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Business students at App State step in and stock up for the High Country’s hungry

View larger image

Walker College of Business students at Appalachian State University gather for a photo during their drive to collect food for A Simple Gesture. Photo submitted

“Social responsibility is one of our core goals in the Walker College of Business MBA program. The efforts of these students exemplify what we hope to inculcate in our graduates.”

Ken White, professional development coordinator in Appalachian’s Walker College of Business

Learn more about A Simple Gesture

The program A Simple Gesture is a new initiative adopted by the local Hunger and Health Coalition in April. Every two months, food is collected and processed. The next collection and processing date is Aug. 24.

Appalachian MBA candidate Jackie Parrish said, “This program engages the community to provide a sustainable, consistent level of nonperishable food donations for our neighbors in need.”

Students, faculty and staff can pick up and drop off the green reusable A Simple Gesture bag at Appalachian’s Transportation Insight Center for Entrepreneurship, located on the second floor of Peacock Hall. For more information, or to enroll as a food donor or volunteer, contact Michelle Jeanniton-Garrett, Enactus communications chair, at [email protected].

By Rebekah Saylors
Posted July 15, 2019 at 11:22 a.m.

BOONE, N.C. — In June, about 581 pounds of food was collected and more than 10,000 pounds processed by Appalachian State University students enrolled in a graduate-level Executive Skills course in the university’s Walker College of Business (WCOB) and students who are involved in forming an Enactus program at Appalachian under the WCOB's Association of Student Entrepreneurs. Enactus is an international nonprofit that inspires students to take entrepreneurial action to improve the lives of others and shape a more sustainable world.

The students were donating their time and energy to “A Simple Gesture,” a charitable arm of Boone’s Hunger and Health Coalition (HHC) dedicated to eradicating hunger in the High Country.

“About six families of four could eat for one week with the 42 fully stocked bags we gathered,” said Master of Business Administration (MBA) candidate and Enactus member Michelle Jeanniton-Garrett, from Indian Trail. Jeanniton-Garrett has been volunteering with the HHC since fall 2018.

“Social responsibility is one of our core goals in the Walker College of Business MBA program. The efforts of these students exemplify what we hope to inculcate in our graduates.”

Ken White, professional development coordinator in Appalachian’s Walker College of Business

Enactus members partnered with HHC as part of their focus on food insecurity in the community.

“Enactus Appalachian looks to inspire students to improve the world through entrepreneurial action,” said Enactus president and MBA candidate Jackie Parrish, of Hickory. “At the moment, Enactus is focused on food insecurity in the High Country.

“While our organization continues to brainstorm entrepreneurial concepts to alleviate this issue, Michelle and I thought that there was no better partnership to make than with the Hunger and Health Coalition. This is how the Peacock Hall (home to the WCOB) Simple Gesture collection was born,” she added.

View larger image

Bags of food collected by students in the Walker College of Business are ready for delivery to the Hunger and Health Coalition as part of the A Simple Gesture program. Photo submitted

“Social responsibility is important as an MBA student … If we can bring our sustainable ideas into the workplace, we can have positive lasting impacts on the environment around us and encourage those who come after us to keep the sustainable initiatives going.”

Appalachian MBA candidate Eden Spencer

With the reduced number of students on campus during the summer, Enactus turned to the MBA class to ask for assistance in continuing its efforts. This also allowed for a service opportunity in fulfilling the social responsibility component of the course.

“Social responsibility is one of our core goals in the Walker College of Business MBA program,” said Ken White, professional development coordinator and instructor of the Executive Skills class. “The efforts of these students exemplify what we hope to inculcate in our graduates. I am very proud of the effort and those that will benefit from this activity.”

MBA candidate Eden Spencer, from Cary, said, “Social responsibility is important as an MBA student because we are the next generation of leaders. If we can bring our sustainable ideas into the workplace, we can have positive lasting impacts on the environment around us and encourage those who come after us to keep the sustainable initiatives going.”

“I honestly just enjoy giving back to any community I live in,” Jeanniton-Garrett said. “Volunteering is a rewarding feeling, especially when you know that is has a positive impact on the community. I also utilize their services and am so grateful for the resources it provides!”

“With the support of Mr. White and the MBA program’s Executive Skills course, Enactus was able to garner a large group of volunteers to help our efforts,” Parrish said. “At the end of collection day, the pride on the faces of my fellow MBA students was invaluable!”

What do you think?

Share your feedback on this story.

Learn more about A Simple Gesture

The program A Simple Gesture is a new initiative adopted by the local Hunger and Health Coalition in April. Every two months, food is collected and processed. The next collection and processing date is Aug. 24.

Appalachian MBA candidate Jackie Parrish said, “This program engages the community to provide a sustainable, consistent level of nonperishable food donations for our neighbors in need.”

Students, faculty and staff can pick up and drop off the green reusable A Simple Gesture bag at Appalachian’s Transportation Insight Center for Entrepreneurship, located on the second floor of Peacock Hall. For more information, or to enroll as a food donor or volunteer, contact Michelle Jeanniton-Garrett, Enactus communications chair, at [email protected].

About the Walker College of Business

The Walker College of Business at Appalachian State University delivers transformational educational experiences that prepare and inspire students to be ethical, innovative and engaged business leaders who positively impact their communities, both locally and globally. The college places emphasis on international experiences, sustainable business practices, entrepreneurial programs and real-world applications with industry. Enrolling more than 4,000 undergraduates in 11 majors, Walker College has the highest enrollment of full-time undergraduate students in the University of North Carolina System, and more than 250 graduate students are enrolled in the college’s three master’s programs. App State’s Walker College is accredited by AACSB International — the premier global accrediting body for business schools. Learn more at https://business.appstate.edu.

About Appalachian State University

As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, affordable education for all. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.

“Social responsibility is one of our core goals in the Walker College of Business MBA program. The efforts of these students exemplify what we hope to inculcate in our graduates.”

Ken White, professional development coordinator in Appalachian’s Walker College of Business

Learn more about A Simple Gesture

The program A Simple Gesture is a new initiative adopted by the local Hunger and Health Coalition in April. Every two months, food is collected and processed. The next collection and processing date is Aug. 24.

Appalachian MBA candidate Jackie Parrish said, “This program engages the community to provide a sustainable, consistent level of nonperishable food donations for our neighbors in need.”

Students, faculty and staff can pick up and drop off the green reusable A Simple Gesture bag at Appalachian’s Transportation Insight Center for Entrepreneurship, located on the second floor of Peacock Hall. For more information, or to enroll as a food donor or volunteer, contact Michelle Jeanniton-Garrett, Enactus communications chair, at [email protected].

“Social responsibility is important as an MBA student … If we can bring our sustainable ideas into the workplace, we can have positive lasting impacts on the environment around us and encourage those who come after us to keep the sustainable initiatives going.”

Appalachian MBA candidate Eden Spencer

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Share your feedback on this story.

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

If you cannot find what you're looking for here, please refer to the following sources:

  • Podcasts may be found at Appalachian State University Podcasts
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Archives

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

If you cannot find what you're looking for here, please refer to the following sources:

  • Podcasts may be found at Appalachian State University Podcasts
  • Stories and press releases published prior to Jan. 1, 2015 may be found in University Communications Records at the Special Collections Research Center.
  • A university-wide Google Calendar may be found at Events at Appalachian
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