Scientists, including Appalachian's Cole Edwards, have linked a surge in Earth's oxygen levels some 455 million years ago with an explosion in biodiversity on the planet, as nature took advantage of the extra breathing space to transform marine life and develop new species.

Western North Carolina is home to abundant and rich forest carbon stocks, which can be placed in forest carbon offset programs to support carbon storage and sequestration, forest health and retention, enhance the recreational and intergenerational value of forest land, and provide additional income for families. On Oct. 6, 2017, the Appalachian Carbon Research Group (ACRG) hosted the Offsets for Future Forest Stewardship and Education Together (OFFSET) Workshop at Appalachian.

As the Toronto Argonauts get set to host Saskatchewan in this Sunday’s CFL Eastern Final, Armanti Edwards looms as an important factor, even if he is still zipping a little under the radar of many. Edwards was a superb college quarterback who made a name for himself while he was setting new standards at Appalachian State.

“Our students here in the Appalachian Mountains don’t have many opportunities to meet people from other countries and cultures,” says Dr. Maria Anastasiou at Appalachian State University. But a recent visit by 21 science and English teachers from 16 different countries has been changing that, both for the university and the surrounding community.

In a year, Middle Fork Elementary School will have a new name and several new staff members as part of an effort to improve student literacy and overall test scores. The school was chosen as one of nine laboratory schools in North Carolina. All schools selected are low-performing K-8 schools and are partnering with a state university for five years — in Middle Fork Elementary’s situation, it will work with Appalachian State University.

Braving cold and rainy conditions, the Rho Tau chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia fraternity hosted 20 high school bands on Saturday for the 38th annual Appalachian Marching Band Festival. Bands arrived from across the region to compete, from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina to Abingdon, Virginia.

Damage assessments continue in Boone after major flash flooding hit the Winkler’s Creek section of town between the Boone Mall and WalMart. County inspectors have condemned the places that were flooded until such time as repairs can be made. It means people in at least 60 units are looking for a place to live.

The Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF), the nation’s largest organization exclusively representing the Black College Community, awarded Dr. Harry Lee Williams '86 '88 '95 its Educational Leadership Award and announced him as the new TMCF President and Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Williams will end his distinguished tenure as president of Delaware State University.

Koontz first picked up a paintbrush when he was about 8, under the guidance of his grandmother, who was a primitive painter. He went on to feed his creative spirit at Appalachian State University, where he earned a degree in commercial design.