May 4, 2021  In its April 22 meeting, the University of North Carolina System Board of Governors re-appointed two members and appointed two new individuals to serve on Appalachian State University’s Board of Trustees. The re-appointees are Chair Scott Lampe ’94, of Davidson, and Bonnie Schaefer, of Boca Raton, Florida, and Blowing Rock. New appointees are Fairley Bell Cook ’81, of Raleigh, and Joseph Jeffries Chesson ’77, of Wilson. All begin their terms July 1 and will serve four years. / Read more…

May 4, 2021  After a national search, Dr. Shannon Campbell has been named dean of Appalachian State University’s College of Fine and Applied Arts effective July 1, 2021. Campbell is currently inaugural Associate Vice President of Graduate Studies and full professor at Metropolitan State University of Denver. She has been a professor of strategic communication for more than 20 years. She has a successful record as a higher education administrator who mentored faculty, students and staff, managed diverse staffs and large complex budgets, and developed and implemented policies, operations and procedures at all university levels. “Shannon believes deeply in the power of access to education for all,” said Interim Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Heather Norris. “She has a strong appreciation for and understanding of the vision, mission and values of App State, and I am confident she will continue to build upon the legacy of strong leadership within the College of Fine & Applied Arts.” / Read more…

September 30, 2019 A chorus of hammers was set in motion over the last weekend, when more than 200 volunteers gathered at the App Builds a Home (ABAH) job site in Boone’s GreenWood subdivision to begin constructing a home in partnership with Watauga County Habitat for Humanity. Since last fall, Appalachian State University’s ABAH team has been raising money and volunteer support for the project, which began to take physical shape during a “blitz build” on Sept. 21 and 22. Student, staff, faculty and alumni volunteers from Appalachian worked alongside the Habitat for Humanity Road Trip Crazies — a team of 50 Habitat enthusiasts who travel the country to kick-start home builds. / Read more…

September 26, 2019. New and reappointed members of Appalachian State University’s Board of Trustees were sworn in during the board’s Sept. 13 meeting held on Appalachian’s campus. North Carolina District Court Judge Rebecca Eggers-Gryder ’83, of Boone, administered the oath of office to six trustees, including returning members John M. Blackburn, of Linville; Mark E. Ricks ’89, of Bluemont, Virginia; and senior DeJon Milbourne, of Fayetteville, who is president of Appalachian’s Student Government Association (SGA). Newly appointed members are James “J.K.” Reaves ’93, of Kernersville; Kimberly Shepherd ’97, of Warrensville; and Thomas Sofield ’76, of Boone. James M. Barnes ’84, of Raleigh, will be sworn in at the board’s Nov. 22 meeting. The Board of Trustees approved the following officers for the upcoming year: Blackburn as chair; Scott Lampe ’94 as vice-chair; Ricks as secretary; and Dawn Antonucci as assistant secretary. These appointments became effective immediately. By Megan Bruffy / Read more…

August 12, 2019. The new parking deck in the Stadium Lot is all set to open for the 2019 fall semester at Appalachian State University. The deck will be open for students moving in this weekend after a final inspection and a Certificate of Occupancy from the town of Boone, according to construction updates provided on August 5 by Assistant Vice Chancellor for Finance and Operations Matt Dull. “We are down to the last, really, week and a half of the parking deck,” Dull said last week. “So the most significant things are finalized for that deck, literally down to the last little things to clean up some paint that fell on the floor or all sorts of little touches that you just want to make sure are right when you get a new building.” Dull said that Monday is the target date for getting their official Certificate of Occupancy from the town of Boone. By Nathan Ham / Read more…

July 26, 2019. The Appalachian State University Police Department (APD) was honored as the Law Enforcement Agency of the Year by the North Carolina Police Executives Association (NCPEA). NCPEA officials announced the award at the organization’s 2019 Annual Training Conference, held in Wilmington July 15–17. APD is the inaugural recipient of the award. “This award reflects the Appalachian Police Department’s tremendous success in educating the next generation of law enforcement officers while fostering a safe campus with a culture of mutual respect and community engagement,” Appalachian Chancellor Sheri Everts said. “Our law enforcement leaders champion policing as a highly principled profession — one that requires critical thinking and innovative ideas.” According to NCPEA, a statewide organization for police leadership, this award was established to honor one North Carolina police agency each year that has pioneered an innovative program, policy or concept that demonstrates the principles of community policing, problem-solving strategies and/or strengthens community trust. / Read more…

