Honors Wednesday Memo: Volume 10, Issue 8, Wednesday, October 7, 2026
edited by Melanie Kershaw
Dear Honors College students,
If you walk through the Honors College today, you'll see Melanie Kershaw's creative touch on our newly designed signage. As our summer student employee, orientation mentor, and now Memo Editor, Melanie consistently models the warm and supportive leadership that makes our community special.
Student leaders like Melanie help create the welcoming environment that defines the Honors College. They shape our culture, support their peers, and help new students find their sense of belonging. If you'd like to leave your own mark, consider getting involved with groups like AHA!, Summit Scholars Peer Mentors, or Honors Vanguard. I'd be happy to connect you with the great students who lead those organizations.
Best wishes,
Vicky
Upcoming Opportunities
Dr. Klima is happy to help you apply; send her an email.
Career Development Center’s Health Science Career Fair
Stop by Leon Levine Hall for the Health Science Career Fair on Monday, Oct. 19 from 12:00 to 3:00 pm. Students in the Beaver College of Health Sciences are encouraged to take advantage of the opportunity to connect with dozens of employers. Attendees are advised to bring multiple copies of their resumes and to dress professionally. Contact Hannah Little with any questions.
Appalachian Research Scholarships
Apply for one of three research scholarships from the University Libraries’ Special Collections Research Center by Sunday, Nov. 1. The W.L. Eury Appalachian Collection Research Fellowship supports three scholars’ research involving any material in the namesake collection. The Bernhardt and Harper Families Fellowship supports one student’s research using the W. L. Eury Appalachian Collection incorporating the Bernhardt and Harper family papers. The Senator James T. and Louise Broyhill Research Fellowship supports three students’ research incorporating the James Thomas Broyhill Papers. All awardees will receive a $1,000 fellowship to support 15 hours of in-person research. Register for a Zoom informational session on Friday, Oct. 9 at 11:00 am, and contact Hannah Helmey with any questions.
Honors Research Scholarships
Apply for two Honors College research scholarships by Sunday, Nov. 1 at 11:55 pm. The George Williams Garrett Memorial Scholarship will award $2,000 to a student interested in biomedical research, and the Dane Ward Endowed Honors Research Scholarship will award $2,100 to a student whose research has a strong social or community impact. Contact Dr. Klima with any questions.
15th Annual Global Symposium
Register to attend the 15th Annual Global Symposium on Wednesday, Nov. 18 at 9:00 am in the Student Union. Hosted by the Office of International Programs (OIP), this celebration of international experiences features student presentations of globally engaged research and creative projects. Students who attend at least three sessions will be entered into a drawing to win one of three $500 education abroad scholarships. In addition, student presenters are eligible to compete for education abroad scholarships, including first-place awards of $1,000. Attendees who register by Nov. 3 are invited to the Global Leadership Award Luncheon from 12:00 to 2:00 pm where scholarship recipients will be announced. Contact James Holden for more information.
National Museum of African History & Culture: Spring 2027 Internship
Apply by Oct. 15 for a Spring 2027 internship with the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) in Washington, D.C. Part- and full-time internships are available, with remote, hybrid and onsite options. Interns gain practical museum skills and program development experience in a variety of traditional and non-traditional museum careers. Weekly stipends of up to $450 for part-time internships and up to $850 for full-time internships will be awarded. Housing is not included. Contact the NMAAHC for more information.
Stay in the Know
Cybersecurity Awareness Month Activities: Zoom Sessions and Cyber Bowl
Stay educated during Cybersecurity Awareness Month with free Zoom sessions from the National Cybersecurity Alliance. Learn to recognize scams on Tuesday, Oct. 13 at 3:00 pm, and explore public attitudes on cybersecurity on Friday, Oct. 16 at 12:00 pm. Wrap up the month with trivia on Tuesday, Oct. 27 at 10:00 am. Use this knowledge to represent App State in the Cyber Bowl and enter to win prizes from Information Technology Services (ITS) including football tickets and a parking pass. Stop by ITS’s tabling events throughout October to ask questions and receive swag.
Upcoming Hayes School of Music Events
Visit the Broyhill Music Center for the Hayes School of Music’s October events. Join four horn professors from across North Carolina for CORolina on Thursday, Oct. 8 at 6:00 pm. Experience the Violineers, the violin studio of Dr. Pedro Maia, on Friday, Oct. 9 at 6:00 pm. Join music faculty for the National Hispanic Heritage Month Concert featuring solos and chamber music by composers of Hispanic and Latin American heritage on Sunday, Oct. 11 at 4:00 pm. Attend a recital by members of the Hayes School of Music Clarinet Studio on Tuesday, Oct. 13 at 6:00 pm. Join guest lecturer Dr. Brittany Roberts for “I’m Dying in Russia,” a talk exploring the Russian dark electronic pop/rock duo IC3PEAK, on Wednesday, Oct. 14 at 6:00 pm. Events are free and open to the public. Check out the full lineup.
Mountain Mondays Speaker Series
Join the Center for Appalachian Studies and the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies for the Mountain Mondays Speaker Series from Oct. 12 through Nov. 23. Presentations will highlight the growing academic field of mountain studies and encourage comparison between the Appalachian Mountains and mountain regions around the world. The first session, “The Sanctity of Mountains,” begins on Monday, Oct. 12 at 10:00 am. Register for these free Zoom sessions (website password: MountainMondays2026), or contact Dr. Katherine Ledford for more information.
Craftivism Collective Make & Take
Join the Beaver College of Health Sciences for Craftivism Collective on Monday, Oct. 12 at 5:00 pm in the Solarium. Participants are invited to express themselves through hands-on activities like cross-stitch, beading, and stamp-and-ink design. All students and faculty are welcome. No experience is needed and no registration is required.
Startup Factory: Opportunity Session
Join the Walker College of Business’s Center for Entrepreneurship (CFE) for the weekly Startup Factory on Monday, Oct. 12 at 5:00 pm in Peacock Hall. These free events are open to students of all majors interested in developing an entrepreneurial mindset. The latest session focuses on the “Opportunity” section of the program. Register for upcoming sessions or contact the CFE with any questions.
In the Honors Spotlight
Melanie Kershaw Joins the Honors Wednesday Memo as Editor
Honors student Melanie Kershaw has joined the Honors Wednesday Memo team as editor, bringing together her background in writing, design, and communication to keep students connected across campus. Kershaw, an industrial design major with a minor in communications, joined the Honors College staff in Summer 2026 as an office assistant before stepping into the editorial role. She plans to graduate in May 2028.
In her new position, Kershaw aims to make the publication an accessible "one-stop shop" for campus events, academic resources, and student support. By combining cohesive visual design with written communication, she hopes to help students easily discover opportunities and stay engaged with the Honors community.
Read the full story by Isabella Lebron.
Have announcements to share? Submissions can be made to honors@appstate.edu. Any content received by the prior Wednesday will be considered for the following week’s issue.
Have a story to share? Share what you have done, what you are doing, or what you will be doing by submitting a story here.
To stay in the know, learn about opportunities, and take part in the Honors community, find us below!