December 2018 Commencement

Saturday, Dec. 15, 201810 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Holmes Convocation Centermap

A total of 1,260 undergraduate students and 368 graduate students have applied to receive their degrees in December. Two ceremonies will take place Dec. 15 in the Holmes Convocation Center. Both will feature student speakers:

10 a.m. — College of Arts and Sciences, Hayes School of Music and Walker College of Business.
2 p.m. — Beaver College of Health Sciences, College of Fine and Applied Arts and Reich College of Education.

Livestream

Livestreaming of the events will be available at https://commencement.appstate.edu and https://www.facebook.com/watchapptv.

Parking and transportation

Parking and shuttle service is available in the Raley Hall Circle, Stadium and Hill Street parking lots. Shuttle buses will transport to and from these lots before and after the ceremony. Additional parking is available in the Rivers Street Parking Deck (#31), but will not include shuttle service. Please follow the yellow event parking signs on campus. A map of parking locations is also available to illustrate the locations of the parking lots (in orange). The Holmes Convocation Center can be seen in the bottom right-hand corner (#34).

Parking for individuals with disabilities will be available in the lot adjacent to the Holmes Convocation Center. Traffic control personnel will be at the intersection of Rivers and Hill streets to direct persons with disability placards displayed to the appropriate parking area.

It is suggested that you are parked at least 45 minutes before Commencement is scheduled to begin to allow you enough time to get from the parking lot to the Convocation Center and find seating. While every effort is made to ensure timely arrival and departure of shuttle buses between the Convocation Center and the parking lots, please be sure you have appropriate cold weather dress, footwear and umbrellas in the event of inclement weather.

Student Presenters

Razan Farhan Alaqil: Razan Farhan Alaqil is receiving a Bachelor of Science in political science, international comparative politics, with a minor in global studies. She is from Al-Ahsa, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. She came to the United States in 2014 as a high school exchange student in the State Department’s Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study Program, and then chose Appalachian to complete her bachelor’s degree. During her time at Appalachian, Alaqil was a Student Ambassador, a Cultural Ambassador, a member of the Chancellor’s Student Advisory Board for Diversity Recruitment, a member in the Muslim Student Association and a Government and Justice Studies Fellow. Alaqil has been a Saudi Youth Representative at the United Nations in different forums and functions. She said she hopes her activism of youth representation can reflect the role of Saudi youth in the world. After graduation, she plans to pursue a career either at the United Nations to serve the youth of the world, or by going home to work at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Shawn D. Clemons: Shawn D. Clemons is from Maiden and currently resides in Lincolnton. She is earning a Doctor of Education in educational leadership. While at Appalachian, she was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, an honor society based on high academic achievement. Her current research interests revolve around academic equity for students in the K–16+ learning continuum and teachers’ use of formative assessments. After graduation, Clemons plans to pursue professional opportunities that allow her to improve academic equity for all students.
Maleek S. Loyd: Maleek S. Loyd, from Greensboro, is earning a Bachelor of Science degree in communication, electronic media/broadcasting. He has participated with AppTV, The Appalachian newspaper and University Documentary Film Services during his time at Appalachian. In 2017, he earned first place in the College Media Association Film Festival for Best Promotional Video at the National College Media Convention in Dallas, Texas. While working with University Documentary Film Services, he filmed a variety of documentaries related to the High Country, one of which has screened at three North Carolina film festivals and aired on the East Tennessee PBS station. He also created promotional and educational videos for Appalachian’s Office of Transfer Services, First Year Seminar, App State Online, as well as the National Park Service and more. After graduation, he plans to work with creatives and brands from around the world, and continue building his production company, Loyd Visuals LLC.
Mackenzie S. Holland: Mackenzie S. Holland, from Marion, is graduating with a Master of Business Administration. She earned her undergraduate degree in health care management from Appalachian in 2014 and went on to work at Hospice of McDowell County and later with CarePartners Health Services. It was there that she began pursuing her MBA through Appalachian’s distance education program in Hickory. Upon graduation, Holland will be using her advanced degree in a regional position with Mission Health as a post-acute transitions care manager, and will continue working with patients and families in the McDowell County area.
Eunice C. McSwain: Eunice C. McSwain was born and raised in Gastonia. She is receiving a Bachelor of Science in recreation management with a concentration in recreation and park management, as well as a minor in media studies. While at Appalachian, McSwain spent her free time teaching swim lessons through the university; working for University Recreation; serving on the University Recreation Council as the aquatics representative; and being an active member of Kappa Delta Sorority. She also made time to travel to Australia and study recreation from an international perspective for six months. In the summer of 2018, McSwain interned for the Parks and Recreation Department of Cramerton, where she implemented seven new aquatics programs and doubled the enrollment of their summer swimming lessons. She also worked as an events intern with Pop Up Boone in the fall of 2018. Following graduation, McSwain plans on returning to Cramerton to work full time as the special events supervisor of the Parks and Recreation Department.
Maya E. Brown-Hughston: Maya E. Brown-Hughston is from State College, Pennsylvania. She is a double major, receiving her Bachelor of Music in music education and her Bachelor of Science in child development: birth-kindergarten. During her time at Appalachian, she has been a scholarship recipient in both the Hayes School of Music (HSOM) and the Reich College of Education. She has also served as the vice president of the HSOM American String Teachers Association. After graduation, she plans to attend graduate school before beginning her career in teaching.

