edited by Em Acuña
Volume 9, Issue 25
March 25, 2026
Dear Honors Students,
Seven of your peers are off to the Southern Regional Honors Conference in Montgomery, AL today with Dr. Waldroup and Taylor Carillo (Honors College GA). We’re so excited that they will be sharing their work and cheering each other on at this honors conference.
This Memo shares ways to channel this same spirit right here on campus, from supporting Em Acuña by filling out her thesis survey on AI and human interaction to joining your peers at the Thesis Workshop on March 30. Looking ahead, keep your best projects in mind—we’ll be inviting presenters to attend the North Carolina Honors Association Conference (October 2026) early this coming fall.
The Honors experience is built on both collaborative inquiry and simply showing up for one another. I love seeing you do both.
Best wishes,
Vicky
Upcoming Opportunities:
Dr. Klima is happy to help you apply; send her an email at klimavw@appstate.edu
Honors College Thesis Workshops
Taylor Carillo, the Honors College graduate assistant, is hosting a series of Thesis Workshops to support all honors students at any point in their thesis journey. The next session will be hosted on Monday, March 30, from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. in App Hall 085. For more information and to RSVP to any of the upcoming sessions use this Sign-up form.
UReCA Call for Editors
The National Collegiate Honors Council’s (NCHC) Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (UReCA) is accepting applications for associate editors. UReCA is an online publication made for students. Students from all academic disciplines may apply. Associate editors provide feedback to authors and work toward the journal's publication each November. Associate editors will attend a summer retreat in Montana for training. The deadline to apply is March 31. To apply, click here. For questions, email.
Building Peace from the Margins: Duke-UNC Rotary Peace Center Annual Spring Conference
The Duke-UNC Rotary Peace Center is hosting the 23rd Annual Spring Conference. This year’s theme is “Building Peace from the Margins.” The class 23 Rotary Peace Fellows will present on peacebuilding, international development, and conflict transformations around the globe. The conference will be held on April 11 from 7:15 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at the FedEx Global Education Center on UNC-Chapel Hill’s campus. Registration is open until April 2 for both in-person and Zoom attendance. RSVP here.
Call for Participants
Honors College student Em Acuña is seeking participants for their thesis research focused on AI and human interaction. The study aims to learn more about how AI usage and loneliness may predict AI and human interaction. Any undergraduate 18 years or older may participate. The survey takes approximately 20 minutes to complete. Interested participants can complete the survey via Qualtrics. For any questions, contact Em Acuña.
Academic Success and Resilience: Resources for Student Success
The Disco Student Learning Center has a variety of resources to help students become academically successful and resilient. Students can schedule one-on-one Academic Success Coaching sessions with graduate student coaches. Work with an undergraduate peer academic leader for Drop-In Academic Support or attend structured PEAK workshops on topics like time management and studying for exams. For more information and resources, visit the Academic Success and Resilience (ASR) website.
Stay in the Know:
Spring Appalachian Dance Ensemble
The Department of Theatre and Dance will premiere eight original dance works during the Spring Appalachian Dance Ensemble (SADE) concert. The concert will be held in Valborg Theatre from 7 p.m. from March 25 – 28 and 2 p.m. on March 29. Tickets are on sale now online or in person at the Schaefer Center for the Arts box office.
INTAPP’s International Meet & Greet
International Appalachian (INTAPP) will hold its annual International Meet & Greet on March 29 at 5 p.m. in the Solarium. The event will feature a panel of international students sharing their experience at App State and their perspectives as international students. This event is free and open to the public.
Pathways to Resilience Climate Events
The Pathways to Resilience QEP and partners across campus host opportunities for students to grow climate literacy. Guest Speaker, Ellie Johnston, director of programs at Climate Interactive, will host “Exploring Climate Solutions and Future: An Interactive Workshop.” The workshop will explore a range of climate solution strategies using Climate Interactive’s En-ROADS Simulator. The workshop will be hosted on March 31 in PSU 420 from either 9:30 – 10:45 a.m. or 12:30 – 1:45 p.m. This event is free and open to the public.
67th Boyles Distinguished Lecture
The Walker College of Business will be hosting the 67th Boyles Distinguished Lecture on Friday, March 27, starting at 11:00 a.m. in Grandview Ballroom. The lecture will feature Jim F. Burr ’89, co-head of Global Financial Services at Carlyle. Burr graduated with a BS in business administration from Appalachian State before entering the industry and joining Carlyle in 2008. Register for the event using this Google Form.
Guest Speaker Sandra Clark
The Common Reading Program and University Forum Lecture Series are excited to welcome StoryCorps CEO Sandra Clark as a guest speaker, supporting the App State 2025-26 common reading book, “Callings: The Purpose and Passion of Work.” Clark will give her talk, “The Purpose and Passion of StoryCorps,” at 2:00 p.m. on April 14 in PSU 420. Following the talk will be a Q&A session. For additional information, contact Common Reading Program Director Rick Klima.
In the Honors Spotlight
Dr. Jessica Martell and Amanda Bruckstein among 2025-26 Fulbright recipients from App State
Top photos feature (left) Dr. Jessica Martell. Photo by Marie Freeman. (Right) Amanda Bruckstein ’25. Photo submitted
Appalachian State University is one of seven colleges and universities nationwide named a Top Producing Institution of Fulbright scholars and students for the 2025–26 academic year, according to the U.S. Department of State and Institute of International Education.
Dr. Martell, who has led the HON Faculty Led Education Abroad Program to Ireland, is one of the three faculty recipients. She is conducting research at Queen’s University Belfast in Northern Ireland, serving as the 2025-26 Fulbright-Queen’s University Belfast Scholar in Irish Studies.
Honors College alumna Amanda Bruckstein ‘25 received a Fulbright Open Study/Research Award to Haifa, Israel. Her project aims to address physiological differences in digestion and support the development of individualized nutrition strategies.
The 2027-2028 award cycle for Fulbright opens March 31, 2026, with a deadline of October 6, 2026. The Office of Nationally Competitive Scholarships (NCS) offers help sessions for Fulbright applications each semester and over the summer.
To read the full press release, App State honored as a Top Producer of Fulbright scholars, students for 2025-26, visit Appalachian Today by Jessica Stump.
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!