edited by Kistler Hunt
Volume 8, Issue 9
October 23, 2024
Dear Honors family,
Our community has shown impressive resilience as we’ve returned to campus this week and I am proud of how you continue to support each other through the recovery process. As we move ahead, please keep your summer plans in mind. Summers provide many opportunities to learn and grow—international experiences, research projects, creative endeavors, community engagement, and more—each offering broader perspectives and deeper connections. This Memo includes exciting opportunities for summer Honors seminars, including faculty-led study abroad courses and a summer online course. Our spotlight story features Phoebe Atkins’ enriching summer experience with the Horn in the West outdoor drama. When our schedules settle down after priority registration is complete on November 5, I encourage you to reconnect with your Honors academic mentor to discuss your summer plans.
With gratitude,
Vicky
Upcoming Opportunities:
Interim Dean Vicky is happy to help you apply; send her an email at klimavw@appstate.edu
Summer 2025 Course Offerings
The Honors College will offer four Summer 2025 courses with credit for HON 2515 and/or HON 3515. Three are faculty-led study abroad programs, and the other is a 10-week online course, HON 3515: Strategic Leadership for Inclusive Excellence, taught by Dr. Brandy Bryson. Drs. Reeves Shulstad, Jim Toub, and Alexandra Sterling-Hellenbrand will lead HON 2515/3515: Culture and the Arts in Vienna. Dr. Greg McClure will lead HON 3515: Sustainability and Indigenous Education in Guatemala. Dr. Paulette Marty and John Marty will lead HON 2515/3515: Walking in Someone Else’s Shoes, with travel to England and Scotland. All courses must meet a minimum enrollment requirement to be offered. If you are interested in Dr. Bryson’s course, click here to fill out the interest form. For course descriptions of all Honors College Summer 2025 course offerings, click here.
App Votes
Early voting is open across North Carolina, happening now until November 2. App State has created App Votes—the go-to resource for voting information and civic literacy at Appalachian State University and throughout Watauga County. App Votes and the Office of Community-Engaged Leadership are committed to empowering students with the tools they need to make their voices heard. The website has comprehensive voter registration guides, the ability to create a personalized voting strategy, and allows people to stay informed about the crucial issues on the ballot in the next election. To learn more, click here.
Central America’s Forgotten History
The Department of History will be hosting Dr. Aviva Chomsky for a guest lecture on October 28. Dr. Chomsky’s lecture, titled “Central America’s Forgotten History: Revolution, Violence, and the Roots of Migration,” will cover the history of poverty, violence, and corruption in Central America and its impact on current world events. The lecture will be held in Room 116 of Anne Belk Hall from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. For more information, click here.
Honors College Scholarship Opportunities
The Honors College is now accepting applications for the George Williams Garrett Memorial Scholarship and the Dr. Dane Ward Endowed Honors Research Scholarship. Both scholarships support students who are actively pursuing research, including scholarship and creative activity. The $2,000 George Williams Garrett Memorial Scholarship preferences students who are planning on a career in medicine or medical research, while the $750 Dr. Dane Ward Endowed Honors Research Scholarship preferences students whose research seeks to make a substantial impact by increasing awareness, access to information, or direct support for a community of vulnerable people. Applications for both scholarships are due November 26 at 11:55 p.m. For more information about the Garrett Memorial Scholarship, click here. For more information about the Dr. Dane Ward Scholarship, click here.
Honors Pumpkin Painting
The Appalachian Honors Association will be holding a pumpkin painting event on October 29 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. in Summit Hall’s Fireside Lounge. Students can paint miniature pumpkins while enjoying refreshments and each other’s company. Registration is required and those interested must RSVP by October 25 at 12:00 p.m. To RSVP, click here. For any questions, contact Angela Sajewicz, Kaylie Morales, or Kelsie Peck.
Stay in the Know:
Hayes School of Music Events
The Hayes School of Music will have various performances throughout the week. On October 25 at 8:00 p.m., the Appalachian Symphony Band, the Appalachian Wind Ensemble, and the Appalachian Jazz Ensemble will jointly perform various pieces in their “Band Spectacular.” Hayes School of Music faculty Dr. David Wells, assistant professor of bassoon, will hold a faculty performance on October 27 from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. For more information about upcoming performances through the School of Music, click here.
“Voices and Votes” Exhibit
The Department of Government and Justice Studies will be displaying the Smithsonian exhibit “Voices and Votes: Democracy in America” from now until December 2. The exhibit focuses on the story of democracy in the United States and prompts discussion on the idea of democracy and its prevalence in the modern-day. For more information, click here.
Vet Tech Speaker Series
The Veterinary Technology program will be holding its Vet Tech Speaker Series during the 2024-2025 academic year. Their upcoming presentations will happen on October 24, November 6, and November 14. The next presentation, titled “Pet Dental Care,” will focus on the importance of oral health for pets and offer beneficial information. The virtual session will take place at 10:00 a.m. For more information, click here.
Elections Unmasked: A Campus Dialogue Series
The Civic Literacy Initiative will be hosting three facilitated campus dialogue series around voting and the electoral process before and after Election Day. The next workshops will be held on October 28 and November 12. During the second workshop, titled “Navigating the Ballot: Overcoming Voting Fears and Anxiety,” conversations will be held about the voting process, addressing common fears and anxieties associated with voting, and promoting voter engagement and confidence. The session will be held from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. For more information, click here.
International Photo Contest
The Office of International Programs is holding an international photo contest. As a part of International Education Week, students, faculty, and staff are welcome to submit photos of any international experience from August 2023 to November 2024. Submissions are due by November 1 at 11:59 p.m. For more information about the contest, click here.
In the Honors Spotlight
Chancellor’s Scholar Phoebe Atkins spends summer performing in Horn in the West outdoor drama
Photo features cast of Horn in the West including Honors College Student Phoebe Atkins (middle row, wearing peach dress) with the App State mascot, Yosef. Photo submitted.
In the 2024 season of the historic production of the outdoor drama, Horn in the West in Boone, Chancellor’s Scholar Phoebe Atkins performed as the understudy for the lead character Mary Greene, and was promoted to the permanent lead. This was a professional position, Atkins’ first paid theatre role, and her first time working in outdoor theatre. Horn in the West is a historical theatre production of the Southern Appalachian Historical Association, which covers Watauga and adjacent counties. Atkins shared the following “One of the most beneficial aspects of my Honors experience to date has been the encouragement to pursue what my heart desires. Despite trying many things and figuring out what I want to do for the rest of my life, the Honors College has been steadfast in finding ways to work with students in a supportive manner. I have also enjoyed the opportunity to go beyond the classroom and still find ways to connect my experience to Honors College education at App State.”
To learn more about Atkins’ experience, click here to read the story by Teagan Jones.