January 19, 2021

Honors Wednesday Memo

Opportunities and Information for Honors Students

edited by Lakin Stevens

Volume 5, Issue 17

January 19, 2021

 

Dear Honors students,

Let's talk Honors thesis, plural:  theses!

Starting this semester, I'll be hosting Zoom conversations tentatively called:  "Theses with Jeff." Watch your inbox for invitations!

Never fear:  Dr. Angela Mead will continue to offer her regular "nuts & bolts" Honors College thesis advising sessions for students ready to move forward with their theses. Theses with Jeff offers all Honors students at any stage in their Honors education, from frosh to senior, chances to ask general and specific questions, to listen, to learn, and to get help from me and from each other.

  • What's a thesis?
  • Why do Honors Colleges require students to complete one?
  • Why should I care? 
  • What all will I gain from doing one?
  • How do I find a topic, an advisor, a second reader?
  • Is there funding available for my thesis project?
  • How do theses differ in the various majors?
  • How do I start?
  • What if I get stuck or run into a problem?
  • What if I need a pep talk and/or inspiration?

I'm looking forward to our conversations!

Yours,

Jeff

 

Happy snow days! Photo above features Honors student Skye-Anne Tschoepe’s dog, River, in the Honors College Bailey. Photo taken January 16, 2021. Photo submitted. Remember to share your fun photos with us at honors@appstate.edu or direct message us on Instagram or Facebook @apphonors.

 

Upcoming Opportunities: 

Dean Jeff is happy to help you apply; send him an email at vahlbuschjb@appstate.edu.

The Appalachian's Spring Open House

Are you interested in joining The Appalachian? Come to their spring 2022 open house on January 20th from 6:45 – 7:15 pm in The Appalachian newsroom, suite 217 of the Plemmons Student Union. At the open house, students can meet the editorial board and learn about how to gain experience while serving the campus and community. They have opportunities in reporting, writing, editing, graphic design, cartooning, photography, video, audio, podcasting, advertising, sales, data visualization, social media, marketing, and more. Visit here to learn more about joining and ask any questions here.

Scholarship for Native American Students

The NextEra Energy Scholarship Program, in partnership with the American Indian Graduate Center, will provide 15 scholarships, each valued at $5,000 per year, for Native undergraduate and graduate students pursuing a degree in the fields of energy, environment, and cultural sustainability and preservation. The scholarship aims to support Native students in their ongoing studies and to recognize the work of Tribes that collaborate on renewable energy projects. Applications are open until June 1st. Apply here and reach out with questions here.

Science Alliance Student Mentoring and Research Training Program

The Oak Ridge Institute at the University of Tennessee is seeking applications from undergraduate students currently enrolled in colleges and universities across the United States. The Science Alliance Student Mentoring and Research Training (SMaRT) Program will select 30 participants for the 10-week summer program scheduled for May 24th – July 30th. Selected interns will receive a funded internship, including stipends, housing, and allowance for travel to and from Knoxville, Tenn. The program will focus on four interdisciplinary areas: electrochemical energy systemsadvanced science and engineering of materials and manufacturingpredictive systems biology for circular and sustainable economies; and autonomous, smart, secure and resilient energy systems. Fall 2022 rising juniors and seniors are eligible to apply. Apply at the links above and contact here with any questions.

Scholarship for Advertising, Marketing, or Public Relations

In 2022, the LAGRANT Foundation will award 50 scholarships to 30 ethnic minority undergraduate students, $2,500 each, and to 20 graduate students, $3,750 each. Students must attend four-year accredited institutions in the United States and major in fields of advertising, marketing or public relations. In addition to the scholarship, recipients will receive a trip to New York City where they will participate in career building activities including:  a welcome dinner with a keynote speaker, three day career development workshops, and a scholarship and donor recognition reception. Applications are due by February 28th. Undergraduates can learn more and apply here. Graduates can learn more and apply here.

Local Healthcare Job Opportunity

The Career Development Center has posted a healthcare job opportunity:  sitter for elderly Parkinson’s patient. The responsibilities include assisting an elderly woman with Parkinson’s overnight on occasional weekends. The family is seeking a capable adult to help with cleaning, cooking, and safely navigating the patient through the house, as the patient has balance and motor skill issues. Compensation is approximately $17 per hour and is located within walking distance from campus. To learn more, click here.

 

Stay in the Know:

Rhythm & Revolution: Cuba June 2022   

This summer the Honors seminar Rhythm & Revolution: Cuba is being offered in the first summer session May 23rd – June 24th. In this program, Honors students will earn 6sh of credit for both HON 2515 and HON 3515 seminars. Learn how to dance and eat like a Cuban. Learn about Cuba’s history from a Spanish colony to a Marxist-Leninist state. Meet Cubans in schools, restaurants, workplaces, and homes. No knowledge of dance or Spanish necessary. Read more here and contact faculty instructors Emily Daughtridge or Joseph Gonzalez with any questions.    

Career Development Center Events and Services

The Career Development Center is offering several events and services in the Spring 2022 semester. The Career Studio is open Monday through Thursday from 2:00 – 6:00 pm and Major and Career Exploration is available for drop-in appointments on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 1:00 – 2:00 pm and Thursday from 9:00 – 10:00 am in the Career Development Center, room 222 of the Plemmons Student Union. Contact Michael Ryback with questions. Student Employee of the Year nominations, aiming to recognize student employees who have made significant contributions in their position, are also open until February 6th. Nominate here. Explore more events here.

Appalachian Theater Presents Documentary Series

Free and open to the public, the Appalachian Theater presents three documentaries co-sponsored by University Forum Speakers and University Documentary Services. A representative of film production will accompany each film screening and host Q&A after the film. Films start at 4:00 pm and will be screened at the Appalachian Theater. The film “My Name is Pauli Murray” will be February 6th, “Lose Hermanos/The Brothers” will be March 27th and “Lily Topples the World” will be April 3rd. To learn more, click here.

 

In the Honors Spotlight

Abby Bennett awarded Garrett Scholarship in support of thesis research

 

The top photo features Abby Bennett in her College of Arts and Sciences Corps t-shirt. The CAS Corps is a group of student ambassadors chosen to represent the college at events for prospective and current students, parents, alumni and donors. Bennett is also a member of the Honors College Vanguard, a group of Honors students selected for their outstanding scholarship and service to The Honors College. Vanguard students contribute to The Honors College by providing services such as meeting with prospective students, introducing The Honors College at public events, and helping host program socials. The Vanguard members are invited to serve by the Dean and are valued adjunct members of the Honors College staff.

 

Honors College senior Abby Bennett has been awarded the 2021-22 George Williams Garrett Memorial Scholarship. Abby majors in chemistry with a minor in nutrition and foods, and works with Dr. Jennifer Cecile, associate professor in the Department of Chemistry, as her research mentor and thesis director. She has received this scholarship to support her Honors thesis research in which she is studying the plant, Moringa oleifera, and working to develop it into a drug for rheumatoid arthritis.

To learn more about how Bennett’s work that extends beyond research to community engagement and how as she explains, “The Honors College has been so instrumental in helping me make connections between my passions and professional goals,” 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!