edited by Em Acuña
Volume 9, Issue 18
January 28, 2026
Hello Honors College students,
I hope you’re staying safe and warm this week! Even with a slower start, there’s plenty happening in the Honors community as you will see below. We’re excited to spotlight the 2025 Ireland Faculty Led Study Abroad Program (FLEAP), which highlights the curiosity and engagement that makes Honors special. The 2026 Ireland program is already full, with the waitlist closing February 1.
Looking ahead, February 15 is the application deadline for our 2026 FLEAP programs in Zambia, Japan, and Italy/France—wonderful opportunities to explore and learn beyond campus.
Take care of yourselves and each other and keep exploring all the opportunities ahead.
Warmly,
Vicky
Upcoming Opportunities:
Dr. Klima is happy to help you apply; send her an email at klimavw@appstate.edu
CEL AppLEADS Certification
The Office of Community-Engaged Leadership (CEL) is starting a new program – AppLEADs! This program offers students an opportunity to earn a certificate that demonstrates a commitment to leadership development. To earn the certificate, participants must complete a session from each workshop: Leadership Styles, Values Exploration, Resilience, Emotionally Intelligent Leadership, and Goal Setting. Before attending a workshop, interested individuals must attend an AppLEADs Advance session on either January 29, 2026 from 5:00 – 6:30 p.m. or January 30 from 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. The first workshop, Leadership Styles, will be offered on either February 3, 4, or 5, 2026. Register on Engage for the Advance session and workshops. For any further questions, contact Kaleigh Del Greco, Interim Coordinator with CEL.
4th Annual Nutrition Symposium
The Department of Nutrition and Health Care Management will be hosting the 4th annual Nutrition Summit on Friday, March 27, 2026 from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. The Summit will begin with a guest presentation and Q&A with Dr. Dahl, associate professor of public health at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, hosted at 1:00 p.m. in Leon Levine room 103. Following her presentation, there will be poster sessions and oral presentations from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m., with a closing awards ceremony afterward. Abstract submissions close on January 30, 2026. Registration is free using the Engage link by March 13, 2026. For questions, contact Dr. Heather Schier for abstracts and Dr. Brook Harmon or Dr. Dani Nunnery for all else.
Summer 2026 Washington at Work Course
Dr. Phillip Ardoin, professor in the Department of Government and Justice Studies, will be leading a Washington at Work course from May 11 – 22, 2026. This course is a 3-credit Honors course that combines academics with an immersive week in Washington, D.C. The first week will be spent on the Boone campus and the second week students will travel to Washington, D.C. where they will visit the Capitol, U.S. Supreme Court, and other iconic monuments. Students will stay at American University. The application deadline is February 16, 2026. For further questions, contact Dr. Phillip Ardoin.
Aisthesis Submission Call
Aisthesis, a student-run honors journal published out of the University of Minnesota Duluth, is calling for current honors students and recent honors alumni to submit academic and creative work. Eligible pieces range from undergraduate research to creative projects like photography and short film. The deadline to submit is March 6, 2026. To submit and learn more about the submission guidelines, visit their website. For further questions contact honorsaisthesis@d.umn.edu
NC Space Grant
The NC Space Grant Undergraduate Research Scholarship is open for applications. The NC Space Grant awards approximately ten scholarships to undergraduate students who are pursuing academics in STEM fields that support NASA’s Mission Directorates. Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. on March 13, 2026, with letters of recommendation due by 5:00 p.m. on March 16, 2026. To learn more about the scholarship, join an information session hosted at 12:00 p.m. on February 6, 2026.
Stay in the Know:
Pet Food Drive
The Veterinary Technology Program is hosting a campus pet food drive to benefit Watauga Humane Society’s Pet Food Pantry. The drive will run from January 22 - February 5, 2026, with donation boxes set up across campus. Locations include: Anne Belk, Belk Library, University Hall, Holmes Center, Sanford, Broyhill Music Center, Plemmons Student Union, Motor Pool Office, Peacock Hall room 4072, and I.G. Greer office 201. They are accepting donations of dog food, cat food, and cat litter. For further questions, contact Mary Beth McKee.
Hayes School of Music Performances
The Hayes School of Music (HSOM) has an upcoming event on Wednesday, February 4, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. in Schaffel Recital Hall. Dr. Laurie Simmons will lead a discussion, “From Ukraine to Germany to Detroit and New York: Transnational Committee to the Bandura as a Musical Maker of Ukrainian Identity,” as part of the Music Humanities Community Conversation Series. All events have free admission. Visit the Hayes School of Music Performance Calendar for details on all upcoming events.
Turchin Center Spring Exhibition Celebration
The Turchin Center for the Visual Arts is hosting a February Fizzy First Friday and Spring Exhibition Celebration on February 6, 2025 from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. The event will consist of two opening exhibitions, two ARTtalks and drop-in artmaking.
Outdoor Job Fair
The Career Development Center will be hosting an Outdoor Jobs Fair on Wednesday, February 11, 2026 from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. in the Grandfather Mountain Ballroom. At this event, students can find opportunities all over the country for both summer and year-round employment or internships. All majors are welcome to attend. To register, use Handshake.
Non-Profit Community Partner Fair
The Office of Community-Engaged Leadership (CEL) is hosting a Community Partner Fair on February 12 in PSU 137 from 9:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. The event seeks to share opportunities for how students can get involved with a range of High Country community organizations through volunteering or internships. For additional information, email CEL.
In the Honors Spotlight
Honors College Faculty Led Education Abroad Program Summer 2025: Peacebuilding and the Arts in Ireland and Northern Ireland
Top photo features students in the Honors College FLEAP “Peacebuilding and the Arts” in front of the ornate Ha’penny Bridge in Dublin, Ireland, June 10, 2025. Photos submitted by Drs. Martell & Vernon.
Dr. Jessica Martell, associate professor in the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies and program coordinator for Global Studies, and Dr. Zackary Vernon, associate professor in the Department of English, led Honors College students to study “Peacebuilding and the Arts in Ireland and Northern Ireland" from June 9 to June 16, 2025. In this study-abroad course, students earned three semester hours of credits for HON 2515: Empire and Peacebuilding in Ireland and Northern Ireland and three semester hours of credits for HON 3515: Literary and Cultural Studies Abroad.
Dr. Vernon shared that this Honors College FLEAP “focused on the role of storytelling and the arts in peacebuilding efforts in post-conflict areas… Through tours and workshops led by combatants and civilians from both sides of the Troubles, students took away invaluable lessons about communication, empathy, and understanding, especially when dealing with people from different nations, religions, and identity groups.”
Read the full spotlight story to hear from these Honors students about their experience on this faculty-led study abroad.
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!