edited by Kaylie Morales
Volume 8, Issue 15
January 15, 2025
Dear Honors College students, faculty, and family,
My name is Kaylie Morales, and I am the new editor for the Honors Wednesday Memo! I am a first-generation college student pursuing a Bachelor of Science in digital journalism with a minor in criminal justice. I am a grateful recipient of the Chancellor’s Scholarship since May 2023. I am very involved with the Honors College serving as co-president of the Appalachian Honors Association. I do everything I can to give back to the Honors community, which gives me so much, and I consider home. I am from Wilmington, NC, where I didn’t feel a strong sense of community. I knew I wanted to be a part of a close-knit community when I came to college, and this is the main reason why I feel so connected to Boone, App State, and the Honors College.
I had the pleasure of working alongside Kistler Hunt last semester in the editorial transition. She has shown me the ins-and-outs of the memo and the Honors community. Under her wing, I have become more comfortable and confident in my writing and this role. I am grateful for Kistler’s work with the Memo and the strong foundation she has built.
One of my top priorities with the Memo is to make it a place where Honors students connect; please reach out to me, either to submit content or to just to talk! Feel free to email me or stop by and say hello when I am in the Honors Wednesday Memo office (App Hall 264). I have listed my office availability on the door.
I am wishing you all the best for this semester!
Kaylie Morales
Upcoming Opportunities:
Interim Dean Vicky is happy to help you apply; send her an email at klimavw@appstate.edu
Community Resilience Forum by the Quality Enhancement Plan
The Quality Enhancement Plan will host the Community Resilience Forum, with leaders from the Boone community sharing about the disaster response and resilience in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. There will also be a panel discussion and a Q&A from the audience. This forum will take place on January 27 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Plemmons Student Union, room 420. For more information, click here.
Internship Expo
The Career Development Center is holding their Spring 2025 Internship Expo on January 29 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in Grandfather Mountain Ballroom in the Plemmons Student Union. For more information and to apply to join the event, click here.
PMA’s National Youth Art Competition
The Portland Museum of Art in Maine invites submission for the Tidal Shift Award, an art competition that aims to showcase, amplify and elevate youth perspectives and art to highlight climate change solutions. There is a cash prize awarded in two divisions, with three prizes awarded per division. The deadline to submit is January 31. To learn more, click here. To submit a piece, click here.
Sticker Design Contest
App State’s Special Collections Research Center is launching a Sticker Design Contest to help promote resources at the research center in the library such as the Appalachian Collection, University Archives, Stock Car Racing Collection, and Rare Books and Manuscripts. A $300 prize will be awarded to each of the top three designs. Submissions are due on January 31 at 5:00 p.m. For more information, click here. To submit entries, click here.
SRHC Proposal Applications
The Southern Regional Honors Council is accepting proposals for presentations for their 2025 conference in Chattanooga, TN, March 26-29, 2025. Proposals must be submitted by January 31, 2025. The conference will offer nine presentation categories and five formats that explore the overarching theme of “Honoring Story.” The Honors College will be able to support a limited number of student presenters with funds for travel, hotel, and registration. To express interest in presenting, contact Dr. Heather Waldroup. For more information and to apply, click here.
Stay in the Know:
Podcast by Fall 2024 Honors Seminar: Balance Brains
First-year students from the Fall 2024 honors seminar HON 1515: Balanced Brains, created a podcast for their final project discussing the concept of omniphasism. This podcast explores and defines the importance of omniphasism, meaning to balance the left and right side of one’s brain in the interest of cognitive development and holistic health. To learn more and to listen to the podcast, click here.
Cooking with Purpose
The College of Arts and Sciences and the Office of Sustainability invite students to apply to “Cooking with Purpose.” This is a four-part cooking class focused on sustainability and low-cost meal preparation. The first session will be on January 29 at 5:30 p.m. on Zoom, with the other sessions hosted later in the semester. To learn more about this program including the Spring 2025 semester, and to register for this event, click here.
Appalachian Excellence: Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity Podcast
The Office of Research and Innovation is announcing their Appalachian Excellence: Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity podcast. This podcast features Karen Fletcher and Dave Blanks, who talk with faculty and students to explore current research opportunities on-campus. It covers faculty research, scholarship and creative activity that creates solutions and inspires change. To access the podcast, click here.
“Drawing to Tell Stories” with Illustrator Christine Nishiyama
App State’s High Country Humanities and the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum (BRAHM) are presenting a series of free events related to the museum’s exhibit of the Children’s Illustration Collection. Illustrator Christine Nishiyama will be present at the BRAHM on February 6th, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., to host an interactive workshop and speak on her experiences as a professional illustrator. To learn more about Nishiyama and her work, click here. To learn more about this event, click here.
Ballet Hispánico: CARMEN.maquia
The Schaefer Center is hosting Ballet Hispánico in their commemoration of 150 years of Carmen, inspired by the art of Pablo Picasso. This performance, choreographed by Gustavo Ramírez Sansano, adds a modern flare into the 1875 opera of Carmen by George Bizet. The show is February 8th; doors open at 6:30 p.m., with the show starting at 7:30 p.m. To purchase tickets, click here. For more information, click here.
In the Honors Spotlight
How Studying Abroad in South Africa Impacted Kistler Hunt’s Worldview
Photo features Kistler Hunt in Franschhoek, South Africa. Photo submitted by Hunt.
This past summer, Kistler Hunt, editor of the Honors Wednesday Memo, studied abroad at Stellenbosch University in Stellenbosch, South Africa. This study abroad involved educational field experiences and experiential learning in her major, public health. Hunt engaged in various experiences and conversations, both inside and outside the classroom. Most days, she spent her mornings in lectures and afternoons going on trips to relevant sites. She saw first-hand the importance of the integration of community health and how the healthcare system works with the community to support South Africans. While abroad, Hunt stepped outside of her comfort zone and added unforgettable experiences to her everyday life. She said, “I wholeheartedly recommend studying abroad to anyone who is able. I encourage you to seek opportunities that will meet your personal, professional, and intellectual goals and circumstances.”
To learn more about Hunt’s study abroad experience in Stellenbosch, South Africa, 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!