edited by Kaylie Morales
Volume 9, Issue 7
October 1, 2025
Dear Honors College Students,
The semester is in full swing, and your to-do lists are probably looking long right now. Amid all the deadlines and midterms, taking a moment to pause and recharge isn’t time lost—it’s an important part of your growth. Take time to breathe deeply, check in with friends, and give yourself some space to recharge. Looking ahead to next semester and beyond—courses, research, thesis ideas, study abroad, internships, leadership, or other goals—your Honors College community is a great place to explore possibilities. Your Academic Mentors and Honors faculty are here as part of that community, ready to help you find balance and support along the way.
Best wishes,
Vicky
Upcoming Opportunities:
Dr. Klima is happy to help you apply; send her an email at klimavw@appstate.edu
2026 – 2027 Summit Hall Honors Housing Re-Application Open with Workshop Assistance
Honors residents in Cone or Summit Hall must complete the Housing Reapplication (ReAPP) between now and December 2 to remain eligible for Summit Hall placement next year. The University Housing Office is hosting helpful ReApp workshops on October 2 and October 9 from 12:15 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. in Plemmons Student Union room 122. Completing the application portion is a required first step for priority housing. Students who apply will receive instructions about next steps after the Reapplication closes. Questions? Contact housing@appstate.edu. Visit the University Housing website to learn more.
S’mores on Sanford Mall with Appalachian Honors Association
Appalachian Honors Association invites students to make s’mores Thursday, October 2, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sanford Mall at the fire pit across from Anne Belk Hall. Enjoy the autumn season by roasting marshmallows, playing lawn games, and connecting with other Honors students. Use the linked form to RSVP. For questions, contact Kelsie Peck or Kaylie Morales.
From Idea to Acceptance: Crafting Conference Proposals
The Office of International Programs is offering a workshop that will help students transform their international experience into a proposal to present at a conference or symposium on Friday, October 3 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. in the Plemmons Student Union room 415. Presentation proposals created in this workshop can be submitted to two upcoming conferences: the North Carolina Association of International Educators Student Conference (NCAIE) on November 1 at Wayne Community College in Goldsboro, and App State’s 14th Annual Global Symposium on November 19 in the Plemmons Student Union. Visit the linked form to RSVP to the workshop.
Faculty-led Education Abroad Program to Ghana
Dr. Lamont Sellers, director of the Office of Student Success, and Jason English, adjunct instructor in the Department of Communication, will lead students on a 10-day faculty-led education abroad program (FLEAP), July 6 – 20, 2026. In this course “Ghana: Change Leadership in a Developing Nation,” students will earn 3 credit hours of LDS 4540, a special topics course, and there are no prerequisites. This program is an opportunity to step outside the classroom, connect with communities, and discover how leadership is practiced, tested, and celebrated in Ghana’s past and present. For questions contact Dr. Sellers, or go to the Office of International Programs for information on all study abroad opportunities.
14th Annual Global Symposium
The Office of International Programs invites submission proposals from faculty, staff, and students for the 14th Annual Global Symposium. The submission deadline is Monday, October 20, and the Global Symposium will take place on Wednesday, November 19 in the Plemmons Student Union. This is an opportunity to share global work in a professional platform and to connect with a community that believes strongly in the power and impact of global learning and international education. Visit the Global Symposium website to submit a proposal.
Stay in the Know:
App State Theater and Dance Presents “Life Sucks”
The Department of Theater and Dance is proud to present the High-Country premiere of “Life Sucks,” by multi-award-winning playwright, Aaron Posner. The production will take place from Wednesday, October 1, through Saturday, October 4 at 7 p.m. and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, October 5 at the Valborg Theatre. Tickets are $10 for students, $15 for faculty/staff and $17 for adults. Visit the Department of Theatre and Dance website to purchase tickets.
Hayes School of Music Humanities Community Conversation
The Hayes School of Music is hosting a Music Humanities Community Conversation Series event on Thursday, October 2 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Schaffel Recital Hall, Broyhill Music Center. This event has the theme of “Infusing African-American Musical Contributions into Higher Education: Strategies for Cultural Awareness and Appreciation.” This event is free and open to the public. Visit the Hayes School of Music website for more information.
First Friday Art Crawl
Join the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts every first Friday of the month in downtown Boone for contemporary art, exhibitions, local artists, and to connect with the Boone community. The next event will be held on Friday, October 3 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Visit the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts website to learn more.
Communicating Climate with Journalist Katie Myers
Pathways to Resilience is hosting Communicating Climate with journalist Katie Myers on Monday, October 6 at 2 p.m. in the Plemmons Student Union room 137. Myers reports on climate change in Appalachia through a partnership between Grist and Blue Ridge Public Radio in western North Carolina. Visit the Pathways to Resilience website to learn more.
Community FEaST 100-yard-long table on Sanford Mall
The AppalFRESH Collaborative is excited to announce their 8th annual Community FEaST (Food Engagement and Storytelling) to be held on Wednesday, October 8 from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sanford Mall. Students, faculty, staff, and community members are welcome to join for free food and live music. No RSVP is necessary. To reduce waste, please bring your own plate, utensils, and water bottles. Click here if interested in volunteering.
In the Honors Spotlight
Honors College students travel to Ireland and Northern Ireland to study Human Rights with faculty leaders
Honors College students and faculty in front of Belfast City Hall in Belfast, U.K., during their summer 2024 study-abroad course, “Human Rights and Peacebuilding in Ireland and Northern Ireland.” Photo submitted by Dr. Belinda Walzer.
Dr. Jessica Martell, associate professor in the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies and program coordinator for Global Studies and Dr. Belinda Walzer, associate professor in the Department of English led Honors College students to Ireland and Northern Ireland to study human rights from May 28 through June 16, 2024. The Honors College international education requires students to reflect on their interactions with individuals and communities from cultural backgrounds different from their own, cultivate cultural competence, and apply a holistic approach to global engagement. Dr. Martell explained about the significance of this study abroad experience for Honors students, and stated, “My approach to instruction encourages students to see themselves as critical learners, scholars, and witnesses, rather than spectators or tourists.”
Read the full spotlight story to learn more about this faculty-led study abroad experience.
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!