Topic: Awards and Honors

Displaying 37 - 54 of 739

App State celebrates alumni excellence — 3 Mountaineers honored at 2024 Alumni Awards Gala
10 alumni from the university’s colleges also recognized
July 19, 2024
App State honored three Mountaineer alumni at its 2024 Alumni Awards Gala on July 13: App State Trustee Jeff Chesson and NC Sen. Ralph Hise each received a Distinguished Alumni Award, and Steve Wilks received the Outstanding Service Award.
App State professor John Whitehead honored with prestigious economics award
July 9, 2024
Dr. John Whitehead, an economics professor at Appalachian State University, has received the AERE Fellows Award, the highest honor in environmental and resource economics. Recognized for his pioneering work in valuation methods, Whitehead joins an elite group of scholars advancing the field.
Appalachian Today: Episode 5
June 5, 2024
On this episode of Appalachian Today, University Communications’ Dave Blanks provides a quick rundown of some of the latest news stories available at today.appstate.edu. Story topics include: App State’s 2024 Memorial Day commemoration, during which Mountaineer alumna and Army Reserve veteran Caitlin Langley laid an honorary wreath at the Boone campus’s Veterans Memorial; the May 9 unveiling of the Chancellor John E. Thomas sculpture, located outside John E. Thomas Hall on App State's Boone campus; Gracie Bullington ’23 honored as the 2023–24 App State Student Teacher of the Year; App State student-athletes achieving a cumulative GPA above 3.0 for the 12th straight year; and App State football season tickets selling out for three years in a row.

Find more App State podcasts and subscribe at podcasts.appstate.edu.
Wilkesboro Elementary School’s Beckie Spears named Wells Fargo North Carolina Principal of the Year [alumni featured]
WXII-TV
May 25, 2024
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.
App State student-athletes achieve 3.0+ GPA for 12 straight years
May 21, 2024
This spring, App State student-athletes achieved a significant milestone as they marked the 12th straight year — or 24 consecutive semesters — of earning a cumulative grade-point average above 3.0. The Mountaineers ended the spring semester with a 3.20 cumulative GPA for all student-athletes.
Over 4,000 App State grads set to innovate, embrace new challenges and better their communities
May 16, 2024
Thousands of graduates, each with their own unique stories, crossed the stage at Appalachian State University’s Spring 2024 Commencement ceremonies on May 10 and 11, equipped with degrees that empower them to better their lives, North Carolina communities and the world beyond.
Dr. Melanie Honeycutt named 2024 NC Technology Director of the Year [alumni featured]
NC Department of Public Instruction
May 6, 2024
Dr. Melanie Honeycutt of Burke County Public Schools was named the 2024 North Carolina Technology Director of the Year. She has been an educator for 32 years and has served as Burke County Public Schools’ chief information officer since 2013. Honeycutt is a two-time alumna of App State, where she earned a master’s degree in library science in 1999 and a doctorate in educational leadership in 2013.
Gracie Bullington named App State Student Teacher of the Year
May 3, 2024
Gracie Bullington was named the 2023-24 App State Student Teacher of the Year. She will be considered for the state level award this fall. Bullington graduated from App State in 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in history/social studies education, and she is currently working toward a master’s degree in history with a concentration in teaching. Eight other student teachers were named finalists for the App State Student Teacher of the Year Award. They were: Adam Caliri, Carmen Cerrito, Madison Goodwin, Nadine Jallal, Caroline Jenkins, Bryson May, Rylie Spencer and Julienne Swaringen.
App State honors 27 students, faculty and staff at 2nd annual Awards of Distinction ceremony
Mountaineers were recognized for excellence in leadership, teaching, service and more
April 30, 2024
App State held its second annual Awards of Distinction ceremony April 25 on the Boone campus, honoring 27 students, faculty and staff for their commitment to excellence in serving the university and its community members.
App State earns 15th consecutive Military Friendly School designation, ranked a top 10 school for 2024–25
The university also received a top 10 Military Spouse Friendly School designation
March 27, 2024
Appalachian State University has been designated a 2024–25 Military Friendly® School by VIQTORY, marking the 15th consecutive year the university has received the honor. App State once again received a top 10 ranking from the organization.
Fortune ranks App State 7th in nation for 2025 ‘Best Master’s in Data Science’
University’s applied data analytics program also recognized among the most affordable in the nation
March 7, 2024
App State has been ranked 7th in the nation by Fortune magazine in its list of “Best Master’s in Data Science" programs for 2025. The university was recognized for its Master of Science in applied data analytics program, offered by the Walker College of Business.
Appalachian Today: Episode 4
March 4, 2024
On this episode of Appalachian Today, University Communications’ Dave Blanks provides a quick rundown of some of the latest news stories available at today.appstate.edu. Story topics include: the Feb. 22 topping out ceremony for App State’s Holmes Convocation Center Parking Deck; App State’s recognition of “Best Master’s in Data Science Programs for 2024,” with Fortune magazine ranking App State No. 11 in the nation for its M.S. in applied data analytics program; App State’s second annual Mobilize the Mountains Day of Service on Feb. 24, during which dozens of student and faculty volunteers contributed over 111 hours of community service; a $100,000 donation to App State from the Mebane Foundation to fund the expansion of reading assistance services for K–3 students in Watauga and Catawba counties; App State professor Joseph Bathanti’s induction into the N.C. Literary Hall of Fame; and Keith Werner’s appointment as App State chief information officer, effective March 18.

