BOONE, N.C. — First-year, first-generation students at Appalachian State University received new laptops on Aug. 27, when the university and nonprofit computer refurbisher E2D (Eliminate the Digital Divide) distributed 200 devices at Plemmons Student Union on the Boone campus. The distribution served eligible students across the Boone, Hickory and App State Online campuses.

Since 2022, App State’s Information Technology Services (ITS) has partnered with E2D, with the university donating nearly 3,000 devices to the Charlotte-based nonprofit, including 1,100 that have been refurbished and distributed in Watauga County. For the Aug. 27 distribution, ITS partnered with the Office of Student Success to bring refurbished devices back to campus, with the 200 laptops distributed to North Carolina residents.

“Because we’ve been such a big contributor to E2D, they have been looking to deepen their connection with the student population at App State, exploring specifically how they can support students in their first year who may be facing challenges accessing technology,” said Dr. Shernita Lee, associate vice provost for student success. “We’re excited that the devices we’ve contributed are being repurposed and distributed to our students. It’s a full‑circle moment that directly supports their success.”

E2D worked with App State to identify students eligible to receive a laptop. At the distribution event, staff from each organization were on hand to meet the students, assist with laptop setup and answer questions about the new devices.

“We never want technology to be the hindrance that keeps students from getting the education they’re seeking,” said Megan Foster, E2D communication and marketing manager. “To do something really impactful for students and to take some burden off of them and their families can be life-changing.”

‘This is really meaningful to me’

For Princess Padilla Guevara, a first-year psychology major from Clayton, her laptop is more than just hardware.

“As a first-generation student, I’ve already had so much support from App State, and receiving this laptop will help me with my academics, which will in turn help me in my future,” she said. “It definitely elevates the excitement of being a Mountaineer, and I feel like an even bigger part of the community now.”

Another first-year student who received a laptop, Kyah Hornburg-Ortiz, an elementary education major from Winston-Salem, noted the importance of technology in today’s classrooms and how receiving a laptop lifted a weight off her shoulders.

“A lot of class assignments are online now, so having this technology on hand is so important, and to not have to worry about the cost is extremely helpful,” she said. “Nobody in my family has experienced going to college, so this is really meaningful to me, and it will help me earn a degree that I’m so excited for.”

App State’s partnership with E2D not only supports families across the state but also helps reduce electronic waste. According to ITS, the university remains one of the largest contributors to e-waste reduction in the University of North Carolina System.

“Prior to this process of donating computers, we were sending them to surplus with no way of knowing where they were going or how they were being used,” said Tom McDonnell, director of App State IT Support Services. “Now we have seen firsthand how E2D is achieving their goal of eliminating the digital divide and directly benefiting students here at App State.”

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App State helps reduce e-waste by donating more than 2,800 surplus computers, monitors

Equipment is refurbished and distributed to low-income families across NC

Oct. 31, 2023

Since 2021, App State has donated more than 2,800 computers and monitors for refurbishment and distribution to economically disadvantaged or underprivileged families in North Carolina — making App State one of the largest contributors to electronic waste reduction in the UNC System.

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Information Technology Services

At App State, technology, our Institutional data, and our human potential must be viewed as an asset, valued for its ability to transform the educational landscape of our students and enhance the effectiveness of our faculty and staff. Achieving this goal is central to our purpose and can only be reached by developing a culture in which people are valued for managing resources and consistently making decisions in ways that are aligned with, and measured against the organization's core values. Information Technology Services is committed to delivering on this value proposition by providing a technology enterprise that embraces these values in support of the academic and business missions of the Institution.

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About Student Success at App State

Student Success, housed in University College at App State, is dedicated to the development, promotion and support of learning for all Mountaineers. Through its services and support programs, Student Success empowers App State students to achieve their academic goals by providing a nurturing and supportive environment in which students thrive. These services and programs include academic advising; academic support through the Student Learning Center; TRIO Student Support Services; As-U-R program; the Murray Family Appalachian Commitment to a College Education for Student Success (ACCESS) Scholarship Program; the Career Development Center; the College Success Seminar; the University Writing Center; and the Center for Student Success and Community. Learn more at https://studentsuccess.appstate.edu.

About Information Technology Services

Appalachian State University’s Information Technology Services (ITS) is committed to providing innovative and reliable technological resources and support for teaching, research, learning and working. ITS is responsible for implementing, monitoring and maintaining all centralized information technology — such as network services, technical infrastructure, data center operations, VoIP phone lines, desktop support, academic technology, print and copier services, research computing, information security and project management. ITS is led by the chief information officer and comprises seven central IT divisions: Academic and Emerging Technologies, Enterprise Applications, Information Security, Infrastructure, IT Support Services, Systems and Research Computing and the Project Management Office. Learn more at https://its.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, cost-effective education. 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.