Skip to main content

Appalachian Today

News and events at Appalachian State University
  • Subscribe
  • For the media
  • Contact
  • Events
  • Webcams
  • Podcasts
  • In the News
  • Research & Arts
  • Awards
  • Experts
  • All News
  • 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 and Creative Works
  • Safety
  • Scholarships
  • Students
  • Sustainability
☰ Menu
  • Events
  • Webcams
  • Podcasts
  • In the News
  • Research & Arts
  • Awards
  • Experts
  • All News
  • Topics
  • Subscribe
  • For the media
  • Contact
View larger image

Current and continuing Beaver Scholars at App State are pictured with Beaver College of Health Sciences (BCHS) Dean Marie Huff, second from right, and Denise Levy, BCHS associate dean of academic affairs, far right. Pictured with Huff and Levy, from left to right, are scholars Carson Goins, Christian Rodriguez, Emily Lin Bjerregaard, Ian Russell, Breanna Gibson, Bebe Basinger, Sophia Mendieta, Mary Sterett, Adriana Soriano Nunez, Courtney Greene, Lily Hughes, Adrienne Luceri, Enid Aguirre, Valerie Farfan, Alayah Nguyen, Kayla Spriggs and MaKaylia Ray. Photo by Chase Reynolds

6 App State students earn Beaver Scholarship for 2022–23

The scholars, all from NC, are committed to improving health care — in the High Country and beyond

“Many of our Beaver Scholars start making a difference in people’s lives as students here at App State, volunteering with community organizations and looking for ways to improve access to heath care and to remove barriers.”

Beaver College of Health Sciences Dean Marie Huff

“After graduation, I’m looking forward to being able to give back and show how much the Beaver Scholarship has meant to me.”

Beaver Scholar and App State senior Carson Goins

By Amanda Mlekush
Posted March 10, 2023 at 9:02 a.m.

BOONE, N.C. — This academic year, Appalachian State University has awarded its Beaver Scholarship to six aspiring health care professionals enrolled in the Beaver College of Health Sciences (BCHS). They are among 38 students who have received the scholarship to date, some of whom have gone on to serve their communities as health care providers or to pursue advanced degrees in health sciences.

“Many of our Beaver Scholars start making a difference in people’s lives as students here at App State, volunteering with community organizations and looking for ways to improve access to heath care and to remove barriers.”

Beaver College of Health Sciences Dean Marie Huff

Donald C. Beaver ’62 ’64 and his wife, Vickie Beaver — the couple for whom Beaver College is named — established the Beaver Scholars program in 2019, with the goal of providing support to North Carolina students with a commitment to health care careers. As Beaver Scholars, students qualify for scholarships of $10,000 per academic year.

“These students are smart, ambitious and eager to pursue their degrees at Appalachian,” said Vickie, a member of the BCHS Advisory Board. “We are excited to watch them grow as students and as future health care professionals.”

View larger image

Beaver Scholar Carson Goins, a senior nutrition and foods major from Stokes County, speaks at the Beaver College of Health Sciences’ 2023 Celebration of Giving held March 3 in App State’s Levine Hall of Health Sciences. Photo by Chase Reynolds

The 2022–23 Beaver Scholars:

  • Bebe Basinger, a first-year exercise science major from Iredell County.
  • Emily Lin Bjerregaard, a first-year exercise science major and an Honors College student from Mecklenburg County.
  • Breanna Gibson, a first-year exercise science major and an Honors College student from Iredell County.
  • Mary Sterett, a first-year communication sciences and disorders major from Onslow County.
  • Kaitlyn Sessoms, a social work graduate student from Lee County.
  • Ian Russell, a nutrition graduate student from Mecklenburg County.

“After graduation, I’m looking forward to being able to give back and show how much the Beaver Scholarship has meant to me.”

Beaver Scholar and App State senior Carson Goins

The Beaver Scholarship is renewable as long as students meet academic standards established by the college. Scholarships are awarded to undergraduate and graduate students from North Carolina who are majoring in health-focused programs, with priority given to students who demonstrate a strong commitment to improving health care in the region.

BCHS Dean Marie Huff shared that spending time with App State’s Beaver Scholars and getting to know them — learning of their plans and aspirations — is an inspiring experience.

