Acosta-Flores said her decision to attend App State was influenced by her interactions with App State graduates, “who had nothing but good things to say about Appalachian and its environment.” She added, “App State’s close-knit environment provides the perfect space for me to flourish.”

An apparel design and merchandising major, Acosta-Flores shared that her mother, who worked as a seamstress in Mexico, is her greatest fashion influence. Acosta-Flores’ growing curiosity for the field led her to research faults within the industry.

“I realized that I wanted to help improve the fashion industry with research and innovation,” said Acosta-Flores, who is pursuing a minor in marketing.

The Chancellor’s Scholarship will provide Acosta-Flores with enriching experiences — including networking and mentoring opportunities — that will allow her to grow both academically and personally, she said.

As a student at Edgecombe Early College High School, Acosta-Flores was a founding member of the Senior Beta Club, Scholar Translator Group and First Robotics team. She also served as an editor in the Writing Center and was a member of the National Honor Society and the School Improvement Team.

Atkins called App State’s Chancellor’s Scholarship “the most incredible opportunity” she has received to date.

“Having a program that is ready to support all of its students as we take on new ideas or study abroad is such an important piece of a college experience,” she said. “App State has a wonderful, inclusive community of students and staff who are truly there to support and inspire students.”

Atkins shared that she has always held two main interests close to her heart — environmental science and performing arts — which is why she is double majoring in theatre arts and ecology, evolution and environmental biology.

She expressed enthusiasm for “the energy and adrenaline that come with theater and the attentiveness and love for the earth that come with environmental science.”

She shared that Boone’s “uplifting atmosphere” and “the wonderful opportunities offered at App State” were factors in her decision to attend the university.

Atkins graduated from Northern Nash High School in Rocky Mount, where she participated in five theater productions and was a member of the International Thespian Society and National Honor Society. She was also a student-athlete, playing on the tennis and swim teams, and worked as a lifeguard and swim lesson instructor at her local YMCA.

Estevez, who is an exercise science major, aspires to become a physician assistant, she said, and is also interested in exploring physical and occupational therapy.

“The curriculum App State offers will help me complete all of my pre-professional prerequisites for graduate school in a manner that fits my learning abilities and style,” she shared. “I am confident that I have chosen the perfect home, here at App State, for the next four years.”

When researching App State, Estevez became excited to learn that the university’s Boone campus is a satellite location for the Wake Forest Physician Assistant Program — her “dream graduate program,” she said.

By covering the costs of her App State education, the Chancellor’s Scholarship allows Estevez more time to focus on her studies and her involvement in the campus and local community, she said, adding that the honor of being a Chancellor’s Scholar has pushed her to believe she can be a leader on campus.

As a student at Belleville High School in Belleville, New Jersey, Estevez served as president of the Environmental Club, taking part in various service projects to help surrounding organisms and wildlife. She was also part of the school’s medical academy, which allowed her to volunteer and help nurses in the postoperative unit and emergency department of the local hospital.

Garcia-Carrillo said her App State major — sustainable development-environmental studies — combines her passions of helping others and eco-friendliness with her love for development and building.

“With this major, my future aspirations of making lasting change will be attained through renewable construction, as it adapts to society through continuing the growth of development in a responsible way,” she said.

What attracted her to App State? The university’s “collaborative community of students, professors and administrators aiming to make change in the world through innovation,” according to Garcia-Carrillo.

The numerous educational opportunities afforded by the Chancellor’s Scholarship will allow her to experience cultures in different countries and work alongside other students and App State faculty to forge new solutions and effect change, said Garcia-Carrillo.

A Miami, Florida, native, Garcia-Carrillo graduated from Westminster Christian School, where she was an ambassador for the school’s Blue Missions Group, helping to provide families in the Dominican Republic with clean water and sanitary environments. She also founded the Operation Love Club to help spread awareness on global issues and fundraise for communities, and she arranged community service projects through her involvement in the National Honor Society.

Hayes, a cellist and music performance major, was attracted to App State’s Hayes School of Music, as well as the university’s Honors College — “a community within a larger university that will give me the opportunity to connect with my peers and professors,” she said. “Also, the campus is gorgeous!”

“Music has always been my biggest passion,” said Hayes, who is considering a minor in mathematics. “It has given me some of my best memories and friends.”

“This scholarship will allow me to focus wholeheartedly on my studies, particularly all of the practice time that is involved with being a music performance major,” she shared, adding that the scholarship will also provide her the opportunity to be involved in on-campus clubs and organizations and to give back to both the campus and local community.

Hayes graduated from Green Hope High School in Cary, where she performed in the school’s chorus and orchestra and was a member of the Green Hope Theatre Company, Philharmonic Association and North Carolina Chamber Music Institute. During her senior year, she served as president of the school’s Tri-M Music Honor Society chapter and as co-president of the A Cappella Club.

Mayfield, who grew up in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, said App State feels like home.

She cited the university’s “commitment to sustainability” and the Honors College’s “emphasis on diversity, discussion and critical thinking” as the main attributes that solidified her decision to attend App State.

A physics major with a concentration in astronomy, Mayfield said she loves the feeling of working through a difficult problem to arrive at the right answer.

“With physics and astronomy, there will always be something we don’t understand, something else we discover and then need to study, and that’s so exciting to me,” she shared.

