led study abroad.
Have announcements to share? Submissions can be made to honors@appstate.edu. Any content received by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday will be considered for the following week’s issue.
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