July 12, 2019. Despite record rainfall amounts throughout last fall and this spring, the 477-space parking deck in the Kidd Brewer Stadium lot is expected to be open and ready for the first day of class and the first home football game of the season. Matt Dull, Appalachian State University’s Assistant Vice Chancellor for Finance and Operations, shared a construction update on July 8 about the parking deck and student-housing construction happening on the east side of campus. The parking deck is expected to be completed in mid-August. Classes at App State will begin on August 19. According to the university, the new parking deck will still add approximately 250 add parking spots on the east side of campus, despite taking away some of the pavement parking spots in the Stadium Lot. The most recent update said that construction crews are going to start working on the elevator installation. “All the materials needed for that are on site, so they’re installing that elevator over the next three to four weeks or so,” Dull said. By Nathan Ham / Read more…

June 19, 2019. Vulcan Materials, the nation’s largest producer of construction aggregates with a local office in Boone, N.C., has given over $61,000 to the Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences at Appalachian State University, supporting the department in many ways for decades. “They have truly donated thousands of dollars in personnel and equipment time to make projects and growth become a reality at Appalachian,” said Dr. Andrew Heckert, a professor in the Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences. In 2018-19, the Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences at Appalachian reached over 5,000 school children through outreach events at over 34 schools and organizations with assistance from over 50 undergraduate students. The department has been awarded five outreach-specific grants ranging from $1500 – $62,000 with a predicted total of $100,000 for the year. Faculty and students from the department are committed to helping strengthen K-12 science education by fostering partnerships with schools, training teachers, involving students, highlighting faculty’s research and advertising program offerings.  / Read more…

March 11, 2019 The men’s and women’s basketball teams at Appalachian State are hoping to earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament by winning the 2019 Sun Belt Tournament held in New Orleans this week. In the men’s tournament, App State got the 10th and final seed for the tournament, hoping to be the ultimate Cinderella story by winning the championship. The final spot in the tournament came down to the last week of the regular season. Thanks to App State’s win over Troy and the sixth loss in a row by Little Rock, the Mountaineers, who finished the regular season at 11-20 and 5-13 in the Sun Belt, got the last tournament spot. The first round of conference tournament action will be two games played at host team sites. #7 Louisiana-Monroe will host #10 Appalachian state on Tuesday at 8 p.m. The game will be on ESPN+ for those that would like to watch and the radio broadcast will be available on each affiliate of the Appalachian Sports Network. The other first round game is #9 Arkansas State at #8 South Alabama. By Nathan Ham / Read more…

March 1, 2019 Two matchups against Power Five Conference foes from the Carolinas and a nationally televised Thursday home game against Georgia Southern on Halloween night are among the highlights in a 2019 schedule that includes two home games apiece in September and October for Appalachian State’s football team. With Eliah Drinkwitz entering his first season as the head coach of a program that is moving forward from a third consecutive Sun Belt Conference championship and fourth straight bowl win, the Mountaineers have home games against East Tennessee State (Aug. 31 opener for Hall of Fame and Jerry Moore’s 30th anniversary celebration), Charlotte (Sept. 7), Coastal Carolina (Sept. 28 for Family Weekend), ULM (Oct. 19 for Homecoming), Georgia Southern (Oct. 31 on ESPNU) and Texas State (Nov. 23 for Senior Day). There is one other non-Saturday game on the 2019 schedule, as Appalachian’s road games are at North Carolina (Sept. 21 following an off date the weekend before), reigning Sun Belt West Division champion Louisiana (Oct. 9 for a Wednesday night game on ESPN2), South Alabama (Oct. 26), South Carolina (Nov. 9 following the Georgia Southern game nine days earlier), Georgia State (Nov. 16) and Troy (Nov. 30 in the regular season finale). / Read more…