Find more App State podcasts and subscribe at podcasts.appstate.edu.
App State professor Joseph Bathanti named to North Carolina Literary Hall of Fame
March 1, 2024
Former North Carolina Poet Laureate and Appalachian State University professor Joseph Bathanti has been named to the North Carolina Literary Hall of Fame — an honor reserved for five of the state’s most accomplished writers. Bathanti is the author of over 20 books spanning multiple genres including poetry, fiction, nonfiction and personal essays. He will be inducted into the hall during a special ceremony on Oct. 6.
App State MSN alum awarded first place in graduate research category by Preventative Cardiovascular Nurses Association
Feb. 21, 2024
Steven Cuzmenco ’23 was awarded first place in the Graduate Capstone category by the Preventative Cardiovascular Nurses Association (PCNA) for his thesis “Registered Nurses’ Perception of Plant-Based Dietary Patterns: Self-Efficacy, Health Beliefs and Behaviors.” His abstract will be published in the Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, and he is invited to present his findings at the PCNA’s annual cardiovascular symposium in April in Orlando.
App State Online bachelor’s, master’s programs named among nation's ‘best’ for 2024 by U.S. News & World Report
The annual U.S. News rankings recognized App State business, education and nursing programs
Feb. 8, 2024
App State’s online bachelor’s and master’s degree programs — including the BSBA in management, MBA and Master of Science in Nursing — have been ranked among the nation’s best for 2024, according to U.S. News & World Report, which recognized App State in its “2024 Best Online Programs” rankings.
App State alumnus Luke Southern '16 named among 40 Under 40 for lighting design
Feb. 6, 2024
Luke Southern, an App State alumnus and senior designer with New York-based firm Fisher Marantz Stone, has been recognized as one of the winners of the prestigious 40 Under 40 Lighting Design Award, an international accolade celebrating excellence in the lighting design industry.
Shaping App State’s future through legal ingenuity
Vanguard Law Magazine
Jan. 26, 2024
This feature in Vanguard Law Magazine highlights the dedicated work of App State General Counsel Paul Meggett and his team’s efforts to further the university's mission. Meggett speaks about the impacts of the launch of the App State Hickory campus, the development of App State’s Innovation District, the challenges in modern education related to artificial intelligence, and more.
For the 9th straight year, App State alumni lead the nation in earning top teaching credential
University provides professional development support for regional teachers
Jan. 22, 2024
For the ninth consecutive year, App State leads the nation for its number of alumni who are National Board Certified Teachers, with 2,215 alumni having earned the national credential to date.