“Many of our Beaver Scholars start making a difference in people’s lives as students here at App State, volunteering with community organizations and looking for ways to improve access to heath care and to remove barriers,” she said.

View larger image

Dr. Marie Huff, dean of App State’s Beaver College of Health Sciences (BCHS), fourth from left, with current and continuing Beaver Scholars at BCHS’ 2023 Celebration of Giving held March 3 in the Levine Hall of Health Sciences. Pictured with Huff, from left to right, are Carson Goins, of Stokes County; Alayah Nguyen, of Union County; MaKaylia Ray, of Cumberland County; Kate Hoffman, of Iredell County; Christian Rodriguez, of Chatham County; Kayla Spriggs, of Davidson County; and Courtney Greene, of Wilkes County. Photo by Chase Reynolds

Carson Goins, a senior Beaver Scholar majoring in nutrition and foods from King, said that being one of the inaugural scholars is an experience he will take with him throughout his career and future studies.

“After graduation, I’m looking forward to being able to give back and show how much the Beaver Scholarship has meant to me,” Goins said. “Even though Beaver Scholars represent different majors and fields of study, we’ve built a tremendous amount of camaraderie and I’ll be keeping up with them after graduation to make sure they’re doing well. We’ve also had a lot of support from Dean Huff and others who check on us and make sure we’re staying on track.”

Since the program began, 16 Beaver Scholars have graduated, going on to pursue careers in nursing, social work, nutrition, public health and health care management or advanced degrees in health sciences.

More than 40% of the 38 scholarship recipients are first-generation college students and nearly half of the scholars come from racially diverse or underrepresented groups. More than a third of Beaver Scholars are from rural areas in the state.

What do you think?

Share your feedback on this story.

Beaver Scholars by the numbers
  • 38 students have earned the Beaver Scholarship since fall 2019.
  • 16 scholars are now App State alumni.
  • 16 scholars are first-generation college students.
  • 47% of the scholars are from racially diverse and/or underrepresented groups.
  • 36% of the scholars are from rural areas in North Carolina.
App State’s continuing Beaver Scholars
  • Enid Aguirre, of Wake County, a senior double majoring in nutrition and foods and Spanish.
  • Valerie Farfan, of Gaston County, a junior double majoring in public health and nursing.
  • Jonathan Farrior, of Duplin County, a nutrition graduate student.
  • Sophie Filiault, of Iredell County, a junior public health major.
  • Carson Goins, of Stokes County, a senior nutrition and foods major.
  • Courtney Greene, of Wilkes County, a senior communication sciences and disorders major.
  • Kate Hoffman, of Iredell County, a senior nursing major.
  • Lily Hughes, of Guilford County, a senior exercise science major.
  • Kammy Kasher, of Mecklenburg County, a junior social work major and an Honors College student.
  • Adrienne Luceri ’21, of Iredell County, a speech-language pathology graduate student.
  • Sophia Mendieta, of Mecklenburg County, a sophomore nutrition and foods major and an Honors College student.
  • Alayah Nguyen, of Union County, a senior double majoring in exercise science and nutrition and foods.
  • MaKaylia Ray, of Cumberland County, a senior communication sciences and disorders major.
  • Christian Rodriguez, of Chatham County, a senior nursing major.
  • Kayla Spriggs, of Davidson County, a junior exercise science major.
  • Stacy Thornton, of Orange County, a sophomore communication sciences and disorders major.
Beaver Scholars alumni
  • Brianna Bliss ’20 ’22
  • Jessica Bravo ’21
  • Anthony Cangas ’19 ’21
  • Kali Cannon ’21
  • Alexis “Lexie” Farr ’22
  • Bella Fiore ’21
  • Priscilla Holmes ’19 ’21
  • Freddy Luviano ’21 ’22
  • Andrea Mattox ’20
  • Adriana Soriano Nunez ’22
  • Diana Sanchez ’20
  • Danielle “Dani” Shanley ’18 ’20
  • Chesnee Sheehan ’21
  • Cheyenne Sluder ’20
  • Emma Swarts ’21
  • Stevin Wright ’20
Beaver Scholars program propels App State grad’s health care career close to home
Beaver Scholars program propels App State grad’s health care career close to home
April 21, 2023

App State’s Beaver Scholars program helped pave the way for alumna Alexis “Lexie” Farr to give back to her hometown community through her job at UNC Health Blue Ridge in Morganton. The scholarship program supports North Carolina students with a commitment to health care careers.