February 28, 2019 The west side of campus at Appalachian State is certainly looking a little different these days with construction equipment, site fencing and closed off parking spaces. Construction is underway on a pair of new student residence halls as well as a parking deck on the former location of Winkler Hal that will add to the amount of parking available on campus. Appalachian has started providing updates throughout each month on what is currently happening with construction and what is about to begin. Site fencing has sent up around what is currently being called Building 100 and Building 20 and fencing has also been put up around Duck Pond Field, continuing up Stadium Drive and Jack Branch Drive. Some parking spots are also being blocked off as part of the construction process. By Nathan Ham / Read more…

February 18, 2019 Appalachian State University and RISE: A Real Estate Company (RISE) signed final paperwork this week required for a multiphase, $191 million housing project that will replace seven residence halls. “This is the largest capital project in Appalachian’s history, and we are looking forward to getting the first phase underway,” Chancellor Sheri Everts said. “It is an important step in our work to ensure we have an appropriate physical infrastructure to support our students, faculty and staff for years to come.” “We couldn’t be more pleased to work with Appalachian,” RISE President Greg Blais said Thursday at the signing with Everts. “We look forward to the ultimate value the project will have for Appalachian students for generations to come.” By Linda Coutant / Read more…

February 15, 2019 On Friday, Appalachian State University head football coach Eliah Drinkwitz announced the hiring of former Canadian Football League player and coach Anwar Stewart as an assistant coach in charge of the Mountaineers’ defensive linemen. Stewart replaces Buddy Wyatt who resigned after spending only 26 days on the Appalachian State staff to become an assistant at Kansas State University. “Anwar brings great energy, passion, enthusiasm and a standard of championship football from his experience of winning four Grey Cups in the CFL,” Drinkwitz said. “He was a captain of his pro team and at Kentucky. He showed the true spirit of a Mountaineer by recently completing his college degree. Championships are won in the trenches, and I can’t wait to see him lead our defensive line. We’re excited to welcome Anwar, his wife and daughter to our family in Boone.” By Tim Gardner / Read more…

September 21, 2018. Leon Levine Hall of Health Sciences, the first project under the ConnectNC Bond referendum that voters passed in 2016 to be completed in the state, had its official ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday afternoon. Numerous donors, alumni and students were present to hear comments from Appalachian State Chancellor Dr. Sheri Everts, UNC System President Margaret Spellings, Appalachian Student Government President DeJon Milbourne and others to celebrate this momentous occasion. The 203,000 square foot building with 33 classrooms and 27 lab will be the home to almost 2,300 students that are part of the Beaver College of Health Sciences that will call this building home. By Nathan Ham / Read more…

August 17, 2018. Nearly 3,500 students in the Beaver College of Health Sciences will have a new building for a lot of their classwork. The Leon Levine Hall of Health Sciences is scheduled to be ready for the first day of classes for App State students on Tuesday. Calls to confirm the building being open for the first day of classes were not returned, however no announcements have been posted by the university to suggest otherwise. The 203,000-square-foot building is located adjacent to the Watauga Medical Center on a 9.2-acre piece of land that was donated to the university by the Appalachian Regional Healthcare System. The new building will be home to 14 of the 16 undergraduate and graduate degree programs within the Beaver College of Health Sciences. By Nathan Ham / Read more…

August 15, 2018. Incoming freshmen as well as the rest of the student body at Appalachian State will be returning to Boone this weekend as classes are set to begin on Tuesday, August 21. App State has numerous events scheduled this weekend with several of them aimed at the new incoming freshman class. As students come back to the High Country for classes, along with that will come increased traffic congestion, both in cars, on foot and on bicycles through town. Drivers should be aware of their surroundings while on the road and pedestrians should follow all crosswalk and safety rules while walking around town getting used to their new home for the next nine months of classes and college life. By Nathan Ham / Read more…

April 26, 2018. The Department of Applied Design’s Apparel Design and Merchandising program will present “Showcase 2018” at Holmes Convocation Center at 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 28. This runway-style fashion show, featuring apparel collections designed by Appalachian State University students and faculty, is open to the public. Dr. Anthony Wilson, assistant professor in the Apparel Design and Merchandising program, teaches the Apparel Design Studio IV course where seniors design apparel collections for the main portion of the runway show. He looks forward to the event as an annual celebration of diverse student work, demonstrating skills in the development, design, production and presentation of a cohesive apparel collection. “This year’s Showcase is set to be the best we’ve ever had.” he shared. “The students have really put forth great efforts to increase the quality of their collections while simultaneously pushing the boundaries of their creativity.” / Read more…

