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10 first-year students receive Chancellor’s Scholarship at App State

By Linda Coutant
Posted July 24, 2019 at 10:31 a.m.

BOONE, N.C. — Ten first-year students at Appalachian State University have been named Chancellor’s Scholars for the 2019–20 academic year. The Chancellor’s Scholarship, which is renewable, is Appalachian’s oldest and most academically competitive merit-based scholarship.

The Chancellor’s Scholarship is awarded to the highest achieving students who have earned entry into the Honors College. The four-year program of rigorous study covers full institutional costs (tuition, fees, room and board, and book rental). Chancellor’s Scholars are provided with study abroad opportunities beginning in their first year, numerous classroom and experiential research opportunities and academic mentoring in a living–learning community.

“I am pleased to welcome this year’s class of Chancellor’s Scholars to the Appalachian Community,” Chancellor Sheri Everts said. “I look forward to their arrival on campus and engagement in their respective disciplines.

“These students were selected for their scholarly acumen, talent for leadership and dedication within their communities,” she continued. “They will enrich and be enriched by the Appalachian Experience. It will be a pleasure to see them grow as scholars and develop as engaged global citizens.”

The scholarship is designed for students with ambitious academic goals — those who seek graduate or professional post-baccalaureate degrees to become physicians, Ph.D. holders and more.

Appalachian has awarded this scholarship for 35 years. Chancellor’s Scholars may pursue any major.

The 2019–20 recipients of the Chancellor’s Scholarship:

  • Lela Arruza, of Apex.
  • Sophie Columbia, of Durham.
  • Capability “Cape” Dickerson, of Rutherfordton.
  • Oliver Dunkin, of Satellite Beach, Florida.
  • Alisa Duong, of Charlotte.
  • Samantha “Sam” Froese, of Cary.
  • Aidan Keaveney, of Durham.
  • Amelia Rhodes, of Winston-Salem.
  • Gabriela “Gigi” Upchurch, of Denton, Texas.
  • Lily Vowels, of Elizabethtown, Kentucky.

Meet the 2019–20 recipients

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Chancellor’s Scholar Lela Arruza, of Apex, was selected for Appalachian State University’s oldest and most academically competitive merit-based scholarship. Photo submitted

Lela Arruza

Apex, North Carolina

Arruza, a graduate of Grace Christian School, said she is passionate about art and science.

“I have found that Appalachian's program would allow me to pursue them both. Whether I double major in studio art and biology or major and minor in these two subjects, I don’t want to give either of them up. Appalachian provides the opportunity for me to continue to develop my creative and curious personality,” she said.

Her scholastic involvement includes attending the North Carolina Governor’s School for Art, serving as president of her school’s art club and membership in the National Honor Society. She volunteers as a crew leader with the Awana program at her local church and plays piano and flute/piccolo.

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Chancellor’s Scholar Sophie Columbia, of Durham, was selected for Appalachian State University’s oldest and most academically competitive merit-based scholarship. Photo submitted

Sophie Columbia

Durham, North Carolina

Columbia graduated from Riverside High School and plans to major in biology with a concentration in cellular/molecular biology.

“I chose to attend Appalachian State University for its incredibly welcoming environment, the many opportunities available there and the knowledge that I’ll be challenged to discover more about myself,” she said.

A violinist in high school, she was a recipient of the National School Orchestra Award and president of Tri-M Music Honor Society. She also was a member of the Riverside Newcomer Mentoring Program, which supports refugee students.

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Chancellor’s Scholar Capability “Cape” Dickerson, of Rutherfordton, was selected for Appalachian State University’s oldest and most academically competitive merit-based scholarship. Photo submitted

Capability “Cape” Dickerson

Rutherfordton, North Carolina

Dickerson plans to major in geology and said he chose Appalachian because of the degree program’s curriculum. “I felt like I could be treated as a graduate student as an undergraduate, with opportunities for research and ready access to technology, such as the amazing new scanning electron microscope,” he said.