Read the story
8 aspiring health care professionals named App State Beaver Scholars for 2021–22
8 aspiring health care professionals named App State Beaver Scholars for 2021–22
Nov. 10, 2021

App State named eight Beaver College of Health Sciences students as Beaver Scholars for the 2021–22 academic year. The scholarship — established in 2019 by App State alumnus Don Beaver ’62 ’64 and his wife, Vickie Beaver, the couple for whom the college is named — provides support to North Carolina students with a commitment to health care careers.

Read the story
App State names 20 inaugural Beaver Scholars committed to improving regional health care
App State names 20 inaugural Beaver Scholars committed to improving regional health care
Sep. 12, 2019

The Beaver Scholars program, established by Don Beaver ’62 ’64 and his wife, Vickie Beaver, supports North Carolina students who demonstrate a strong commitment to improving health care in Appalachia.

Read the story
Appalachian’s Beaver Scholars program aims to improve health care in region and beyond
Appalachian’s Beaver Scholars program aims to improve health care in region and beyond
Feb. 1, 2019

Beginning fall 2019, the program will provide support to 20 North Carolina students in Appalachian’s Beaver College of Health Sciences who have made a commitment to health care careers.

Read the story
College Thanks Donors and Supporters at 2023 Celebration of Giving
College Thanks Donors and Supporters at 2023 Celebration of Giving
March 6, 2023

The Beaver College of Health Sciences thanked a number of its donors and supporters at the 2023 Celebration of Giving held March 3 in Leon Levine Hall. In addition to a brief program, attendees were invited to tour the college’s state-of-the-art Nutrition laboratories where a group of App State student-athletes from Track and Field and Volleyball were attending an AppFuel class to learn about preparing nutritious foods for maximum energy and performance.

Read the story

About the Beaver College of Health Sciences

Appalachian State University’s Beaver College of Health Sciences (BCHS), opened in 2010, is transforming the health and quality of life for the communities it serves through interprofessional collaboration and innovation in teaching, scholarship, service and clinical outreach. The college enrolls more than 3,600 students and offers 10 undergraduate degree programs, nine graduate degree programs and four certificates across six departments: Nursing, Nutrition and Health Care Management, Public Health and Exercise Science, Recreation Management and Physical Education, Rehabilitation Sciences, and Social Work. The college’s academic programs are located in the Holmes Convocation Center on App State’s main campus and the Levine Hall of Health Sciences, a state-of-the-art, 203,000-square-foot facility that is the cornerstone of Boone’s Wellness District. In addition, the college supports the Appalachian Institute for Health and Wellness and has collaborative partnerships with the Wake Forest University School of Medicine’s Physician Assistant Program, UNC Health Appalachian and numerous other health agencies. Learn more at https://healthsciences.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.

“Many of our Beaver Scholars start making a difference in people’s lives as students here at App State, volunteering with community organizations and looking for ways to improve access to heath care and to remove barriers.”

Beaver College of Health Sciences Dean Marie Huff

“After graduation, I’m looking forward to being able to give back and show how much the Beaver Scholarship has meant to me.”

