edited by Kistler Hunt
Volume 6, Issue 28
April 19, 2023
Dear Honors students, faculty, staff:
This week I'm thrilled to call happy attention to art exhibits by two Honors College students + Chancellor's Scholars who are completing their Honors theses this semester:
Lela Arruza 's exhibit “Torn & Folded: Finding Identity, Community, and Healing Through Paper Craft,” an Honors thesis project directed by Dr. Phyllis Kloda, with Dr. Audrey Fessler as second reader, is now open in the Looking Glass Gallery in the Plemmons Student Union, and is described in full under "Announcements," below.
And, check out Miranda Lowery's thesis project, "Vessels of Wonder: An arts-based inquiry on learning and creativity," on floor 1 of Appalachian Hall. Her work features clay sculptures that she made! Read the spotlight story at the end of this Memo for more information.
Thank you, Lela and Miranda!
Jeff
Upcoming Opportunities:
Dean Jeff is happy to help you apply; send him an email at vahlbuschjb@appstate.edu
Asia Scholar Network Conference
The Carolina Asia Center will be hosting their Asia Scholar Network Conference on April 29 from 9:15 – 4:45 at the FedEx Global Education Center in Chapel Hill, NC. The Asia Scholar Network exists to create a community of scholars working on Asia-related topics in North Carolina. Scholars will also be given opportunities to network, share information, and collaborate. The keynote speaker at the conference will be provided by Kim Jones, associate professor of Dance at the University of North Carolina - Charlotte. She will present her research reconstructing modern dance of Korea’s most influential choreographer of the mid-20th century. For more information and to register, click here.
Honors Formal
The Appalachian Honors Association (AHA!) will be hosting their annual Honors College formal on April 29 at Legends. The Honors Formal will be masquerade-themed and students are encouraged to bring masquerade masks. Students in the Honors College and departmental honors programs are welcome to attend. For additional information and questions, contact Alisa Duong.
Looking Glass Gallery Presentation
Honors College student and Chancellor’s Scholar Lela Arruza’s thesis, “Torn & Folded: Finding Identity, Community, and Healing Through Paper Craft,” will be featured at the Looking Glass Gallery through May 9. An artist reception will be held on April 21 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. in the Looking Glass Gallery. For more information, contact the Looking Glass Gallery.
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. Any interested App State student can contact Dr. Heather Waldroup for more information about how to incorporate PITP opportunities with their Honors College requirements.
Appalachian Energy Summit
The Office of University Sustainability will be hosting their 11th annual Appalachian Energy Summit from June 7 – 9. The Summit brings together world leaders in the energy and sustainability sectors. Attendees will hear from a range of academic, corporate, and government speakers. For more information about the Summit, click here. To register, click here. For any questions, contact the Appalachian Energy Summit.
Upcoming Thesis Defenses:
Dean Jeff urges, “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 attend a defense this semester, please write to honors@appstate.edu.
Miranda Lowery
April 20, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Presenting “An arts-based inquiry on learning and creativity”
Liney Brantley
April 21, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Presenting “Unlocking Locker Room Talk: Reflections of, by, and for App State Female Student-Athletes”
Alisa Duong
April 21, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Presenting “Food Pantry Use on an Appalachian College Campus as a Result of Stigma”
Aaron Lubkemann
April 24, 11:00 – 12:00 p.m.
