Heat waves this June impacted Maine and other areas that are not accustomed to extreme high temperatures. This article in The New York Times notes that rural areas don't have the same access to cooling infrastructure as cities, which typically have shady parks, public pools and hydration stations. Dr. Maggie Sugg, an associate professor in App State’s Department of Geography and Planning, explains that many rural areas in the U.S. have homes with poor insulation, and that people with access to air-conditioning may not be able to afford to run it in high temperatures. All of these factors increase the chances of heat-related illness. Sugg has conducted extensive research on heat vulnerabilities in North and South Carolina.

This feature in the Watauga Democrat highlights the career of Kaaren Hayes, who recently retired after 36 years with App State’s Parent to Parent Family Support Network. Parent to Parent provides free support to families who have a premature baby or a child with a disability, or to families who are grieving the death of a child. Hayes was with Parent to Parent since its inception in 1988, and she became program director in 1998. Hayes graduated from App State in 1996 with a bachelor’s degree in child development.

Beckie Spears, principal of Wilkesboro Elementary School, was named the 2024 Wells Fargo North Carolina Principal of the Year. She has been principal of Wilkesboro Elementary School since 2019, and has been in education in various roles for nearly 30 years. Spears has a bachelor’s degree in English from Meredith College and a master’s degree in school administration from App State, where she graduated in 2016.

In this feature in TIME magazine, health experts explain why people should focus on foods in addition to proteins before and after workouts. Dr. David Nieman, professor in App State’s Department of Biology, notes that carbohydrates matter just as much as protein when working out, as well as fruits, nuts, dark greens and other plants. Nieman is director of the Human Performance Lab at App State’s North Carolina Research Campus in Kannapolis.

NCInnovation approved $5.2 million in funding for eight research projects at seven North Carolina public universities. One of the projects to receive funding is App State’s beehive improvement and monitoring system, developed by Dr. Rahman Tashakkori, professor and chair in the Department of Computer Science. The Beemon system presents a unique and innovative tool for decreasing honeybee die-off and increasing hive production by allowing beekeepers to monitor hives with efficient and accurate data.