April 6, 2018. The “The Schaefer Center Presents…” performance series, a program of Appalachian State University’s Office of Arts and Cultural Programs, continues its 2017–18 season with a collaborative production of the Tony Award-winning best musical “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” at 7 p.m. on April 13 and 14, and at 2 p.m. on April 15 at the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for Appalachian faculty/staff and retired faculty/staff, and $10 for students. / Read more…

What’s going on in your community? Here’s a brief update on the emails we received today. Check back each day for an updated list of events going on in the area. As always, please feel free to email us about your event or update.

Prestigious Full-Tuition Elizabeth McRae Scholarship Recipients Announced

Camp GOTR (Girls on the Run)

Watauga County Parks and Rec Pickleball for Seniors

High Country Local First Memberships- New!

Weekly Events at Lost Province Brewing Company, 4/4- 4/14

App State Emergency Siren Test, 4/4

Tweetsie Railroad Opening Day, 4/6

BRAHM’s Upcoming Events: Gentle Yoga, 4/6

Boone Area Lions Hold Country Breakfast, 4/7   

Watauga Humane Society’s Tour for Life Adoption Event, 4/8

BRAHM’s Upcoming Events: Traveling Smithonian through 4/28

Spirit Ride’s Kentucky Derby Fundraiser, 5/5

Upcoming Sparta Events, Starting in June

Read more…
Compiled by Kate Herman

March 30, 2018. Appalachian State University and Director of Athletics Doug Gillin have agreed to a four-year contract extension that will keep him at App State through 2022. Gillin was named the school’s director of athletics on Feb. 27, 2015, and he officially began the role on April 6, 2015. The extension was announced Wednesday by Chancellor Sheri Everts. “Doug Gillin’s leadership of the athletics division has led to unprecedented success for our student-athletes in the classroom and in their sports,” Everts said. “I appreciate his emphasis on the academic success of our student-athletes, his inclusive vision and his thoughtful approach to growth for our athletics programs.” / Read more…

March 27, 2018. Through listening sessions and online feedback forms from students, faculty and staff, Appalachian State University released a list of possible uses for the old Watauga High School Property acquired by the university in September of 2017. The most mentioned suggestion for the property was to turn it into more parking spaces. As the campus and Boone continue to grow, parking has become an issue over the past few years, even with two on-campus parking decks. Parking could be used for both students and for event parking to alleviate congestion on campus and on King Street. By Nathan Ham / Read more…

March 27, 2018. After nearly four decades of coaching track & field at his alma mater, Appalachian State head coach John Weaver – a 43-time conference coach of the year – announced Monday that he will retire after the conclusion of the 2018 outdoor season. “I’ve been so very fortunate to have been part of the growth of this program, with so many wonderful student-athletes,” Weaver said. “It’s just time. It’s time for someone else to have their opportunity. In 47 years of coaching, I’ve probably had more opportunities than I deserve.” What Weaver has accomplished as App State’s director of track & field and cross country has been nothing short of spectacular. Since becoming the first head coach of the women’s program in 1982 and assuming duties as the overall men’s and women’s head coach in 1995, there have been 101 track team conference championships won. Weaver has claimed 78 of them. / Read more…

March 21, 2018. Easter Sunday will take place on April 1 this year. For those who are deciding how to celebrate Easter, here is a list of Easter Sunday Services and egg hunts to attend. Some egg hunts are taking place this coming weekend, others will take place on Easter weekend.  By Kate Herman / Read more…

Feb. 26, 2018. Black Mountain College was structured differently than most educational institutions at the time. In 1933, it was founded out of a desire for a more progressive education through the use of art, hands-on learning, close student-faculty interaction and critical thought. As an early example of a liberal arts college, this model has since spread throughout the U.S. and is used at Appalachian State University today. / Read more…

Feb. 19, 2018. During the month of February, help W.A.M.Y have a heart for our community! For only one dollar, you can purchase a heart from one of the participating vendors. Your heart goes right back into supporting your community and helping to break the cycle of poverty in the high country.  / Read more…

What’s going on in your community? Here’s a brief update on the emails we received today. Check back each day for an updated list of events going on in the area. As always, please feel free to email us about your event or update.

