Honors Wednesday Memo
Opportunities and Information for Honors Students
edited by Brad Rentz
Volume 3, Issue 8
October 9, 2019
Message from Dean Jeff Vahlbusch
Dear Honors students,
I will never tire of saying and demonstrating: Honors education is about opportunities, in and out of the classroom.
Here are five to get especially excited about today, and there are more, as always, in the Memo below:
1. Apply to be a SOUL—Summer Orientation Undergraduate Leader--for next summer's Appalachian orientation, and help incoming Honors College students get ready for their first days on campus! Applications open October 16th: SOUL Application for 2020. Please talk with Dr. Angela Mead if interested: meadad@appstate.edu. You could be the SOUL of the Honors College!
2. Submit a Paper Proposal to the Lloyd International Honors College 20th Undergraduate Honors Symposium at UNC Greensboro! The deadline for submission is 20 December; and the symposium takes place on Friday, February 28th. The Honors College at Appalachian will be providing free transportation to this great event. Click here for details.
3. Pick up a paper copy of the beautiful Spring 2020 HON Seminar Schedule in Appalachian Hall 285 or the Honors College Library! Ask a staff member if you can't find a copy; we will probably have more.
4. Come to "Trick or Treat for Tots": Thursday, October 24th, 5 - 7 p.m., sponsored by the wonderful folks in University Housing and offered by the wonderful students in all east campus residence halls, including the Honors College's Cone and Summit Halls: children of staff, faculty, and community members can come, costumed if desired, for treats and fun activities!
5. Drop by for "Cookies with Jeff"! Friday, October 18th, 3 to 5 p.m. in Appalachian Hall 285. Stop by for cookies and good conversation about you, Honors education, and...yep: opportunities, including chances to lead.
And finally: Cone and Summit residents! Please don't forget to close your room windows by 3 p.m. this coming Friday 10/11.
Wishing you all a terrific Fall Break!
Jeff
The photo above is from last week’s Dia Latino Prospective Student event. Panelists from left to right are Honors Judith Espita, Honors Marlen Cardenas, Marco Fonesca Rodriguez, Ms. Sarah Donovan, lecturer in the Department of Social work, Dr. Jeff Vahlbusch, dean of the Honors College, and Dominique Harrison (standing). Photo submitted.
Upcoming Opportunities:
HON 2515 Study Abroad in Guatemala
Study abroad this spring break and learn about education, liberation, and sustainability in Indigenous Guatemala. During this course, you will learn about the relationship between education, democracy, and freedom as well as education as a tool for liberation and sustainability. If you are interested, you can view this short video for more information or visit our website.
Garrett Scholarship Upcoming Deadline
The deadline for Garrett Scholarship applications is October 25 at noon. The George Williams Garrett Memorial Scholarship provides up to $1000 support to students in the Honors College at Appalachian who are interested in pursuing careers in scientific research. Honors College students in good standing and performing research in fields related to the Biomedical field are eligible to apply for this award. For more information, click here.
Bellwethers 2019: Exhibition of Art
Hosted by the West Tennessee Regional Art Center in Humboldt, Tennessee this 3rd annual Juried Exhibition of Collegiate Student Art will be held from October 28 through November 27, 2019. If you are interested in this art exhibition, visit our website.
Local Issues Coffee Hour
The second Local Issues Coffee Hour will be held on Monday, October 21 from 9 to 10 a.m. in the ACT outreach center in the Student Union (room 138). The discussion topic for this session is “Immigrant Rights Awareness.” For more information about this coffee hour, click here.
Look Smart Professional Closet
The Look Smart Professional Closet is a great place for students to pick up some FREE professional clothing. It will be open for the second time this semester on October 21 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Macrae Peak room of the student union. If you're planning to attend some of our upcoming career fairs, are meeting an employer, etc., make sure you stop by and browse our selection so you can look your best! For more information, visit our website.
