Honors Wednesday Memo
Opportunities and Information for Honors Students
edited by Lakin Stevens
Volume 5, Issue 1
August 18, 2021
Dear students, staff, faculty, friends,
Welcome to the first Honors Wednesday Memo of the 2021-2022 academic year! And for the record: this begins the Memo's 5th year, and is the 139th Memo to appear at Appalachian. That's a lot of opportunities for Honors College and departmental Honors program students and faculty across this great university.
My question today is: How can you get involved in the Honors College? And my answers are easy:
Honors College students: Join AHA! the Appalachian Honors Association, and start working with your fellow Honors students to create events and community in the Honors College. Write to AHA! President Abigail Burchard now: burchardaf@appstate.edu. Also: keep watching for a Call for Applications to join the Honors College Vanguard Ambassadors! Attend a Cookies with Jeff event. Make an appointment to chat with your Honors College academic mentor. Send me new ideas and schedule a meeting to talk about them here!
Appalachian Faculty members: Write to ask about teaching in the Honors College; we would love to have you apply! And would you like to speak with a group of Honors College students over lunch about some interesting topic? Please volunteer!
Departmental Honors students: Write to me if you would like to enroll in a particular Honors College course!
Friends of the Honors College and Honors education: Reach out to schedule a conversation with me to explore possibilities.
Sending thanks and looking forward to collaborations with you,
Jeff
Appalachian Honors Association or AHA! hosted a cookie social on August 15th to welcome new and returning Honors students to campus.
Upcoming Opportunities:
Dean Jeff is happy to help you apply; send him an email at vahlbuschjb@appstate.edu.
U.S. Policy in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Canada Seminar
USA Study Abroad, a part of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, and the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program invites undergraduate and graduate students from all fields of study and backgrounds to attend the next seminar as a part of the virtual “Inside U.S. Foreign Policy” series. Gain an inside look at how the State Department designs and implements U.S. foreign policy. Register here to attend August 20th from 1:00 – 4:30 EST.
Department of Communication Hiring Communication Assistant
The Department of Communication is seeking a student to fill the Communication Assistant position during the 2021-2022 academic year. Applicant must qualify for the Federal Work Study program. Responsibilities include communicating with faculty, staff, and students, assisting with social media and website management, managing office communications, and more. Apply through Handshake here.
Latin Dance and Global Dynamics
Professor Emily Daughtridge offers the course DAN 3530 Latin Dance and Global Dynamics on Tuesday and Thursday from 9:30-10:45 in the VG Dance Studio 208 A. Learn about Latin dance styles including Afro – Cuban forms, Salsa, Rueda de Casino, Bachata, and learn about the global dynamics of cultural evolution and exchange. This a studio and lecture hybrid course with no dance experience required. More information here.
Undergraduate Research Assistantship Program
The Undergraduate Research (URA) Assistantships offer highly motivated undergraduate students the opportunity to work closely with a Faculty mentor on the Faculty member’s research, scholarship, or creative activity. A Faculty member with an undergraduate student is encouraged to apply. All disciplines are welcome. Students can earn up to $2,000 and are encouraged to present their work at the annual Celebration of Student Research and Creative Endeavors. Apply by August 31st and award notifications will be announced September 16th. Apply here.
University Forum Lecture Series: Dr. Annette Gordon-Reed
The University Forum Lecture Series is welcoming Dr. Annette Gordon-Reed, Harvard History Professor and Pulitzer Prize-winning author to campus on November 4th. Read more details here.
Stay in the Know:
Raices y Rutas: Las Voces Immigrantes
Join the Reich College of Education for a digital storytelling event called Las Voces Immigrantes featuring a reception and presentation of digital histories. Explore the diverse pathways that bring people to this region of North Carolina. Register here to attend August 21st from 5:00 – 6:00 pm.
Community Music School Classes
The Broyhill Music Center and the HUB Station in Hudson are offering music classes for all ages beginning the week of August 23rd. They offer “Pay What You Can” options for group programs. Online private lessons are also available. Explore your options here.
Your Round is Not Over Mental Health Event
Wellness and Prevention Services and the App State Disc Golf Club invite you to “Your Round is Not Over.” Visit Sanford Mall on August 26th from 12:00 – 3:00 pm to learn more about mental health resources and have the chance to win a prize. All are welcome to come.
Latin Dance Boone Social Dance
Save the date for the Latin Dance Boone Social Dance on August 27th from 6:00 – 10:00 pm. Join at Northwestern Studios for a social dance with masks required, including Salsa and Bachata with a little Merengue and Cha Cha Cha. Instructor Emily Daughtridge will offer a Beginners’ Crash Course at 6:30 pm with the open social dancing starting by 7:30 pm. $5 cover and details here.
Banff Film Festival
University Recreation is pleased to announce the Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour returns to Appalachian State on September 10th – 11th at 7:30 pm in the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts. Sponsor booths will be in upper parking lots and concessions available in the lobby. Live music prior to film screenings each night. Find more information and purchase tickets ($8 student or $15 for all others) here.
In the Honors Spotlight
Honors Students Lead Team Sunergy to First Place in 2021 American Solar Challenge
In photo above team Sunergy members hold sunflowers at a stop in La Junta, Colorado. Pictured kneeling, from left to right, are Stephany Garcia Henao, Jessica Navarro-Luciano, App State Sustainability Data and Assessment Specialist Jim Dees and Jason Harrington. Standing, from left to right, are Danna Latiolais ’21, Nathaniel McDonald, Austin Liebgott, Jameson Mathews, Griffin Honea, Nicole Sommerdorf, Patrick Laney, Sean Riordan, Sam Cheatham, Reid Kerr, Hunter Bristow ’20, Matthew Allen ’21, App State Chief Sustainability Officer Lee Ball, Sam Prewitt, Logistics and Strategy Adviser Ray Sinclair and Lead Team Adviser Chris Tolbert. Photo by Kyla Willoughby.
Honors seniors Stephany Garcia Henao and Jessica Navarro-Luviano drove Team Sunergy to finish first place for multiple-occupant vehicles (MOV) in the 2021 American Solar Challenge (ASC), which took place this August. Honors College juniors Griffin Honea and Nicole Sommerdorf were also part of the winning team effort. Team Sunergy won all three stages of the race from Missouri to New Mexico clocking a total of 964.8 miles, and received top awards for teamwork and electrical design.
Team Sunergy’s wins required each participant to work outside their disciplinary area and training. Cross-disciplinary and collaborative learning are at the heart of Honors education so Honors students like Henao, Honea, Navarro-Luviano, and Sommerdorf exemplified the Honors spirit with their flexibility and teamwork.
Read the full story here.
Have announcements to share? Submissions can be made to honors@appstate.edu. Any content received by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday 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!