Skip to main content
Appalachian Today
News and events at Appalachian State University
  • For the media
  • Archives
  • Contact
  • Events
  • Webcams
  • Galleries
  • In the Media
  • Grants
  • Speakers
  • All Posts
  • Topics
  • Accolades
  • Alumni
  • Arts and Humanities
  • Athletics
  • Awards and Honors
  • Community Engagement
  • Diversity
  • Events
  • Faculty and Staff
  • Gifts and Grants
  • Global
  • Health and Wellness
  • Publications
  • Research
  • Safety
  • Scholarships
  • Students
  • Sustainability
☰ Menu
  • Events
  • Webcams
  • Galleries
  • In the Media
  • Grants
  • Speakers
  • All Posts
  • Topics
  • For the media
  • Archives
  • Contact
  • The university remains open, with emergency management protocols activated and operational modifications and precautions in place. Read the latest updates

Appalachian alumnae to serve as park interpreters through NPS funding

Posted April 16, 2018 at 12:35 p.m.

BOONE, N.C. — The National Park Service has awarded $21,508 in funding for two recent Appalachian State University graduates to serve as interpretive staff at Shenandoah National Park, which is located along the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia. The 16-week internship period will take place May through August.

Dr. Mark Spond, who serves as Appalachian’s liaison to the National Park Service (NPS), is the grant recipient.

According to Spond, park interpreters are the public face of Shenandoah National Park.

“Through NPS’ Cultural Resources Office of Interpretation and Education, interns are responsible for researching, preparing and presenting a variety of programs, such as guided walks and hikes, interpretive talks, Junior Ranger programs, evening programs and curriculum-based education programs on the park’s interpretive themes (wildlife, geology, ecology, history, climate change, etc.),” said Spond, who teaches in the Department of Geography and Planning.

These programs are performed in diverse park locations, including campgrounds, trails, visitor centers and historic buildings, Spond said. Interns also staff visitor centers and provide information and informal interpretation to visitors during fixed station and roving assignments.

The two Appalachian alumnae selected for the Shenandoah National Park internship are Paige Anderson ’17, of Mooreseville, and Kate Hayes ’16, of Hickory. Anderson received a Bachelor of Science in elementary education from Appalachian in 2017, and Hayes graduated in 2016 with a Bachelor of Science in political science. Hayes is currently a graduate student in Appalachian’s Master of Public Administration program.

About the Appalachian State University Liaison to the National Park Service

The Appalachian State University Liaison to the National Park Service (NPS) is the central contact for initiatives that partner Appalachian with NPS units across the United States. The liaison promotes opportunities, such as service projects and task agreements, that mutually benefit NPS units and university students, faulty, staff and alumni. Past projects have partnered members of the Appalachian Community with NPS natural/cultural resource personnel, interpreters and educational initiatives. Learn more at https://npsliaison.appstate.edu.

About Appalachian State University

As the premier public undergraduate institution in the state of North Carolina, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives as global citizens who understand and engage their responsibilities in creating a sustainable future for all. The Appalachian Experience promotes a spirit of inclusion that brings people together in inspiring ways to acquire and create knowledge, to grow holistically, to act with passion and determination, and to embrace diversity and difference. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Appalachian is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System. Appalachian enrolls more than 20,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate majors.

What do you think?

Share your feedback on this story.

Share

Topics

  • Arts and Humanities
  • Community Engagement
  • Gifts and Grants
  • Research
  • Sustainability

What do you think?

Share your feedback on this story.

Archives

Appalachian Today is an online publication of Appalachian State University. This website consolidates university news, feature stories, events, photo galleries, videos and podcasts.

The migration of materials from other sites is still incomplete, so if you cannot find what you're looking for here, please refer to the following sources:

  • Additional feature stories may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • Podcasts may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • Photo galleries and videos published prior to Jan. 1, 2015 may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • A university-wide Google Calendar may be found at Events at Appalachian

What do you think?

Share your feedback on this story.

Share

Topics

  • Arts and Humanities
  • Community Engagement
  • Gifts and Grants
  • Research
  • Sustainability

Other Recent Posts

  • App State coronavirus information
    App State coronavirus information
  • Residence hall wastewater testing supports App State’s COVID-19 management strategy
    Residence hall wastewater testing supports App State’s COVID-19 management strategy
  • Tackling trauma — Mountaineer strives to bring compassion and care to Watauga County
    Tackling trauma — Mountaineer strives to bring compassion and care to Watauga County
  • App State Fulbright awardee Dr. Gregory Perreault engages in cross-national study on digital journalism
    App State Fulbright awardee Dr. Gregory Perreault engages in cross-national study on digital journalism
  • ‘Active citizenship’: How an App State sustainable development major hopes to save the world
    ‘Active citizenship’: How an App State sustainable development major hopes to save the world
  • App State leads nation in certified teachers for 5th consecutive year
    App State leads nation in certified teachers for 5th consecutive year
  • App State Common Reading Program announces ‘Belonging’ as 2021–22 book selection
    App State Common Reading Program announces ‘Belonging’ as 2021–22 book selection
  • App State higher education professor helps create, co-directs Alliance for Research on Regional Colleges
    App State higher education professor helps create, co-directs Alliance for Research on Regional Colleges
  • Solving geological mysteries
    Solving geological mysteries
  • App State alumna Marisa Sedlak is a parks and recreation star
    App State alumna Marisa Sedlak is a parks and recreation star
  • Lynn Patterson’s door at App State’s Belk Library is open
    Lynn Patterson’s door at App State’s Belk Library is open
  • Newly renovated Sanford Hall is ready to welcome App State students
    Newly renovated Sanford Hall is ready to welcome App State students

Archives

Appalachian Today is an online publication of Appalachian State University. This website consolidates university news, feature stories, events, photo galleries, videos and podcasts.

The migration of materials from other sites is still incomplete, so if you cannot find what you're looking for here, please refer to the following sources:

  • Additional feature stories may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • Podcasts may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • Photo galleries and videos published prior to Jan. 1, 2015 may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • A university-wide Google Calendar may be found at Events at Appalachian
  • Events
  • Videos
  • Galleries
  • In the Media
  • Grants
  • Speakers
  • All Posts
  • Topics
  • For the media
  • Archives
  • Contact

Appalachian State University

Copyright 2021 Appalachian State University. All rights reserved.

University Communications
ASU Box 32153
Boone, NC 28608
828-262-6156
ucomm@appstate.edu

Abouts

Disclaimer | EO Policy | Website manager: montaldi | Website Feedback

Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram LinkedIn Snapchat