He said he’s been impressed by the friendliness and professionalism at Appalachian. “I immediately felt that I would be at home (at Appalachian),” he said.

A graduate of Rutherfordton-Spindale Central High School, Dickerson completed an exchange year in Germany and enjoys woodturning, metalworking and flintknapping, which is the making of chipped stone tools.

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Chancellor’s Scholar Oliver Dunkin, of Satellite Beach, Florida, was selected for Appalachian State University’s oldest and most academically competitive merit-based scholarship. Photo submitted

Oliver Dunkin

Satellite Beach, Florida

Dunkin graduated from Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy, where he was varsity soccer team captain, Student Government senior representative and member of five honors societies: Mu Alpha Theta, National Honor Society, National English Honor Society, National Art Honor Society and French National Honor Society.

About Appalachian, he said, “The environment is beautiful and the teachers and students create a family-like feel.”

He is exploring options for his academic major.

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Chancellor’s Scholar Alisa Duong, of Charlotte, was selected for Appalachian State University’s oldest and most academically competitive merit-based scholarship. Photo submitted

Alisa Duong

Charlotte, North Carolina

A graduate of Myers Park High School, Duong said she chose Appalachian because of its inclusive and welcoming community. “Appalachian will not only expand my knowledge, but also help me grow as a person,” she said.

She was treasurer of her school’s National Honor Society chapter, served on Charlotte-Mecklenburg’s Youth Council and was a leader within her church’s chapter of the Vietnamese Eucharistic Youth Movement.

She plans to major in biology with a concentration in cellular/molecular biology.

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Chancellor’s Scholar Sam Froese, of Cary, was selected for Appalachian State University’s oldest and most academically competitive merit-based scholarship. Photo submitted

Samantha “Sam” Froese

Cary, North Carolina

A graduate of Green Hope High School, Froese chose Appalachian because of its focus on sustainability and community.

“The Women’s and LGBT centers at Appalachian, as well as App State’s initiative to use locally sourced food in the cafeteria and the close relationships I witnessed between students and teachers when visiting the campus, showed me that App State was a place where I would belong,” Froese said.

Froese volunteers regularly at Brookdale MacArthur Park, a local residential living facility. At Green Hope, she worked in the school library and was president of the Spanish Honor Society. She plans to major in English with a concentration in creative writing.

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Chancellor’s Scholar Aidan Keaveney, of Durham, was selected for Appalachian State University’s oldest and most academically competitive merit-based scholarship. Photo submitted

Aidan Keaveney

Durham, North Carolina

A graduate of the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, Keaveney plans to major in physics with a concentration in applied physics.

He said he chose Appalachian for its welcoming, collaborative and engaged intellectual community. “I’m thrilled to become a part of such a flourishing environment,” he said.

During his senior year, he conducted experimental nuclear and particle astrophysics research at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, served as a Residential Life Assistant and published research on inequality in gifted education in the humanities journal The Fifth World. He is also an active member of the North Carolina model rocketry community.

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Chancellor’s Scholar Amelia Rhodes, of Winston-Salem, was selected for Appalachian State University’s oldest and most academically competitive merit-based scholarship. Photo submitted

Amelia Rhodes

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Rhodes plans to major in management and said she chose Appalachian because of its welcoming environment of engaged faculty, staff and students.

“There are countless opportunities available at Appalachian, and the university promises that you will never be alone on the path you choose to take. Many schools say this, but Appalachian means this, as seen in its friendly students, enthusiastic professors and encouraging and determined staff,” she said.

At R.J. Reynolds High School, she was captain of the varsity cross-country team, sang in the a capella group, participated in Girls Council service club and was published in the school’s literary magazine.

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View larger image

Chancellor’s Scholar Gabriela “Gigi” Upchurch, of Denton, Texas, was selected for Appalachian State University’s oldest and most academically competitive merit-based scholarship. Photo submitted

Gabriela “Gigi” Upchurch

Denton, Texas

Upchurch was attracted to Appalachian’s location in North Carolina and plans to major in elementary education.

