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.

Dr. Heather Norris was formally installed as App State’s eighth chancellor during a ceremony at the Holmes Convocation Center, where speakers highlighted her steady leadership during Hurricane Helene and her long record of service to the university. UNC System President Peter Hans presided over the installation and delivered the charge of office, with additional remarks from App State staff, alumni and members of the UNC System Board of Governors.

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.

Dr. Rick Elmore ’03, associate professor in App State’s Department of Philosophy and Religion, and his twin brother, Dr. Jonathan Elmore ’02, an English professor at Louisiana Tech University, were part of a team that examined and cataloged every book in Cormac McCarthy’s personal library. Among America’s greatest novelists, McCarthy’s collection held more than 20,000 volumes on topics ranging from philosophical treatises to advanced mathematics.

The Charlotte TV station visited App State’s Boone campus during fall 2025 move-in week to speak with students and families. The report highlights that nearly one-third of students at the Boone and Hickory campuses are first-generation college students.

Dr. Maggie Sugg, associate professor and honors director in App State’s Department of Geography and Planning, speaks about Hurricane Helene volunteers and why some show signs of PTSD. Sugg’s research team has surveyed volunteers from Watauga, Buncombe and Yancey counties to better understand trauma after natural disasters and how to help those affected.

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.