Honors Wednesday Memo
Opportunities and Information for Honors Students
edited by Lakin Stevens
Volume 5, Issue 18
January 26, 2022
Dear faithful readers of the Honors Wednesday Memo,
I admit: I was tempted this week to write "This Space Intentionally Left Blank." This may be the busiest work week of my life (or at least of all the parts that I can remember!).
But this memo is so rich with opportunities and chances to do, learn and grow: Alternative Service Experiences, mindfulness trainings, Gilman International Scholarships, HON 3515 in Guatemala this summer, HON 2515 and 3515 in Cuba this summer, cooking classes, sustainability volunteering, and TWO extraordinary free research forums: one on Artificial Intelligence through the Office of Research (and featuring Honors College faculty member this spring Dr. Andrew Davis of the Department of Communication), and one on Energy and Rural Resilience and Health through RIEEE.
And finally: a heart- and head-warming spotlight article on Dr. Joe Gonzalez. Required reading!
Sending gratitude to each of you,
Jeff
In the Honors College Commencement ceremony held Thursday, December 9, 2021 in the Solarium of the Plemmons Student Union, we celebrated the accomplishments of two graduates who completed the requirements to earn the distinction of University Honors. Photos above feature Honors graduates Nola Rae Lowe (top) and Alexander Bror Gilliatt (bottom) being presented gifts by Dean Vahlbusch and wearing their Honors College medals at the ceremony.
Upcoming Opportunities:
Dean Jeff is happy to help you apply; send him an email at vahlbuschjb@appstate.edu.
Spring Break Alternative Service Experience Lottery
Are you interested in an opportunity to serve, learn and explore? Spring Break Alternative Service Experience (ASE) sign-up lottery is taking place on Jan. 31st at 8:00 p.m. in the Plemmons Student Union room 201A. Come to the lottery to learn about each of the seven programs being offered and secure a spot for adventure. Each program explores a variety of social issues while working alongside communities across the southeast U.S. and costs $200 all-inclusive. Contact here for any questions and explore the program descriptions here.
Online Koru Mindfulness Classes
Wellness and Prevention Services is offering online four-week mindfulness classes to help students who feel stressed and overwhelmed. Register by Jan. 26th for Wednesday classes from 3:30 – 4:45 p.m., by Jan. 27th for Thursday classes from 11:00 – 12:15 p.m. and by Feb. 1st for Tuesday classes from 2:00 – 3:15 p.m. Register and explore more here.
Gilman and Gilman-McCain Scholarship Applications
The U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program is currently accepting applications. The program enables U.S. undergraduate students of limited financial means to study or intern abroad, providing them with skills critical to our national security and economic prosperity. The Gilman Program offers scholarships of up to $5,000 for students participating in credit-bearing abroad programs in locations with Level 1 or Level 2 travel advisories, or approved Level 3 locations. Students studying critical need languages may be eligible to receive an additional award of up to $3,000. The application deadline is Mar. 1st. Every Tuesday through Feb. 8th the program will offer 45-minute orientations to provide an overview of the program at 2:00 p.m. EST. Apply here, register for orientation here and email here with any questions.
Honors Junior Seminar: Education & Sustainability in Indigenous Guatemala
HON 3515 Education & Sustainability in Indigenous Guatemala will explore questions to guide the course’s work: How do the Maya of Guatemala use education for liberation and sustainability? What are the relationships between education, democracy, and freedom? The seminar will travel to the indigenous Maya community of Copal AA La Esperanza in Guatemala. Students will learn about contemporary Mayan culture through homestays with indigenous families, gardening alongside local middle school students, and participating in community conversations around climate change. Spanish language skills are not required. The course will satisfy the Honors College junior seminar HON 3515 and international experience requirements. Learn more about the program, costs, and scholarship opportunities here.
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.
Stay in the Know:
Cooking with Purpose Class Series
Mountaineer Food Hub is hosting a free cooking class “Cooking with Purpose” to increase awareness about how to prepare food that is readily available at the Mountaineer Food Hub and showcase the environmental impact of cooking healthy foods. Ingredients and supplies are provided based on a first-come, first-served basis. Sign up here and contact here with any questions.
Office of Sustainability Weekly On-Campus Volunteer Opportunities
The Office of Sustainability offers weekly on-campus volunteer opportunities. Join the weekly Wednesday campus clean-up from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Help out in the Food Hub and Free Store on Tuesdays from 12:00 – 3:00 p.m. and Thursdays 10:45 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Meet at the Office of Sustainability located at the bottom of East Hall for all volunteer opportunities.
Career Development Center Events
From the Career Development Center upcoming on Jan. 26th from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. the event Creating a Resume will present the basic resume components, learn about power verbs, explore format, and talk about the importance of highlighting skills. Additionally, the Small Business Technology Development Center (SBTDC) is being hosted on Jan. 28th at 2:00 p.m. and gives students the opportunity to meet and network with small and mid-sized businesses and industries throughout northwest North Carolina. RSVP here to attend and explore more CDC events here.
Research Forum: Artificial Intelligence
The Office of Research will be hosting a Virtual Research Forum on Feb. 2nd from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. to discuss research, scholarship and creative activity around the topic of artificial intelligence. Register here to attend. Faculty presenters include Dr. Andrew Davis, from the Department of Communication; Dr. Paul Wallace, from the Department of Leadership and Educational Studies; and Dr. Mitch Parry, from the Department of Computer Science. Contact here with any questions.
RIEEE Webinar Series
Research Institute for Environment, Energy, and Economics is hosting monthly Webinar Series which seek to amplify research and connect researchers across and beyond campus. Spring 2022 sessions will highlight established and emerging strategic research areas within RIEEE and its three affiliated centers. Up next on Feb. 4th at 1:00 p.m. is “Distributed Energy Resources for Rural Resilience: the Energy/Health Nexus.” This session will explore the value of behind the meter storage in the context of healthcare outcomes and medical costs for rural households during significant power outages. Learn more here.
In the Honors Spotlight
Dr. Joseph Gonzalez awarded 2021 Faculty Global Leadership Award
Photo above features Dr. Joe Gonzalez with his 2021 Faculty Global Leadership Award. Photo from the Office of International Education and Development.
Dr. Joseph Gonzalez has been awarded the Office of International Education and Development’s 2021 Faculty Global Leadership Award. Dr. Gonzalez is an associate professor with the Global Studies program in the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, and an Honors Faculty member. The Global Leadership Awards Program is an annual award to recognize students, faculty, and staff who have made a significant contribution to advance global learning at Appalachian. Recipients including Dr. Gonzalez were recognized during the virtual Appalachian Global Symposium on Wednesday, November 17th, 2021.
Read more about Dr. Gonzalez’s achievements and his teaching and service in Honors College international education 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!