“Appalachian's beautiful location was its first appeal. Then, as I learned more about the students and professors, I fell in love with the campus environment. The Chancellor’s Scholarship made it possible for me to come and was the ultimate reason why I chose Appalachian,” she said.

At Denton High School, she was a four-year varsity soccer player and was captain her junior and senior years. She was also president of the Spanish Honor Society and currently works with second and eighth graders at her church.

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View larger image

Chancellor’s Scholar Lily Vowels, of Elizabethtown, Kentucky, was selected for Appalachian State University’s oldest and most academically competitive merit-based scholarship. Photo submitted

Lily Vowels

Elizabethtown, Kentucky

Vowels graduated from the Gatton Academy of Math and Science in Kentucky and conducted research with Western Kentucky University’s biology department. She served as captain of her school’s Envirothon team and service chair of the school’s Student Y chapter. She enjoys rock climbing, reading and learning about nature.

“I chose Appalachian because I really admired their commitment to sustainability — something I am really passionate about,” Vowels said. “Meeting the faculty in the geology department and the Honors College demonstrated Appalachian’s dedication to my success as a student.”

Details of the Chancellor’s Scholarship

As Honors College students and leaders, Chancellor’s Scholars participate in small, typically discussion-based, interdisciplinary courses and produce original research by researching and writing an honors thesis. Throughout their time at Appalachian, Chancellor’s Scholars have opportunities to study abroad and participate in groundbreaking, experiential research.

In addition to coverage of full institutional costs, Chancellor’s Scholars receive the following:

  • Support for research, conference attendance and scholarship during the summer and academic year in the student’s target area of study through the Office of Student Research.
  • Access to research support through the Honors College.
  • Personalized, professional mentoring and academic advising from Honors College faculty and staff.
  • Opportunities to engage in service-learning courses and programs — both locally and throughout the world — through the Appalachian and the Community Together (ACT) office, with travel cost support from the Honors College.
  • Study abroad opportunities with any of Appalachian’s 200 partner institutions around the world, with travel cost assistance provided by the Honors College.

For more information about Appalachian’s Honors College, visit https://honors.appstate.edu. To learn more about the Chancellor’s Scholarship, visit https://honors.appstate.edu/scholarships/chancellors-scholarship.

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Appalachian State University announces 2018 Chancellor’s Scholars
Appalachian State University announces 2018 Chancellor’s Scholars
June 13, 2018

Appalachian names 10 incoming students as Chancellor’s Scholars. The Chancellor’s Scholars Program is the university’s oldest and most academically competitive merit-based scholarship.

Read the story

About the Chancellor’s Scholarship

The Chancellor’s Scholarship is Appalachian State University’s oldest and most academically competitive merit-based scholarship. It is awarded to the highest achieving students who have earned entry into App State’s Honors College. The scholarship is designed for students with ambitious academic goals — those who seek graduate or professional post-baccalaureate degrees to become physicians, Ph.D. holders and more. Chancellor’s Scholars enter a four-year program of rigorous study that covers full institutional costs (tuition, fees, room and board, book rental) and provides study abroad opportunities beginning in the first year, numerous classroom and experiential research opportunities and academic mentoring in a living–learning community. The scholarship is open to any major. Learn more.

About Scholarships at App State

Appalachian State University offers students the opportunity to receive a world-class education at an affordable rate, with an average of $25 million awarded to incoming, current and transfer students each year based on need, as well as academic and athletic achievement. On average, about $4.9 million in outside aid is awarded to App State students annually. App State’s Office of Student Financial Aid and University Scholarships assists students in learning about and applying for these university scholarship opportunities and also shares information about non-App State scholarships. Learn more at https://scholarships.appstate.edu.

About Appalachian State University

As the premier public undergraduate institution in the Southeast, 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 nearly 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate majors.

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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.

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

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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.

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
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