Honors Wednesday Memo
Opportunities and Information for Honors Students
edited by Lakin Stevens
Volume 4, Issue 8
October 7, 2020
Message from Dean Jeff Vahlbusch
Dear Honors students,
Right now, we all are focused on the moment, figuring out minute by minute how to push our lives and learning forward while staying healthy and safe, and trying to keep those who live with us and around us safe and healthy, too.
Look beyond the moment just a little, and opportunities await. This Honors Wednesday Memo offers several ways to find support, engage with critical thought, and develop yourself intellectually, personally, and professionally.
And we are getting ready to post the Honors College Spring HON list and descriptions for Spring 2021, and they are, IMHO, awe-inspiring. Preview: Intro to Research; Education as the Practice of Freedom; Art & the Brain; African American Popular Culture; Research to Action: Climate; Lead the [social] Change!; Collaborative Citizenship; In Search of the Perfect Decision; Resisting Anti-Black Racism; Tycoons, Titans, Founders; The Future of Human Civilization; Walking: Place, Memory, Person; Cultural Competence; Slavery and the Making of American Capitalism; Women in Theatre.
Sending all support,
Jeff
Students enjoy Boone’s beautiful fall weather on Sanford Mall Monday, October 5. With the transition to colder weather and brightly colored leaves, the change in season marks the transition as we are halfway through the semester with midterms. Embracing change and learning to adapt is ever-present as we navigate a world riddled with uncertainty. Photo by Lakin Stevens.
Upcoming Opportunities:
Dean Jeff is happy to help you apply; send him an email at vahlbuschjb@appstate.edu.
Wellness Peer Coaches
Wellness and Prevention Service’s peer to peer coaching service is accepting applications from students interesting in joining WE COACH. As a peer coach, you are trained in motivational interviewing techniques and one-on-one wellness coaching to help students. Training starts Thursdays 3:00pm - 5:00 pm beginning October 8th and those interesting in joining or requesting an appointment with a peer coach can find more information here.
International Affairs Book Award
The Edward J. Perkins International Affairs Book Award is accepting applications to support book purchases for junior, senior, or graduate students majoring in an international relations field with a GPA of at least 3.2. Applications are due October 9th by midnight and can be found here.
Nominate for Global Leadership Awards
The Global Leadership Awards Program is accepting nominations of staff, faculty, or students who have made significant contributions to global learning where the recipients will be recognized during the Appalachian Global Symposium. Nominations are due by October 9th at 5:00 pm and can be submitted here.
Office of Student Research Travel Grants
The Office of Student Research (OSR) is accepting applications for student OSR Travel Grants to support virtual meetings and conferences for Fall 2020. Deadlines occur monthly, beginning with October 15th at 11:59 pm. Learn more and apply here.
Barry Goldwater Scholarship Application Open
Barry Goldwater Scholarship applications are open for junior and senior students studying mathematics, natural sciences, or engineering with an intention to pursue a research career. Desired applicants hold a highly competitive grade point average, demonstrated research experience, and commitment to make a significant contribution to a STEM field. For detailed information, click here.
Career Development Center Opportunities
The Career Development Center continues to offer several resources to prepare and connect students with opportunities. Upcoming are the Graduate and Professional Schools Fair, Career Meet-Ups, and the GenHeration Trailblazers Series each of which will occur October 14th from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm, October 13th at 11:00 am, and October 7th at 7:00 pm, respectively. For more detailed information and registration links, click here.
Stay in the Know:
International Education Career Talks
The Office of International Education and Development (OIED) is hosting a series of short talks for students considering careers in international education. To learn about careers in this field, attend the upcoming virtual Career Talks hosted October 9th, October 23rd, and October 30th. More information and how to register can be found here.
Queering the Outdoors
The Henderson Springs LGBT Center invites everyone to participate in their monthly outdoor adventures! Upcoming events for October include a hike to Flat Top Mountain and an overnight camping experience in partnership with UREC on October 10th and October 24th, respectively. Sign up here for more information!
Stress Management Classes
Koru Mindfulness classes can help you stay focused and de-stress by learning about meditation and mindfulness. The upcoming dates for the free 4-week live course held via Zoom start October 13th and October 28th. See the course schedule and register here.
Solo Play Reading on the Intersectionalities of Being Black and a Woman
Hosted by Appalachian State University, Mia Raye Smith will be performing a solo play reading of “Resilience.” This play focuses on an African American Woman seeking the perfect therapist to cure her anxiety disorder, tackling race, anxiety, the strong Black woman syndrome, and the misconceptions about finding a therapist. Attend the live stream on October 14th at 6:00 pm by registering ahead here.
Hughlene Bostian Frank Visiting Writers Series
The Fall 2020 Hughlene Bostian Frank Visiting Writers Series will be held in a virtual pre-recorded format between the date of their posting and December 15th. The featured writers are poet Jacinta White, novelist Jacinda Townsend, author Chris McCloud, and poet Nickole Brown. For links to their presentations, click here.
In the Honors Spotlight
Honors Alumna Allison Farrell Publishes Honors Thesis
Featured above is Honors Alumna Allison Farrell. Photo submitted.
Recent Honors alumna Allison Farrell ’20 successfully published her Honors thesis in the Journal of Appalachian Health titled “Parental Impact on Child Physical Activity and Sedentary Time in Appalachian North Carolina.” Farrell shared, “My involvement in research has been an important part of my time at Appalachian…” Earning her Bachelor of Science degree in exercise science with a minor in psychology, Farrell has continued her at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston where she works towards her doctorate in occupational therapy.
Read the full story here.
Have news to share? Submissions 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.
To stay in the know, learn about opportunities, and take part in the Honors community, find us below!