Now in its fifth year, App State’s partnership with the Penland School of Craft offers a semesterlong study-away experience that prepares art students for careers as creative professionals. The university’s Department of Art has raised nearly $500,000 to help make the Semester at Penland program accessible to students regardless of financial background.

App State has been named the No. 1 employer in the nation for veterans, according to Forbes magazine, which named the university to its 2026 “America’s Best Employers For Veterans” rankings list. The university was recognized for its strong support of veterans transitioning into the civilian workplace.

This summer, App State student researchers and Lumbee citizens worked side by side in Robeson County to unearth artifacts and assist in documenting ancient history. Led by Dr. Seth Grooms, the initiative’s ongoing tribal partnership with the Lumbee Tribal Historic Preservation Office continues as the students analyze their findings in App State archaeological lab facilities.

To mark the 40th year of App State’s Martin and Doris Rosen Outdoor Sculpture Competition and Exhibition, the Rosen siblings have made two significant gifts to the university that continue their late parents’ legacy of supporting the visual arts at App State: “Braid,” for the university’s permanent sculpture collection, and an experiential learning award supporting faculty and staff artists.

App State is teaming up with Vaya Partners on the North Carolina Rural Health Transformation Program to strengthen rural healthcare across 12 NC counties. Supported by an $11.5 million-plus grant, App State will develop educational pathways, clinical placements and financial assistance to help prepare and retain healthcare professionals where they are needed most.

Two years after Hurricane Helene, recovery work continues across Western NC’s mountain communities. Several App State alumni, including Forrest Gilliam ’08, are helping coordinate the state’s long-term recovery efforts as leading members of GROW NC, the Governor’s Recovery Office for Western North Carolina. Learn about their work to build back a more resilient region.

App State celebrated its ninth annual Founders Day on Sept. 18 at the Boone campus, commemorating the university’s first day of classes in 1899 and honoring App State founders B.B., D.D. and Lillie Shull Dougherty. With the ringing of the Founders Bell, eight new members were inducted into the university’s Bell Ringers Society.