Beaver Scholar and App State senior Carson Goins

Beaver Scholars by the numbers
  • 38 students have earned the Beaver Scholarship since fall 2019.
  • 16 scholars are now App State alumni.
  • 16 scholars are first-generation college students.
  • 47% of the scholars are from racially diverse and/or underrepresented groups.
  • 36% of the scholars are from rural areas in North Carolina.
App State’s continuing Beaver Scholars
  • Enid Aguirre, of Wake County, a senior double majoring in nutrition and foods and Spanish.
  • Valerie Farfan, of Gaston County, a junior double majoring in public health and nursing.
  • Jonathan Farrior, of Duplin County, a nutrition graduate student.
  • Sophie Filiault, of Iredell County, a junior public health major.
  • Carson Goins, of Stokes County, a senior nutrition and foods major.
  • Courtney Greene, of Wilkes County, a senior communication sciences and disorders major.
  • Kate Hoffman, of Iredell County, a senior nursing major.
  • Lily Hughes, of Guilford County, a senior exercise science major.
  • Kammy Kasher, of Mecklenburg County, a junior social work major and an Honors College student.
  • Adrienne Luceri ’21, of Iredell County, a speech-language pathology graduate student.
  • Sophia Mendieta, of Mecklenburg County, a sophomore nutrition and foods major and an Honors College student.
  • Alayah Nguyen, of Union County, a senior double majoring in exercise science and nutrition and foods.
  • MaKaylia Ray, of Cumberland County, a senior communication sciences and disorders major.
  • Christian Rodriguez, of Chatham County, a senior nursing major.
  • Kayla Spriggs, of Davidson County, a junior exercise science major.
  • Stacy Thornton, of Orange County, a sophomore communication sciences and disorders major.
Beaver Scholars alumni
  • Brianna Bliss ’20 ’22
  • Jessica Bravo ’21
  • Anthony Cangas ’19 ’21
  • Kali Cannon ’21
  • Alexis “Lexie” Farr ’22
  • Bella Fiore ’21
  • Priscilla Holmes ’19 ’21
  • Freddy Luviano ’21 ’22
  • Andrea Mattox ’20
  • Adriana Soriano Nunez ’22
  • Diana Sanchez ’20
  • Danielle “Dani” Shanley ’18 ’20
  • Chesnee Sheehan ’21
  • Cheyenne Sluder ’20
  • Emma Swarts ’21
  • Stevin Wright ’20

Share

Topics

  • Alumni
  • Health and Wellness
  • Scholarships
  • Students

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.

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

Share

Topics

  • Alumni
  • Health and Wellness
  • Scholarships
  • Students

Other Recent Posts

  • Student research and creative projects spotlighted at App State’s annual showcase
    Student research and creative projects spotlighted at App State’s annual showcase
  • Will Sears appointed vice chancellor of university advancement at App State
    Will Sears appointed vice chancellor of university advancement at App State
  • N.C. Governor Josh Stein to address graduates at App State commencement
    N.C. Governor Josh Stein to address graduates at App State commencement
  • App State honors 29 students, faculty and staff with 2025 Awards of Distinction
    App State honors 29 students, faculty and staff with 2025 Awards of Distinction
  • App State to offer AI concentration in master’s programs [faculty featured]
    App State to offer AI concentration in master’s programs [faculty featured]
    WFDD
  • Campus emergency siren test to be conducted May 7
    Campus emergency siren test to be conducted May 7
  • App State students help restore national wildlife refuge as part of Alternative Service Experience
    App State students help restore national wildlife refuge as part of Alternative Service Experience
  • Dr. Neva J. Specht appointed App State executive vice chancellor and provost
    Dr. Neva J. Specht appointed App State executive vice chancellor and provost
  • $2 million grant funds scholarships, supports STEM education for over 50 App State students
    $2 million grant funds scholarships, supports STEM education for over 50 App State students
  • App State named Military Friendly School for 16th consecutive year, ranked a top 10 institution for 2025–26
    App State named Military Friendly School for 16th consecutive year, ranked a top 10 institution for 2025–26
  • Explore the future of business with new AI master’s degree tracks at App State
    Explore the future of business with new AI master’s degree tracks at App State
  • 12th annual iBackAPP Day of Giving draws over 3,100 App State supporters worldwide
    12th annual iBackAPP Day of Giving draws over 3,100 App State supporters worldwide

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
  • Events
  • Videos
  • Galleries
  • In the News
  • Research & Arts
  • Awards
  • Experts
  • All News
  • Topics
  • Subscribe
  • For the media
  • COVID updates
  • Contact

App State

Copyright 2025 Appalachian State University. All rights reserved.

University Communications
ASU Box 32153
Boone, NC 28608
828-262-6156
[email protected]

Abouts

Disclaimer | EO Policy | Accessibility | Website manager: montaldipa (beltmr) .. | Website Feedback

Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram LinkedIn Snapchat