App State has reopened Duncan Hall on the Boone campus following the facility’s nearly $32 million renovation, introducing new STEM labs, technically advanced classrooms and modern collaborative spaces for the fall semester. The major infrastructure milestone sets the stage for upcoming campus master planning initiatives.

App State’s annual Research and Creative Activity at Appalachian event, held Sept. 18 on the Boone campus, showcased a wide variety of research and creative activities by faculty and staff. Dr. Martie Thompson, recipient of this year’s Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity, served as the event’s keynote speaker.

During the test, App State uses email, voice and text messaging, and the Alertus desktop notification system to test system functionality.

Each summer, high school students from across North Carolina become researchers at App State through Summer Ventures in Science and Mathematics. Offered at no cost to participants, this state-funded program engages students in hands-on, collaborative research alongside faculty and staff. App State is one of four UNC System schools that host the program.

App State honored four Mountaineer alumni at its 2026 Alumni Awards Gala on July 11: Dr. M. Lee Barnes ’90, Donna Fiori ’80, Kendall Lamm ’14 and Shawn W. Poole. Nine alumni from the university’s colleges and University Libraries were also recognized.

At App State’s 2026 Appalachian Energy Summit, state officials announced the UNC System and its partners have avoided $2.27 billion in energy costs since 2002. App State’s portion of these savings was $81.1 million, and the university reduced its energy use per square foot by 51%, surpassing the state’s 2025 goal of 40% for a second consecutive year.

More than 4,300 App State graduates — the largest class in university history — were honored during seven Spring 2026 Commencement ceremonies held May 7–9 on the Boone campus. Country music star and Mountaineer Luke Combs received an honorary degree recognizing his music industry achievements and commitment to service and community support across North Carolina.

Appalachian State Giving Day raised more than $2.8 million in support of programs and initiatives across the university — a new fundraising record for the university. This year’s event also broke records for participation, with over 3,600 Mountaineers and friends of App State making contributions that support academics, athletics and the arts.

App State faculty members Dr. Martie Thompson and Dr. Jeffrey McBride have been honored with 2026 Chancellor’s and Provost’s Awards for their focus on community-and student-involved research that aims to strengthen health and resilience in Western North Carolina. Thompson received the Chancellor’s Award, and McBride is the Provost’s Award winner.