Presenting “Radial Basis Function approach to solving the heat conduction equation for a two-material system (snowpack overlying soil) in 1D
Ryan Musgrave
April 24, 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Presenting “Nutrition Counseling: How to Interact with Patients or Clients who have Fatalistic Beliefs"
Claire Mooney
April 24, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Presenting “Effects of dermal anthracene exposure on skin blood flow”
Therese Kafant
April 24, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Presenting “Barriers to Maternal Nutrition and Health in Rural Appalachia”
Abbey Putnam
April 24, 3:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Presenting “Examination of Nutrition Education Needs of Young Adults with Intellectual Disabilities: A Literature Review to Guide the Development of a Campus-Based Transition Program in Rural Appalachia”
Gabrianne Ivey
April 24, 3:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Presenting “Development of Breast Cancer-Macrophage Co-Culture Models to Study Breast Cancer Growth, Macrophage Polarization, and an Oncolytic Virotherapy”
Zannah Kukral
April 25, 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Presenting “Polarization & Retirements: How the Current Political Climate Impacts the Makeup of Congress”
Hope Freeman
April 26, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Presenting “Effect of Text Type on Meat-Related Cognition and Diet”
Erin Moorefield
April 26, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Presenting “Effect of phytoecdysteroids on protein synthesis in eccentrically-damaged skeletal muscle tissue”
Morgan Ray
April 26, 3:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Presenting “Effects of Rapid Weight Loss Practices on Body Composition and Salivary Biomarkers of Collegiate Wrestlers”
Stay in the Know:
Diversity Celebration
Throughout the month of April, Diversity and Inclusion at App State will be hosting events to celebrate diversity and inclusion at App State. The Diversity Celebration is a month-long showcase where diverse perspectives, cultures and values are accepted, appreciated and celebrated. This annual campus-wide celebration also supports and enhances the University’s commitment to actively address the educational, economic, cultural and societal needs of the changing region, state, nation and world. Celebrations this month will feature heritage events, dance, music, and spoken-word performances, cultural meals and displays, scholarly talks and poster presentations, and art exhibits. For more information and to review the programming schedule for the Diversity Celebration, click here.
Wellness and Prevention Services Twitch Streams
The Office of Wellness and Prevention Services hosts weekly Twitch streams where we discuss wellness topics relevant to college students. Their Thursday night streams are dedicated to discussing the neurodiverse experience at Appalachian State University, with a goal of making sure students are aware of resources and tools to help them thrive both academically and holistically. Their next stream, which will take place on April 21 from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m., will feature a current student’s experiences being connected to therapy and the benefits that it has had on them. For more information and to view the full Twitch stream schedule, click here.
Schaefer Center Programming – Indian Classical Music
On April 22, the Schaefer Center will host musicians Béla Fleck, Zakir Hussain, Edgar Meyer, and Rakesh Chaurasia as they perform pieces from their joint album, As We Speak. The pieces from As We Speak feature a plethora of musical influences, including Indian rhythm, bass, bluegrass, classical music, etc. The performance will take place at 7:00 p.m. For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.
Deaf DJ Presentation
The American Sign Language Club and the Multicultural Center will be co-hosting an event featuring Deaf DJ Dre Robinson (DJ Deaf Tunez). Robinson will talk about his experiences as a Black Deaf comedian, DJ, and motivational speaker. The event will take place on April 22 from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. in room 103 of Leon Levine Hall. To learn more and RSVP, click here.
Visiting Writer Series Presentation
The final presentation of the Spring semester for the Hughlene Bostian Frank Visiting Writers Series hosted by the Department of English will feature Poet Nickole Brown. Brown’s work currently focuses on the challenges of being queer and living in the South. Brown will host a reading of her most recent work, The Donkey Elegies, on April 27 from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. For more information, click here.
In the Honors Spotlight
Honors College Student’s Thesis Work Featured in Appalachian Hall
Photo features Miranda Lowery’s thesis project in Appalachian Hall. Photo submitted.
Honors College student Miranda Lowery, a senior, is currently displaying her thesis project on the first floor of Appalachian Hall. Lowery’s thesis, “Vessels of Wonder: An arts-based inquiry on learning and creativity,” involves clay sculptures made by Lowery. Her thesis is co-directed by Dr. Peaches Hash, lecturer in the Department of English, and Phyllis Kloda, professor in the Department of Art. Lowery will be defending her thesis tomorrow, April 20, from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. in room 162 of Appalachian Hall.
Artist's statement: Creativity exists within every individual; it is a defining feature that allows us to understand and interact in the world more fully. My thesis demonstrates embracing the transformative potential of wonder to gain a deeper understanding of the relationship between learning and creativity. The pop-up exhibition on the second floor displays how different life vessels—like the seed pod and human body—tell the story of discovery, resistance, surrender, and iteration.
To attend Lowery’s thesis, contact the Honors College.
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!