edited by Em Acuña
Volume 9, Issue 15
December 3, 2025
Dear Honors College students and faculty,
Through this past year and a half, I have had the wonderful opportunity to serve as the Honors Wednesday Memo editor. Under the guidance and mentorship of Kistler Hunt, previous editor, as well as Drs. Garrett McDowell and Vicky Klima, I have learned so much more about the Honors College community, its values, and the impact we make. I have grown my skills in writing and formed a strong connection to other students and the caring faculty and staff.
It has brought me so much joy to create the weekly memo, but it is time for me to step out of my comfort zone and do something I didn’t think I could do until I joined the Honors College. Next semester, I will study abroad at Kansai Gaidai University in Hirakata, Japan. I know that Em Acuña, new editor, and Isabella Lebron, assistant editor, will make the memo even better and I look forward to seeing it evolve.
Thank you all,
Kaylie Morales
Upcoming Opportunities:
Dr. Klima is happy to help you apply; send her an email at klimavw@appstate.edu
2026-2027 Summit Hall Honors Housing Room Selection Opens
Starting December 4, 2025, individuals who have completed the Re Application process for Honors housing will receive email invitations to form roommate groups of 2-4 Honors College students. All room selections and contracts must be completed and signed by December 18, 2025. On December 4, 2025, Housing will be hosting a workshop from 12:15 – 1:15 p.m. in Belk Library room 114 to help guide you and your roommate group through the room selection processes and contract completion. For any questions contact University Housing.
Join the Honors College Vanguard!
The Honors College invites students in their first through junior years to apply to join the Honors College Vanguard. Vanguard members work closely with staff and fellow students to represent the Honors College, share our mission, help recruit students and parents, and improve the college. This is a great way to gain confidence and experience speaking about Appalachian and your educational journey. The application is due by 11:55 p.m. on Friday, January 23, 2026. For questions, please contact Dr. Angela Mead.
Honors College Faculty-Led Education Abroad Program (FLEAP) to Japan
Dr. Jack Kwong, professor in the Department of Philosophy and Religion, and Dr. Cuong Mai, associate professor from the Department of Philosophy and Religion, will lead students to study Meaning and Fantasy in Contemporary Japan June 1 - 20, 2026. This program will explore how meaning and fantasy can explain social and cultural phenomena in modern Japan through the lenses of philosophy and religious studies. For this FLEAP, Honors College students will earn 6 credit hours for HON 2517 and HON 3515 and meet their international education requirement. For questions, contact Dr. Kwong or Dr. Mai. Visit the Honors Seminar Descriptions to read more about all upcoming Spring and Summer 2026 semester Honors College seminars.
Honors College Faculty-Led Education Abroad Program (FLEAP) to Italy & France
Professors Dr. Randall Reed and Dr. Laura Ammon, in the Department of Philosophy and Religion, as well as Dr. Maria Pramaggiore, professor in the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies will lead students on an Honors College FLEAP, “Love, Sex and Power in Christianity” to Italy and France from May 26, 2026 – June 16, 2026. The program will engage with iconic sites, rich cultural contexts, and critical scholarship to deepen students’ understanding of Christianity’s influence on Western culture. Honors College students will earn credits for HON 3517 and HON 2515 and meet their international education requirement. For questions, contact Dr. Randall Reed. Check out the program brochure and information video to learn more. Visit the Honors Seminar Descriptions to read more about all upcoming Spring and Summer 2026 Honors College seminars, or go to the Office of International Programs for information on all study abroad opportunities.
ArchaeoTek Student Field School Summer 2026 Programs
The ArchaeoTek Bio/Archaeological Techniques and Research Center in Canada invites applications for three field expeditions this summer. The “GRAPE: The Gadachrili Gora Regional Archaeology Project Expedition” located in the Republic of Georgia will be offered in two sessions May 24 - June 19 , 2025 or June 21 - July 17, 2026. The “Medieval Funerary Excavations: Living and Dying on the Edge of Europe” program is located in Romania June 8 - July 3, 2026 or July 5 - 31, 2026. The “Life by the Imperial Roads: Identify and Wealth on the Roman Frontier Roman Villa and Settlement Excavation” expedition will take place in Romania June 8 - July 4, 2026 or July 6 - August 1, 2026. To learn more check out the ArchaeoTek website here.
Upcoming Thesis Defenses:
Dr. Klima urges, “Support your fellow Honors College students and faculty by attending Honors thesis defenses! You’ll marvel, learn, and grow. With each defense you attend, you’ll make your own easier.”
Alan Huff
Thursday, December 4, 10 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Anne Belk Hall, room 318
Presenting “Using Sequential Neural Networks to Predict the Impacts of Tree Windbreaks on Crop Indemnity”
Emerson Phillips
Thursday, December 4, 10 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Anne Belk Hall, room 228
Presenting “Women and Political Violence: Gendered Conflict Strategies During the Northern Irish ‘Troubles’”
Katie Rhoades
Tuesday, December 9, 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Leon Levine Hall, room 207
Presenting “The Impact of Nutrition Education on Dietary Behavior: A Church-Based Public Health Nutrition Program”
Stay in the Know:
BANFF Mountain Film Festival Returns to Boone for 29th Year
The Banff Mountain Film Festival returns to Appalachian State University at the Schaefer Center, March 19 - 21, 2026. BANFF is one of the largest and most prestigious mountain festivals in the world. Tickets are on sale now, $15 for App State students and $20 for the public, on the Schaefer website.
Student Recreation Center Pool Closure
The Student Recreation Center (SRC) pool is scheduled for maintenance over winter break and will be closed November 26, 2025 - January 20, 2026. The pool is planned to reopen on January 21, 2026. The SRC will post updates on their website.
The Craft Enrichment Program’s Winter Craft Sale
The Craft Enrichment Program will be hosting a Winter Craft Sale on December 4, 2025 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Katherine Harper Hall. There will be a wide selection of handmade gifts made by students including; pottery, cards, stained glass, jewelry and more.
ARTtalk: Dear Body of Water
The Turchin Center for the Visual Arts (TCVA) will be hosting “ARTtalk: Dear Body of Water” on December 5 at 5:00 p.m. in the TCVA Lecture Hall. This talk will center around artist Gretchen Ernster Henderson whose work invites reflection on the complex role of water in our lives. Her work explores water as both a life-giving and destructive force.
Volunteer to Support Graduates at Commencement
The Office of University Events is looking for volunteers willing to help guide students through commencement, and greet and assist guests of graduates on December 12 in Holmes Convocation Center. Meals will be provided, and volunteers can sign up for as many ceremonies as they wish. Details on where to arrive, park and what to expect will go out on December 4, 2025. If you are interested in helping out, fill out this google form.
In the Honors Spotlight
Welcoming Isabella Lebron as the new assistant editor of the Honors Wednesday Memo
Top photo features Isabella Lebron. Photo submitted.
The Honors College welcomes Isabella Lebron to her role as the assistant editor of the Honors Wednesday memo (HWM). Lebron began stepping into this role, training on her new duties in late September 2025. Lebron is pursuing double majors in psychology and English, with a literary studies concentration, as well as a minor in American Sign Language. As assistant editor, Lebron’s duties primarily involve creating and editing spotlight stories for inclusion in the HWM and the management of the Honors College's professional social media accounts, including: Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Lebron is excited to grow in this position. “Moving forward, I hope to learn more about how to improve my editing and design skills and find new ways to make the Memo more engaging and reflective of the diverse voices within the Honors community.”
To learn more about Isabella Lebron and her role as assistant editor for the Honors Wednesday Memo, click here to read the full story.
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!