Topic: Community Engagement

Displaying 19 - 36 of 1406

126 years strong: Founders Day honors App State’s enduring legacy as a higher education leader
7 new members inducted into App State’s Bell Ringers Society
Oct. 21, 2025
App State celebrated its eighth annual Founders Day on Oct. 2 to commemorate its founders, B.B., D.D. and Lillie Shull Dougherty, and the first day of classes held at Watauga Academy in 1899. Seven new members were inducted into the university’s Bell Ringers Society as part of the day’s events.
App State Police Officer Cashae Cook earns NC’s highest award for women in law enforcement
Oct. 16, 2025
App State Police Officer Cashae Cook ’14 has been named Woman of the Year by the North Carolina Law Enforcement Women’s Association. The annual award — the state’s highest honor for women in law enforcement — recognizes Cook’s outstanding contributions and service to NCLEWA and her leadership and service in the App State Community.
App State joins FirstGen Forward Network, boosting support for first-generation students
TRIO Student Support Services receives $1.7M federal grant to continue student success programming
Oct. 13, 2025
App State is among 60 schools selected to join the national FirstGen Forward Network, with schools chosen based on their demonstrated commitment to advancing success for first-generation students. Network schools gain access to professional development opportunities, a community of practice, and tools to assess and improve their support for first-gen students.
Dr. Heather Norris installed as 8th chancellor of App State
Oct. 8, 2025
On Oct. 3, Dr. Heather H. Norris was formally installed as the eighth chancellor in App State’s 126-year history. UNC System President Peter Hans presided over the installation ceremony, which was held on the Boone campus and attended by hundreds of Mountaineers and community members, as well as state education and community leaders.
How emergency preparedness systems operated during Helene
The Appalachian
Oct. 8, 2025
App State’s student-run newspaper looks back at the emergency efforts that helped keep the campus and community safe during Hurricane Helene, and explores plans to expand communication channels for future disasters. The article features App State alumnus Tom Beam ’89, disaster relief coordinator for Baptists on Mission; alumnus David Jackson ’00, CEO of the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce; Jason Marshburn, director of Environmental Health, Safety and Emergency Management; and Megan Hayes, director of chancellor communications.
Lights Over Linville — Brown Mountain’s Enduring Mystery [faculty featured]
The Laurel of Asheville
Oct. 7, 2025
Dr. Daniel Caton, professor in App State’s Department of Physics and Astronomy, discusses the unexplained phenomenon known as the Brown Mountain Lights.
App State and regional artists channel Helene’s impact into creative works of hope and healing
Oct. 1, 2025
After Hurricane Helene, artists at App State and in the surrounding communities of Western North Carolina turned to creative expression for healing, hope and resilience. Learn about how they channeled the storm’s impact into creative works that included visual arts, music, writing and more.
App State spotlights achievements in research, scholarship and creative activities
2025 award recipients Tashakkori and Bell give keynotes at annual showcase
Sept. 28, 2025
App State’s annual Research and Creative Activity at Appalachian event, held Sept. 19, highlighted faculty research and creative endeavors and featured keynote speakers Dr. Rahman Tashakkori and Dr. Joby Bell — winners of the 2025 Chancellor’s and Provost’s Awards for Excellence in Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity.
Folk Revival After Helene [faculty and alumni featured]
Oxford American
Sept. 25, 2025
Trevor McKenzie ’10 ’12, director of App State’s Center for Appalachian Studies, speaks about the “folk revival” of traditional music communities in Western N.C. after Hurricane Helene. Also featured are App State alumni William Ritter ’17 and Leila Weinstein ’07, who both graduated with master’s degrees in Appalachian Studies.
App State advances community-driven research for recovery and resilience
Ongoing post-Helene projects examine flood forecasting models, backup energy systems, ecological impacts, private well contamination and health solutions
Sept. 19, 2025
App State research in the wake of Helene has the university joining local partners, diving into health data, surveying ecosystems and energizing transdisciplinary initiatives to armor the Western North Carolina region against future disasters.
Answering the call: How the Appalachian Medical Reserve Corps supported the Helene response
The App State organization supports rural public health and community resilience and preparedness
Sept. 17, 2025
In the wake of Hurricane Helene, more than 900 volunteers with App State’s Appalachian Medical Reserve Corps (APP MRC) assisted with recovery efforts, including staffing a 24/7 nonemergency call center to field questions and triage requests. APP MRC continues to support rural public health, resilience and preparedness in the region.
App State honors legendary coach John Weaver with plaza at Randy Marion Track and Field Facility
Sept. 16, 2025
On Sept. 5, App State dedicated the John Weaver Honors Plaza at its Randy Marion Track and Field Facility in Boone, honoring retired App State track and field head coach John Weaver ’71 ’82 for his contributions to both the university and the High Country community over nearly four decades.
Appalachian State thrives year after Hurricane Helene disruption
WCNC
Sept. 11, 2025
One year after Hurricane Helene, WCNC spoke with Chancellor Heather Norris and Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice Chancellor J.J. Brown about the university’s recovery efforts, including volunteer work, community meals, donations and its “Mountain Strong” spirit.
App State alumni Preston Powell ’01 and Adam Scherer ’01 invest in students, Helene recovery through local business
Mountain Strong apparel sales contribute to support for App State Community
Sept. 10, 2025
App State alumni Preston Powell ’01 and Adam Scherer ’01 are leveraging their Boone business, Mountaineer Mania, to give back to their alma mater — providing T-shirts to first-year students, supporting Helene disaster relief and donating proceeds from the sale of Mountain Strong apparel to critical university needs. Together, these efforts have contributed $130,000 to the university.
What made Hurricane Helene a historic storm?
App State experts break down the factors that led to disastrous impacts across the Southern Appalachians
Sept. 9, 2025
App State faculty experts break down the climatological and topographic factors that made Hurricane Helene a historic and devastating storm in Western North Carolina.
3 App State teams confront flood risks and teacher shortages with Chancellor's Innovation grants
Aug. 26, 2025
Three App State faculty teams have been awarded grants of up to $25,000 each as part of the 2025 Chancellor’s Innovation Scholars Program. Their winning projects aim to increase the number of special education teachers in NC’s public schools and better quantify flood–health risks by fusing data, AI and community input.
Appalachian State program aims to boost the number of rural exceptional children teachers
WUNC
Aug. 21, 2025
App State has been awarded over $1.4 million in federal grant funding to develop and support career pathways that address the shortage of special education teachers in rural Appalachia. More than 100 education professionals from Watauga, Caldwell and Catawba counties are taking part in the program this fall.
App State awarded $1.4M grant to strengthen special education workforce in rural Appalachia
Partners on the new initiative include school districts in Watauga, Caldwell and Catawba counties
Aug. 19, 2025
With more than $1.4 million in federal grant support, App State has developed a new career pathways initiative aimed at addressing the shortage of special education teachers in rural Appalachia. More than 100 regional teacher’s assistants, educators and school administrators will take part in the program this fall.