Honors Wednesday Memo
Opportunities and Information for Honors Students
edited by Lakin Stevens
Volume 4, Issue 11
October 28, 2020
Message from Dean Jeff Vahlbusch
Dear friends,
Last night at the wonderful "Mountaineer Fusion" Zoom recruitment event organized by the Admissions Office, I realized what I had been missing.
Some of the best parts of my job are face-to-face recruitment events where colleagues and students share exciting stories about living, studying, and working at Appalachian and in Boone. In the telling, and in the excited questions and answers that typically follow, these stories strengthen and nurture the special spirit that animates those who love this place and work hard to realize its mission and goals.
As a Zoom panel member at "Mountaineer Fusion," invited to talk about the Honors College, I was delighted to hear more than 15 colleagues — Admissions counselors, current students, Financial Aid professionals, alumni, faculty, and directors of key programs like Intercultural Student Affairs and the Watauga Residential College — speak from the heart and head about how this university has transformed them, and about the extraordinary support they pledge to all students and families who become Mountaineers.
Face-to-face or via Zoom, happily, this is business as usual at Appalachian. And both healing and uplifting.
Yours,
Jeff
Honors student James Auwn (first-year, majoring in cellular molecular biology and psychology) pictured at Grandfather Mountain. Hiking has been a great activity to stay safe, enjoy fall, and get outdoors! Send us your favorite hiking photos this year at honors@appstate.edu or DM our Instagram @apphonors!
Upcoming Opportunities:
Dean Jeff is happy to help you apply; send him an email at vahlbuschjb@appstate.edu.
SOUL Open Applications
Applications are open to be a Student Orientation Undergraduate Leader or SOUL. Orientation hires dozens of students to serve as SOULs to work with new incoming and transfer students during summer Orientation. Honors needs an Honors SOUL too! For more, click here.
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 teaching English abroad, join Rebecca Yoon, Director of the Appalachian’s new English Language Studies Institute, at the next talk on October 30th at 3:00pm. Register by emailing Karen Binger Marshall.
Education Career Fair
The Career Development Center is hosting its Education Career Fair to connect students with school administrators, superintendents, and other employers from the field of education. Network and explore opportunities on October 30th from 12:30 pm - 2:30 pm. Register here.
Honors Symposium Call for Papers
The Lloyd International Honors College’s Honors Symposium provides undergraduates the opportunity to participate in a virtual academic conference. Submit your research-based paper by December 21st at 11:55 pm, to be considered and for a chance to win varying monetary awards! To learn more, click here.
Across the Disciplines Podcast
Across the Disciplines is an ACT office produced podcast featuring Appalachian professors to discuss relevant issues. In the first episode moderated by Brian MacHarg, Dr. Alex Howard, Dr. Adam Hege, Dr. Mark Bradbury, and Ms. Cara Hagan discuss COVID-19 as it relates to dance, public health, and government. Episode one is now available on Spotify and SoundCloud!
Upcoming Thesis Defenses:
Dean Jeff urges students to “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.”
To receive an invitation to a particular thesis defense this semester, please write to honors@appstate.edu.
Emily Nicholson
Presenting “How Adverse Childhood Experiences Affect Student Achievement and Overall School Experience in Schools in Watauga County, North Carolina” on October 28th at 1:00 pm.
Stay in the Know:
Voting Information and Resources
Early voting in North Carolina is now happening! If you are on campus, vote at the Plemmons Student Union in Blue Ridge Ballroom. Voting is open October 15th - October 31st, open 8:00 am – 7:30 pm Monday through Friday, and Saturdays 8:00 am – 6:00 pm (October 31st closes early at 3:00 pm). Remember that you can register to vote or update your registration at one-stop voting sites during early voting and no photo identification is needed to vote if you are already registered. For more information, visit here.
Streaming of The Resurrection of Alice
The Shaefer Center presents a free production of NC Black Repertory Company’s The Resurrection of Alice. The play was written and performed by Perri Gaffney and directed by Jackie Alexander; its story is about a young girl trapped in an arranged marriage in mid-20th century South Carolina. View the free stream on October 29th at 8:00 pm and register here.
Mental Health Opportunities
Wellness and Prevention Services continues to host workshops and opportunities for students, faculty, and staff. Upcoming events include: Koru Mindfulness classes, Treat Yosef Right week of events, and the 8th Annual Suicide Remembrance Night. Find more here.
Hayes School of Music Virtual Concerts
Join the Hayes School of Music’s virtual musical celebration of composer Ludwig van Beethoven 250th birthday where faculty will perform a variety of works based on the composer’s style periods. This will take place October 25th at 4:00 pm. There will also be student recitals featuring senior Bryan Culler, flute, on October 24th at 6:00 pm and junior Grace Sarris, horn, on October 31st at 6:00 pm. For more information and links, click here.
Wednesday Morning Mediations
The Counseling Center is hosting morning meditations over Zoom for students, faculty, and staff. This 20 minute mindfulness and meditation routine can help you wake up and get ready for the day. All levels welcome. This is held every first and third Wednesday of the month at 7:30 am, with the next date being November 11th. Register here.
In the Honors Spotlight
Honors Promoting Wellness on Campus
Featured above are Honors students Victoria Moreno (left) and Caroline Pruitt (right). Photos by Marie Freeman.
Victoria Moreno, senior Honors student, and Caroline Pruitt, senior departmental honors student, are both public health majors working with Appalachian State University’s Department of Wellness and Prevention Services (WPS) in the Division of Student Affairs to promote wellness on campus during the pandemic. Recently, each has been highlighted in a news story in AppalachianToday. Moreno is featured for her work as a part of the Health, Wellness, and Safety Walk by helping install signs that can lead students through a self-guided walking tour informing students of resources available to them. Pruitt is featured for being a wellness peer educator, who offers informational presentations to students about topics such as mental health and nutrition.
To learn more and read the feature stories, click 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!