William James Sears Jr. has been appointed vice chancellor of university advancement at Appalachian State University, announced Chancellor Heather Norris on Friday, May 2. The appointment is effective July 1.

At its third annual Awards of Distinction ceremony, App State honored 29 students, faculty and staff for their commitment to excellence in serving the university and its community members. The event was held April 24 on the Boone campus.

Over spring break, 10 App State students traveled to Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge in South Carolina, where they performed volunteer work as part of an Alternative Service Experience. ASE provides students the opportunity to take part in service, learning and community engagement during breaks from school.

A nearly $2 million, six-year grant awarded to App State by the National Science Foundation will boost academic and scholarship support for more than 50 Mountaineer students pursuing STEM degrees. Eligible students will receive up to $8,500 in scholarship funding per year, for up to four years.

This fall, App State’s Walker College of Business will launch new artificial intelligence (AI) concentrations as part of its master’s programs in business administration and applied data analytics — with an aim to prepare graduates for career success in an increasingly AI-driven business world.

App State’s ROTC program — the Mountaineer Battalion — has received the General Douglas MacArthur Award, recognizing the program’s exceptional contributions to military leadership and training. Conferred by the U.S. Army Cadet Command, the award honors the top eight ROTC programs in the nation.

Since its inception in 1975, the Appalachian Dance Ensemble at App State has premiered over 500 original works — involving more than 5,700 students, faculty, guest artists and community members. Learn about the ensemble’s history and the people who have shaped it over the years.

Supported by a $7.2 million grant from Ascendium Education Group, the Alliance for Research on Regional Colleges, housed at App State, will work to advance higher education and workforce development in rural communities over the next four years as part of its Rural Talent Lab project.

At the App State Academy at Middle Fork, instead of a single teacher handling all responsibilities for one classroom for one grade, a collaborative team of academy educators supports student learning across two combined grade levels.