Mayfield is considering pursuing an advanced degree once she graduates from App State, saying the “top-level education” — along with the “extensive research experience” — she will receive from App State will prepare her for that goal.

“I know the Chancellor’s Scholars program will connect me to peers, mentors and professional contacts who will both enrich my undergraduate experience and provide me with resources for my future educational and career goals,” she added.

As a student at Martin L. Nesbitt Jr. Discovery Academy in Asheville, Mayfield played varsity soccer for four years and was a member of the Performing Arts Club, Gender and Sexuality Alliance Club and Poetry Club.

A history/social studies education major, Phillips said App State’s Reich College of Education “will help prepare me to be the best teacher I can be, as well as provide me with opportunities through research projects and student teaching that I might not find at other universities.”

Phillips knew she wanted to become an educator after the positive experience she had as a teaching assistant during her senior year of high school. She decided to pursue social studies education, in particular, she said, because of her fascination with learning how past events continue to impact the world today.

“The Chancellor’s Scholarship will allow me to be exposed to new perspectives on a variety of topics from both my peers and professors,” said Phillips, who is also looking forward to the opportunity to study abroad through the scholarship.

“Being able to experience other cultures, lifestyles and parts of the world firsthand will definitely expand my horizons and teach me even more about the world and its rich history, in addition to my classes,” she said.

While a student at Cary High School, Phillips served as vice president of the Executive Student Council and was an executive officer of the school’s National Honor Society chapter, Key Club and Environmental Club. She was also a member of the color guard and varsity winter guard, as well as the debate team.

On her decision to attend App State, Polanik said, “The caring faculty and beautiful setting made App State the perfect place to call home for the next four years.”

Polanik aspires to work in health care and is a nursing major with minors in biology and medical humanities.

“As someone with a chronic illness, I have spent a lot of time in hospitals and doctors’ offices, where I have gotten to see the inner workings of our medical system firsthand,” they shared. “As I enter the medical field, I hope to make a difference in my patients’ lives and institute change in the system as a whole.”

Polanik said the interdisciplinary studies they will engage in as part of the Chancellor’s Scholarship program will provide a unique foundation on which to build their education.

At Pinecrest High School in Southern Pines, Polanik competed in local and national competitions as a member of the speech and debate team. They also engaged in community service, including volunteering at a local nursing home and nonprofit bookstore, as a member of the National Honor Society. Additionally, they served as president of the school’s HOSA-Future Health Professionals chapter, through which they certified a group of students to perform vision screenings on elementary-aged children in the community and organized a supply drive for Ronald McDonald House Charities.

Quadri chose App State because of the various research options the university provides, she said, adding, “the professors are very helpful in finding resources and guiding us toward the right direction.”

Through the support of App State faculty and her Chancellor’s Scholarship, Quadri said she intends to engage in research on Alzheimer’s disease and learn about international health care through study abroad opportunities.

“I hope these experiences will help me be a competitive candidate for medical school in order to become a neurosurgeon,” she said.

Quadri is pursuing a pre-medical path by majoring in biology with a concentration in cell/molecular biology. She is also considering a major in economics.

As a student at Rolesville High School, Quadri was a member of the National Honor Society, Science National Honor Society, National Technical Honor Society, Muslim Student Association and Key Club. She also participated in Girl Scouts-North Carolina Coastal Pines, the Rolesville Coalition of Equity and HOSA-Future Health Professionals — a global, student-led organization that promotes career opportunities in the health industry and works to enhance the delivery of quality health care to all people.

The top two reasons Ramos chose to become a Mountaineer: “App State’s push for economic and environmental sustainability is something that I really identified with, and during the admission process, everyone I talked to made me feel like a valued member of the community, even though I wasn’t even a part of it yet,” he said.

Ramos is majoring in economics — a course of study he chose because of his childhood in Brazil, a place where economic disparity is present in every aspect of daily life, he shared.

“This instilled the values I have today, and I believe studying economics gives me the best chance of making the changes that would make ‘little me’ proud,” he said.

App State’s Chancellor’s Scholarship will give Ramos access to the resources he needs to reach his career goals, he said, adding that he is most excited for the dedicated mentorship and study abroad opportunities available through the scholarship.

Ramos is a graduate of Southwest Guilford High School in High Point, where he was a member of the Environmental Club and served as a peer tutor.

Richardson was initially drawn to App State because of the university’s beautiful setting and its bright campus community, she said.

She is majoring in psychology with a concentration in business and described the degree program as the “perfect combination for me to explore my passion for psychology while also concentrating on the business aspects applied in the real world.” Her minor is in Spanish.

As a Chancellor’s Scholar and member of App State’s Honors College, Richardson is looking forward to participating in study abroad opportunities provided through her scholarship.

“Not only will this allow me to practice and perfect my Spanish speaking skills, but the experience will introduce me to new cultures and ideas on a global level,” she said.

Richardson shared that she is excited to participate in honors seminars and “to be given the environment to thrive among peers who value their education and relationships with other classmates and professors.”

Richardson is a graduate of Greensboro’s Grimsley High School, where she was part of the International Baccalaureate program and participated in the Philosophy Club, Rock Climbing Club and Women’s Self-Defense Club. She also played on her school’s varsity field hockey team, volunteered in Greensboro’s community gardens and operated a food drive for local animal shelters.