AHA Upcoming:
AHA Spooktacular: Save the date! October 26 from 8 to 10 p.m. - stay tuned for more updates!
Kazoo Band Interest: If you are interested in joining the AHA kazoo band for Homecoming, email
LipSync: Come support AHA in the LipSync Competition next Thursday, October 17 in the Schaefer Center.
Upcoming Thesis Defenses:
Jeff says, “Support your fellow Honors College students and faculty by attending Honors thesis defenses! You'll marvel, learn, and grow. And each defense you attend, you'll make your own easier”
Allison Farrell: October 22, 10:00 am, Holmes Convocation Center room 13B, an exercise science major, will present Parental Impact on Child Physical Activity and Sedentary Time.
Stay in the Know…
Anthropology Brown Bag Series: Felicia Arrianga
The Anthropology Department’s Brown Bag Series is continuing this fall semester with several guest speakers throughout the semester. All guest speakers will be in Belk Hall 342 at noon. Next week, on October 16, Felicia Arriagna will visit to present “Gearing Up for 2020: New Directions in Immigration Policies or Similar Promises?” For more information about the Brown Bag Series, click here.
19th Amendment Centennial Celebration Speaker: Celeste Montoya
On October 17 at 7 p.m. in Belk Library room 114, Celeste Montoya will present “From Seneca to Shelby: Intersectionality and Women’s Voting Rights.” This event is hosted by Government and Justice Studies, Gender, Women's and Sexuality Studies, and the University Forum Lecture Series. For more information, visit our website.
Why is Dietary Advice so Confusing?
On October 17 from 6 to 8 p.m. in RCOE 124C Dr. Martin Root, associate professor with the Department of Nutrition and Health Care Management will discuss the difficulties and intricacies of dietary advice. For more information, click here.
Alumni Speaker Series: Dr. Keith Barber
Vice Chancellor of Institutional Advancement for the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture Dr. Keith Barber will come to Appalachian’s campus on October 17 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the TCVA Lecture Hall. For more information, visit our website.
Schaefer Center Events Tickets on Sale Now
The 2019-20 season features a diverse mix of music, dance, and theatre – from jazz, Americana strings and country-rock, to international and contemporary dance, to a powerful documentary radio-stage play. Several shows have special ticket prices for students. For more information about upcoming shows, click here.
In the Honors Spotlight
Paige Skinner Reflects on the Honors International Experience
The photo above features Paige Skinner at the cliffs of Moher in Ireland. Photo Submitted
Honors junior and AHA Vice President, Paige Skinner spent this past Spring semester in London studying at the University of Roehampton. In Honors, international education is a requirement, one that can be fulfilled in many different ways including a full semester or year abroad, short-term faculty-led trips over winter or spring break, and summer independent travel or research experiences. Skinner admits that she initially found the idea of studying abroad daunting. She shared,
“Going into my study abroad experience I was very nervous. Moving to another country, away from everything that I knew for five months was something that I had never done before. I was scared of having to face new challenges and learning to adapt to living in a new country. But then I realized, isn't that what studying abroad is all about?”
To read more about Skinner’s trip abroad, click here.
Honors Faculty Dr. Janice Pope Serves as Interim Dean
On August 5, 2019, Dr. Janice Pope, professor of public relations in the Department of Communication, was appointed interim dean of Appalachian's College of Fine and Applied Arts. In the Honors College, Dr. Janice Pope regularly teaches Honors seminars and mentors Honors theses. Dr. Pope explains why she likes teaching Honors seminars:
"Having a classroom of students from diverse academic pursuits who are dedicated to their degree programs is a lot of fun. The opportunity to encourage deep conversation about the role of communication and mediated communication in their lives and careers is one I value highly. I always learn from students in this setting."
For more about Dr. Pope, click here.
To Stay in the Know and Learn About All Opportunities in Honors, please visit https://honors.appstate.edu/announcements
Appalachian State Honors College on Social Media!
Check us out on Instagram also! Find us by searching “Appalachian Honors College”
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.