The Athletic has named App State’s Kidd Brewer Stadium one of the top 25 college football stadiums in the nation. Writer Chris Vannini called it an “intimate and beautiful setting in the Blue Ridge Mountains, where a deep forest begins in one end zone, an incredible sight in the fall.” He also noted that App State has sold out season tickets for four straight years and regularly fills the stands for midweek games.

Trevor McKenzie ’10 ’12, director of App State’s Center for Appalachian Studies, speaks about the “folk revival” of traditional music communities in Western N.C. after Hurricane Helene. Also featured are App State alumni William Ritter ’17 and Leila Weinstein ’07, who both graduated with master’s degrees in Appalachian Studies.

App State has been awarded over $1.4 million in federal grant funding to develop and support career pathways that address the shortage of special education teachers in rural Appalachia. More than 100 education professionals from Watauga, Caldwell and Catawba counties are taking part in the program this fall.

The Greensboro newspaper features App State’s Bachelor of Science in health care management as a top online program in North Carolina for health care degrees. The article highlights the program’s academic rigor, real-world experience and flexibility for working professionals, transfer students and others entering the field.

Southern Living features App State’s acclaimed performing and visual arts festival, An Appalachian Summer, describing it as "one of the largest regional multi‑arts festivals in America." The article explores the festival’s history, highlights its 2025 lineup and encourages readers to visit Boone, North Carolina, for this annual celebration of the arts.

Health experts, including Dr. Laurel Wentz, an associate professor in App State’s Nutrition and Foods Program, discuss carb cycling and its potential benefits. The diet involves alternating between high- and low-carb intake days. Wentz is a registered dietitian and a board-certified specialist in sports dietetics.

The cost of homeowners insurance is soaring in the Midwest, where large outbreaks of tornadoes are becoming more common — but experts say it’s hail that is the bigger concern. Dr. David Marlett, professor in App State’s Department of Finance, Banking and Insurance, weighs in on the impact of hail on the insurance industry.

The annual Friends of the Watauga County Library celebration featured a panel discussion centered on two recently published books about Boone’s historic Junaluska neighborhood. Editors Susan Keefe, professor emerita in App State’s Department of Anthropology, and Pegge Laine spoke about their work collaborating with the community, alongside Junaluska Heritage Association members.

The Wilkes Journal-Patriot features Verenovo Energy, a North Wilkesboro-based company founded by two-time App State alumnus Brewer Logan ’15 ’20. The company plans to begin large-scale pilot production of biochar as part of its mission to create sustainable energy solutions. Logan earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in cellular and molecular biology from App State in 2015 and 2020.