October 31, 2018

Honors Wednesday Memo

Opportunities and Information for Honors Students

edited by Brad Rentz

Volume 2, Issue 11

October 31, 2018  

 

Message from Dean Jeff Vahlbusch 

Dear Honors students, faculty, and friends,

Cool temperatures and glowing autumn trees may bring hope:  for happy semester endings, for celebrations soon with family and friends, for the chance that all residents of the U.S., and all human beings, might live without fear. 

In the world of Honors, the season also brings renewal, opportunities for Honors students and staff to teach and learn from each other.

In September, Honors College students traveled with Drs. Louis Gallien and Angela Mead to High Point University for the 2018 North Carolina Honors Association conference. Victoria Moreno, Kiah Silver, and Hayden Slentz Kesler presented in a session entitled “Roles and Representations of Southern Women in Literature from Diverse Perspectives,” and Elizabeth Vaughan gave a poster on the “Esterification of Carboxylic Acids for Analysis via Gas Chromatography Using Swellable Organically Modified Silica as a Nano-Reactor.”

Last week I attended the 3rd Annual National Society for Minorities in Honors (NSFMIH) conference at the University of Central Arkansas, learning from and contributing to discussions on making Honors education more inclusive, more just, and more effective. And here’s news:  we hope to bring the 5th annual NSFMIH conference to Boone and to Appalachian State in the fall of 2020!

Next week, Honors College staff members will travel to the National Collegiate Honors College conference in Boston, where more than 2000 Honors students and professionals from across the world will exchange ideas, inspire each other, and collaborate on how to do Honors education better--for the sake of our collective human future.

Jeff

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Honors Dani Hitchcock, Maddy Ogrady, and Cori Ferguson (left to right) completing an engaged learning exercise—a photography assignment—in the first-year seminar Balanced Brains on Monday, October 29th. Photo by Honors Sarah Royster.


Upcoming Opportunities: 

Dr. Vahlbusch will be delighted to assist with applications! 

Asheville Art Museum Internships

Internships with the museum are available during all semesters and financial awards are available, too. The application deadline for the spring is November 1,however, you can apply for the summer of fall of 2019 as well. Please visit https://honors.appstate.edu/asheville-art-museum-internship-opportunities-0 for more information.

Science Enrichment Preparation (S.E.P.)

From May 18 to July 12 the S.E.P. program at UNC-Chapel Hill will hold its 8-week honors level experience for rising 1st and 2nd year students. The S.E.P. Program targets first-generation, underrepresented minority, rural, and/or socioeconomically disadvantaged undergraduate students. The application deadline for early decision is January 7, and for regular decision February 4. For more information please visit https://honors.appstate.edu/science-enrichment-preparation-sep-program-dates.

“UM-SMART” Summer Research Program

Applications are now open for this 10-week summer undergraduate research program. This program is designed to provide an opportunity for highly motivated and talented undergraduates interested in careers as physician scientists to enhance their science and academic skills. Applicants will gain valuable research experience by performing full-time research under the direction of a faculty mentor in a research lab. The application deadline is January 18, please visithttps://honors.appstate.edu/um-smart-summer-research-program to learn how to apply.

Lead for America

Lead for America recruits, trains, and places our nation's most promising young leaders in two-year paid fellowships in local governments as a means of strengthening America's public institutions, supporting our local communities, and cultivating a new generation of transformational public service leaders. The first application deadline is November 1, visit https://honors.appstate.edu/lead-america to learn how to apply!

HON 3515: Tycoons, Titans, Founders, Financiers and Blaggards

Taught by professor Leigh Dunston this Honors course will explore a brief history of American Business learned through the lives of America’s most important business persons as well as provide a historical overview of the most dynamic business leadership and its ethical challenges. Consider this course when looking for classes this spring! Please visit https://honors.appstate.edu/hon-3515-tycoons-titans-founders-financiers-and-blaggards to learn more about this honors seminar.

 

Stay in the Know…

AHA! will meet on November 7 in the Honors College Library at 5:00 

Way of Council

The final meeting of the Way of Council will be held on November 1 from 7 to 8:30 pm in the Student Union. Come prepared to be present, listen, and share stories. Way of Council should last about 60-90 minutes, and you are invited to share a meal (dinner will be provided) with participants before the Council. For more information, please visit https://honors.appstate.edu/way-council-111-7pm-final-council-semester-students-faculty-staff-welcome.

Honors Healthcare Book Discussion

Terry Holt’s book Internal Medicine will be the focus of a book discussion on November 8 at 5 pm in Belk Library room 421. If you are interested in attending you must register and you will also receive a free copy of the book. Please visit https://honors.appstate.edu/honors-healthcare-book-discussion for more information.

Artist and Activist Stacey L. Kirby

On Election Day, Stacey L. Kirby is coming to Appalachian as a part of a multi-visit residency with the Smith Gallery to develop an exhibition and performance in early spring that supports civic engagement here on campus. She will speak at 6 pm on Tuesday, November 6. Please visit https://honors.appstate.edu/artist-and-activist-stacey-l-kirby-speak-election-day for more information.

Second Honors College Symposium

A second Honors Symposium will be held on Tuesday, November 13 in the Belk Library room 114 from 7-9 pm.  There are three goals of the symposium: to bring together experts, students, and other members of the university and community on topics or issues vital regional, national, or international significance. To learn more, please visit https://honors.appstate.edu/second-honors-college-symposium.

Prepare for Spring Break Travels

If you are planning to go abroad you should begin the process of obtaining a passport and the University Post Office can help! Please bring a certified copy of your birth certificate! For more information on this process, please visit https://honors.appstate.edu/get-ready-spring-break-travels-passport-application-services-available-university-post-office.

  

In the Honors Spotlight 

Honors Students Explore Ecology in Belize 

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Photo above features the group at Tobacco Cay after they completed a trash clean-up. Photo by Matt Estep.

This summer Honors junior Haley Towne and senior Morgan Gaglianese-Woody, both biology majors, traveled for two-weeks with a faculty-led trip to Belize. Drs. Matt Estep, Sarah Marshburn, and Shea Tuberty all from Appalachian State University’s Department of Biology, led this trip. In this study abroad course, students earned six hours of biodiversity/ecology credits studying coral reef, rainforest ecology, and conservation.  

For more on this story by Garret McDowell, please visit https://honors.appstate.edu/news/honors-students-explore-ecology-belize

 

Allison Staley Interns at The Dragonfly House

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Allison posing with her dirty hands after pulling weeds in the garden at The Dragonfly House. Photo submitted. 

Honors junior Allison Staley spent this past summer working as a management and development intern with The Dragonfly House Children’s Advocacy Center in Mocksville, North Carolina. Staley is a mathematics major and non-profit management minor. This organization brings together and coordinates the many different support systems that every child victim of abuse needs.

With Dragonfly House this summer, Staley worked on fundraising efforts. This included the management of social media accounts where she developed their Instagram account from scratch.  

To read the full story by Garrett McDowell, please visit  https://honors.appstate.edu/news/allison-staley-interns-dragonfly-house.

  

To Stay in the Know and to Learn About All Opportunities in Honors, please visit https://honors.appstate.edu/announcements

 

Appalachian State Honors College on Social Media!

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Check us out on Instagram also! Find us by searching “Appalachian Honors College”

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Don’t forget to “like” us on Facebook at Appalachian Honors: https://www.facebook.com/Appalachian-Honors-482157301971520/ 

    

Have news to share? Submissions to the Honors Wednesday Memo can be made by emailing honors@appstate.edu. Any content received by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday will be considered for the following week’s issue.