Appalachian State University Department of Theatre and Dance Presents Master Class, 2/23

J.E. Broyhill Civic Center Presents 20th Annual Caldwell Traditional Musicians Showcase, 3/10

11th Annual Early Bird Wildflower Walk and Plant Sale, 4/21

Grandfather Mountain presents Adult Field Courses

Read more…
Compiled by Kate Herman

Feb. 2, 2018. Join Appalachian Roller Derby in West Jefferson on Saturday, February 24th as they take on Red Stick Roller Derby! Hailing from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Red Stick Roller Derby is ranked 109, and ARD has lost to them twice in the past two years. This bout will be a nail biter. Take part in this event by supporting your local derby team and be there to watch them make history by conquering their first win of the season! A portion of the proceeds from the bout will support The Community Care Clinic in Boone, NC.Catch the first game between the Appalachian Boone Shiners vs. Red Stick Capital Defenders at 4 p.m., then stick around for the Appalachian All Stars battle against Red Stick All Stars at 6 p.m!

Feb. 2, 2018. If you’re looking for employment that provides a fun and rewarding work experience, Tweetsie Railroad may be the perfect fit. Plan to attend the park’s annual Job Fair on Saturday, February 24, 2018, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Tweetsie Palace (300 Tweetsie Railroad Lane, Blowing Rock) to learn more about seasonal employment for 2018, including special events positions. / Read more…

Feb. 16, 2018. The Stephenson Center for Appalachia at Lees-McRae College invites everyone to spend an hour with two distinguished Appalachian poets, Dr. Don Johnson and Dr. Jesse Graves, on Thursday, Feb. 22 at Evans Auditorium in the Cannon Student Center beginning at 7 p.m. / Read more…

Feb. 16, 2018. Next week marks the 20th Anniversary for the Special Olympics Polar Plunge in Watauga County. Hosted annually at the ASU Duck Pond, this fun and festive fundraiser has netted over $120,000 for the local Special Olympics program / Read more…

Feb. 14, 2018. The Appalachian State University Department of Theatre and Dance begins its spring season with the first mainstage performance of the calendar year, “Well” by Lisa Kron. Produced on the university’s campus in the Valborg Theatre, “Well” will be presented Feb. 22-25. Tickets are $10 for students and $17 for adults.  / Read more…

Feb. 12, 2018. Black Mountain College (BMC) was founded in North Carolina’s Swannanoa Valley in 1933 by a band of academic dissidents led by John Andrew Rice Jr. — whose papers are housed in Appalachian State University’s W.L. Eury Collection — and closed its doors in 1957. To this day, BMC remains the greatest academic adventure ever launched on American soil. By Ellen Gwin Burnette / Read more…

Feb. 12, 2018. “Shamrock floats” take on a new meaning this March, as the Town of Boone’s Cultural Resources Department presents the inaugural St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Come celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Boone, and be part of a new tradition! Events begin Saturday, March 17, at 2:00 P.M. on King Street in Boone with the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The parade will start at the Poplar Grove Extension traveling east on King Street through Boone. / Read more…

Feb. 12, 2018. The King Bees – the High Country’s premier blues ambassadors – are known for rocking the local festivals and parks with a big sound. You might have even seen guitarist Rob Baskerville walking through the crowds, playing slide guitar with water bottles, umbrellas, and lawn chairs of wide-eyed onlookers. This Friday, February 16, the Bees are released indoors, as The King Bees perform a special indoor concert at the Jones House Cultural and Community Center in downtown Boone. / Read more…

Feb. 7, 2018. Appalachian State University’s Playcrafters, a student organization affiliated with the university’s Department of Theatre and Dance, will present their 2018 New Play Festival in the I. G. Greer Studio Theatre on Feb. 15, 16, and 17 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $5 for students and $10 for the general public and will be sold a half-hour prior to each performance. / Read more…