edited by Kistler Hunt
Volume 6, Issue 24
March 22, 2023
Dear Honors students and colleagues, dear readers,
One of the fine things about being Honors College dean is all the recruiting I get to do, in close collaboration with Honors College student ambassadors and Honors staff and faculty members year-round, but especially in spring:
- Daily "Tour + Talk" events in the Honors College
- All the "Next Step: Appalachian" days directed by our great colleagues in Admissions
- Weekly evening drop-in sessions on Zoom: "Talk Honors with Dean Jeff"
- Campus Open House Honors presentations and tours
- Individual Zoom and face-to-face meetings with prospective students and their families
Key to each of these events, and key to Honors education, is conversation, discussion, exchange. And in these conversations, every one, I meet students eager to join in at Appalachian, eager to learn and develop at high levels, and eager to tackle problems in the world. From every conversation, I emerge with something that feels very much like hope.
Jeff
Upcoming Opportunities:
Dean Jeff is happy to help you apply; send him an email at vahlbuschjb@appstate.edu
Honors Thesis Writing Groups
Honors College graduate assistant Jasmine Garcia will be hosting a thesis writing group session on March 29. These sessions are an opportunity for students to get together and work on their theses, talk about their progress, and have a space to ask questions. The March 29 session will be held from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. in room 210 of Belk Library, as well as a virtual option. For more information and questions, contact Jasmine Garcia.
National Collegiate Honors Council – Partners in the Parks
Partners in the Parks (PITP) are outdoor experiential learning programs coordinated by the National Collegiate Honors Council and the National Park Service. App State Honors College students are encouraged to consider taking advantage of these great PITP opportunities as a part of their Honors education, as they offer leadership, service, and possibly even research or creative experiences. Several of the programs are within driving distance of North Carolina. The Southern Regional Honors Council (SRHC) has funding for these trips, found here. Additionally, App State Honors College students are encouraged to apply to the Honors College for research support for these trips. Students have the ability to earn one semester hour of Honors credit by working with an Honors College supervising instructor and completing one on-site and one reflective post-trip assignment. For the Costa Rica PITP opportunity, students also have the potential to earn Honors international education credit. Any interested App State student can contact Dr. Heather Waldroup for more information about how to incorporate PITP opportunities with their Honors College requirements.
NC Sea Grant Funding Opportunity
The North Carolina Sea Grant is hosting its second annual Coastal Resilience Team Competition for teams of two to four members, including at least one graduate student who will serve as the project lead, and at least one undergraduate. This program allows for two to four-member student teams to receive $20,000 to conduct research on developing solutions to improve community and habitat resiliency in the North Carolina coastal plain. Research must pertain to at least one of the following areas: ecosystem resilience, community resilience, or economic resilience. The deadline to apply is at 5:00 p.m. on April 3. For more information and to apply, click here.
UN Climate Negotiations Course Application
Applications are now open for the ECO 4530/5530: UN Climate Negotiations course. This course provides students with an overview of climate agreements made through the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), with an opportunity to attend the 28th Conference of Parties (COP 28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates from November 30 – December 6. Students must have at least 84 credits hours to enroll in the course. Applications are due on March 31, with decision announcements released in early April. For more information, click here. For any questions, contact Dr. Dave McEvoy.
Lavender Graduation
The Henderson Springs LGBTQ+ Center is hosting their Lavender Graduation ceremony on May 10 at 6:30 p.m. Lavender Graduation celebrates App State graduates who are a part of the LGBTQIA+ community and highlights how their queer identity has impacted their experience, empowering them to graduate as authentically as possible. Graduates will receive a lavender stole that can be worn during University Commencement. In order to walk in the ceremony and receive regalia, graduates must apply by April 1. To apply for Lavender Graduation, click here. For any questions, contact Maggie Nichols or Anna Gretz.
Stay in the Know:
DLLC International Speaker Series
The Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures is hosting its 5th annual International Speaker Series on March 23 and March 24. This year’s speaker series will feature Dr. Katya Wesolowski, lecturing fellow of cultural anthropology and dance at Duke University. Dr. Wesolowski will be presenting about her memoir “Capoeira Connections,” which details how capoeira, an Afro-Brazilian martial art, fosters social connection. A public lecture by Dr. Wesolowski will take place on March 23 from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. and a movement and music workshop on March 24 from 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. For more information, click here.
“Alive Inside: A Story of Music and Memory” Screening
The Sociology Club, Dementia Awareness Club, and the High Country Area Agency on Aging will be hosting a screening of the movie, “Alive Inside: A Story of Music and Memory,” on March 24 at 5:30 p.m. in Room 103 of Leon Levine Hall. This movie depicts current challenges in the healthcare system, demonstrating how music combats memory loss and restores a sense of self for those with dementia. For more information, click here.
Immigrant Mountaineer Movement Conference
The Immigrant Mountaineers Movement (IMM) will be hosting their first mini conference on March 24. This conference will feature discussions about immigration issues, allow for insight from individuals affected by immigration, and foster an equitable environment for immigrants in the High Country. To view the conference schedule, click here. For any questions, contact IMM.
y(OUR) Story Presentation
The Office of Wellness and Prevention Services will be hosting their presentation “y(OUR) Story” on March 28 and March 29. y(OUR) Story is a production that features the work of actors, artists, dancers, etc. to highlight mental health journeys and bring awareness to mental health. Shows will take place at 6:30 p.m. both days. For more information, click here.
International Education Career Talks
The Office of International Education and Development (OIED) will be hosting career talks throughout the semester, highlighting career opportunities within international education. The next career talks will be held on March 28 and March 29. On March 28 at 5:00 p.m., OIED will be presenting about opportunities to teach English abroad. On March 29 at 12:00 p.m., there will be a presentation about the field of international education will be given. Registration is required. For any questions and to register, contact Karen Binger Marshall.
In the Honors Spotlight
Honors students lead and learn through the App State Mock Trial Team
Top photo features the App State Mock Trial team in the Watauga County Courthouse during their fall 2023 mock trial. Photo submitted.
Several Honors students have served in leadership roles in App State’s Mock Trial club since its establishment in 2021. Honors College senior Gavi Jacobson serves as president of the 2022-2023 team. Jacobson, a sociology major with a minor in social work, became involved with App State’s Mock Trial team as a junior and served as the chair of fundraising in the club’s first year. Junior Emily Mahon, an Honors student in the Department of Government and Justice Studies (GJS) serves as secretary. Mahon, a senior political science major, has also been involved with the team for four semesters, as both a witness and in the role of lawyer. The 2022-23 team also includes Honors College senior Emma Estudillo, a criminal justice major with minors in Spanish and political science, who has also been involved since the club’s origin. Jacobson encourages anyone who is interested in learning what a career in the court room looks like to get involved with the Mock Trial team. She explained, “For any student in any major, it is a great opportunity to learn, and an opportunity to connect with the legal community, local attorneys and local judges. It is a great opportunity to learn about the world around you, a really great way to advance public speaking and analytical skills, and a way to boost life skills and academic skills.
To read more about the experiences and opportunities in the Mock Trial Club, click 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!