Adverse Weather Update: Jan. 27 - 29, 2026
Classes in Boone and Hickory on Tuesday, Jan. 27, are canceled. All class instruction online Wednesday, Jan. 28. Condition 2 (Suspended Operations) continues for non-faculty employees in Boone and Hickory until 7 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 28. Condition 1 (Reduced Operations) will take effect for non-faculty employees beginning Wednesday, Jan. 28, at 7 a.m. through Thursday, Jan. 29, at 7 a.m. Read full message

Topic: Community Engagement

Displaying 19 - 36 of 1401

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.
6,200 App State students make Boone campus residence halls home for fall 2025
Aug. 15, 2025
On Aug. 12, new and returning Mountaineer students began moving into their Boone campus residence halls, in preparation for the first day of fall 2025 classes at App State on Monday, Aug. 18. More than 6,000 students will have settled into their App State homes by Monday.
First-generation college students move into App State
WSOC-TV
Aug. 13, 2025
The Charlotte TV station visited App State’s Boone campus during fall 2025 move-in week to speak with students and families. The report highlights that nearly one-third of students at the Boone and Hickory campuses are first-generation college students.
App State’s Corinne Smith honored as 2025 national GEAR UP Professional Leader of the Year
July 21, 2025
Corinne Smith, director of App State’s Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs, was recognized with the 2025 GEAR UP Professional Leader of the Year award for her passion for and commitment to GEAR UP’s goal of ensuring college access and success for all students.
Some Helene volunteers show signs of PTSD, App State professor says [faculty featured]
Spectrum News 1
July 17, 2025
Dr. Maggie Sugg, associate professor and honors director in App State’s Department of Geography and Planning, speaks about Hurricane Helene volunteers and why some show signs of PTSD. Sugg’s research team has surveyed volunteers from Watauga, Buncombe and Yancey counties to better understand trauma after natural disasters and how to help those affected.
4 Mountaineers honored with App State Alumni Awards
9 alumni awardees from App State’s colleges also recognized
July 15, 2025
App State honored four Mountaineer alumni at its 2025 Alumni Awards Gala on July 12: Kimberly Shepherd ’97, Edna Cummings ’78, Phillip Ostwalt ’83 and Bryson Stewart ’09. Additionally, nine alumni from the university’s colleges and University Libraries were recognized.