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.

About Academic Regalia

The tradition of academic costumes probably originated in the traditions and necessities of the Middle Ages, when people dressed in keeping with their class and for their needs. Warm cloaks and hoods were needed because many of the buildings where scholars taught were cold. From the various traditions that grew up surrounding academic costumes, a code was established and subscribed to in 1894 by most universities and colleges in the United States. Now that academic costumes are prescribed, audiences can identify the institutions awarding degrees, the nature of the degrees and the faculties awarding them.

The Bachelor of Arts gown is black, closed in front with long pointed sleeves. The square Oxford cap and tassel are black. The bachelor’s hood is rarely worn.

The Master of Arts gown is black with long closed sleeves and a short slit near the elbow to free the hand and forearm. The gown is frequently worn open but may be worn closed. Both cap and tassel are black.

The doctor’s gown, usually also black, is worn open or closed, and has velvet panels five inches wide extending down the front edge to the bottom and three horizontal bars on each sleeve. Panels and bars are often black but may be a color indicating the faculty granting the degree. The doctor’s costume also includes the square Oxford cap with a gold tassel worn on the left side. Hoods show the greatest degree of symbolism. Hoods are black with velvet borders in the color of the faculty in which the degree is granted. Thus, for the B.A. the border is white; for the B.S. it is golden yellow; for the B.D., purple; and so on for all faculties. The lining of the hood is silk in the colors of the institution granting the degree.

The bachelor’s hood is three feet long, with a two-inch velvet border; the master’s is three and one half feet long, with a three-inch velvet border. The doctor’s hood is four feet long, with a five-inch velvet border.

About The Mace

The Appalachian State University mace is carried by a senior faculty member in all academic processions. Traditionally, the mace bearer precedes the chancellor of an institution, both upon entering and leaving a ceremony. The mace serves as a symbol of authority just as it did during the Middle Ages when a mace bearer accompanied an official taking office or opening court.

The Appalachian Mace symbolizes the University’s mountain heritage, the rustic location and the sophistication of an emerging, national leader in higher education. Its design, as a walking stick with a base constructed of roughhewn log and finished molding, is appropriate to the natural environment of the area. At the top of the mace is a soaring, red-tailed hawk, native to the area. The hawk symbolizes power, authority, as well as the empowerment of education. The talons are grasping a sphere containing two quartz crystals. The first crystal represents the global nature of the University, its educational programs, alumni and students. The second quartz crystal within the sphere is a reproduction of Grandfather Mountain.

The letters ASU reliefed within the pine cone are done in black enamel and are gold plated. The various bands represent the flora and fauna native to the area. The black walnut, one of the strongest of woods, was used to symbolize the staying power of the University.

The mace was constructed by Carolina Bronze of Asheville. Fittingly, two Appalachian students and an Appalachian graduate were involved in the production. It was commissioned by the Appalachian Alumni Association in 1994.

About The Medallion

As symbols of events and affiliation, medallions date back to antiquity. In academic regalia the use of medallions is traced to religious orders of the Middle Ages, when a number of orders had as a badge an oval medallion. Since many orders, societies and universities utilized in their medallion designs the circle, star, oval or cross, detailed artwork in the center of the medallion was adopted to differentiate the medallions. Colleges and universities have traditionally used both ceremonial and commemorative medallions. As part of the 95th anniversary of Appalachian State University, a commemorative medallion was commissioned in 1994 and is worn by the chancellor on ceremonial occasions.

About the International “Green Ribbon” Graduation Pledge

Congratulations and many thanks to all of our 2017 graduates who have committed to the Graduation Pledge, as denoted by those wearing green ribbons.

“I pledge to explore and take into account the social and environmental consequences, and the civic and community responsibilities, of any job or career I consider and will try to improve these aspects of any organizations for which I work.”

Are you now an alumnus? Alumni can still take the Graduation Pledge.

Appalachian Today