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Appalachian State Not Chosen for 2024 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, But Earned NIT Berth; Opening Round on Wednesday March 20

March 18, 2024 Despite having the credentials to qualify for the 2024 National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Men’s Basketball Tournament, Appalachian State was not one of the 68 teams picked by its selection committee Sunday to play in it. And while the Mountaineers would have been a definite long, long shot to win the tournament and bring the national championship to Boone, they would have been generally considered a dark horse to advance far in the tournament. They possess the over-all talent, combined offensive and defensive power, and needed depth that would have given them a chance to make a good showing in the tournament. By Tim Gardner

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Registration is Open for App State’s Camp Crinkleroot for Children on the Autism Spectrum

March 15, 2024 Appalachian State University’s Camp Crinkleroot — an annual free day camp for children ages 8 to 14 on the autism spectrum — is now accepting applications for campers. The camp will be held April 12–14 at the Optimist Clubhouse in Boone. Camp Crinkleroot is sponsored by the Appalachian Institute for Health and Wellness, which is part of the Beaver College of Health Sciences. The camp is staffed by trained App State student volunteers.

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High Country Humanities Presents ‘Documentary Filmmakers on Interpreting Rural Life’  March 22

March 14, 2024 Appalachian State University’s High Country Humanities — with support from North Carolina Humanities — will present “Documentary Filmmakers on Interpreting Rural Life: From Appalachia to the World” on Friday, March 22, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. The event will take place at Appalachian Theatre of the High Country at 559 W. King St. in Boone. Join App State documentary filmmakers for screenings of their work, a panel discussion and an audience Q&A moderated by documentary film scholar Dr. Maria Pramaggiore, chair of App State’s Department of Interdisciplinary Studies. The speakers will address how visual narratives portray and inform the public’s perceptions of communities outside of cities.

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App State Falls on Heart-Breaking Buzzer Beater as the Mountaineers Fell 69-67 in the Sun Belt Tournament Semifinals on Sunday

March 11, 2024 After clawing their way back from a first-half deficit, the App State Mountaineers took the lead courtesy of a Justin Abson slam dunk for the first time since the early stages of the first half. The Mountaineers would reclaim the lead after Arkansas State took the lead back at 62-63, but the Red Wolves scored the last four points in the game, including a buzzer-beating shot as the Mountaineers fell 69-67 in the Sun Belt Tournament semifinals on Sunday. App State (27-6, 16-2 SBC) came back from down by as much as much as 11 in the second half to take the lead, showing their resilience. Arkansas State’s (18-15, 11-7 SBC) defense stepped up in the final seconds, forcing two App State misses which allowed it to score the game-winning shot.

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App State’s Days of Service Contribute Hundreds of Volunteer Hours to Watauga County Nonprofits

March 8, 2024 App State’s Office of Community-Engaged Leadership (CEL) held its second annual Mobilize the Mountains Day of Service on Feb. 24, with dozens of student and faculty volunteers contributing over 111 hours of community service to two local nonprofit organizations. During the 2022–23 academic year, six Days of Service provided 699 volunteer hours to 16 local organizations whose missions directly impacted Watauga County. Kristen Lysne, leadership and outreach graduate assistant for Community-Engaged Leadership, said App State’s Days of Service allow students to step off campus and participate in the larger Boone community, increasing students’ sense of belonging on campus and in the High Country.

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Mountaineers Claim First Outright League Title Since 1978-79 Plus Many More Season Records

March 3, 2024 In a highly anticipated game to close the regular season, App State Men’s Basketball claimed its first outright regular season conference title in 45 years by thrashing the Arkansas State Red Wolves 80-57 in front of 7,047 fans at the Holmes Center on Friday night. It was an incredible scene in Boone as head coach Dustin Kerns and the team cut down nets as outright champions for the first time ever as a member of the Sun Belt Conference.  The win for App State (26-5, 16-2 SBC) set a program record for single-season victories while also securing the best conference record in program history. As of App State’s win over Arkansas State (16-15, 11-7 SBC), only James Madison has more wins in the entire country.

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App State Announces 2024 Football Schedule

March 1, 2024 With six home games for App State Football, including three Kidd Brewer Stadium appearances before October and five Saturday game days at The Rock, the Sun Belt Conference on Friday announced the complete 2024 regular season schedule for the Mountaineers. Friday’s announcement revealed the order and dates for every Sun Belt game to go with previously announced nonconference schedules for each league member. According to ESPN, the Mountaineers return 68 percent of their overall production from a nine-win season that included a Sun Belt East Division title and Cure Bowl victory under the direction of head coach Shawn Clark in 2023.

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App State Basketball Throttles ODU to Clinch One Seed in SBC Tournament; Final Home Game is This Friday with Tipoff Slated for 6:30 p.m.

February 29, 2024 In the penultimate contest at the Holmes Convocation Center, the App State Mountaineers led by as much as 28 points while also never trailing to secure a convincing 89-64 win on Wednesday against Old Dominion. The win clinched the one seed in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament and at least a share of the regular season title for the first time since the 1999-00 season. App State’s (25-5, 15-2 SBC) thrashing at the Holmes Center tied the program record for wins in a season at 25 while also tying the program record for conference wins in a season. Securing the one seed at the conference tournament also marks the first time since the 1978-79 season that App State will enter the conference tournament as the one seed. The Mountaineers are one of just six teams in the country with at least 25 wins.

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App State Gospel Choir Uplifts Campus and Local Community Through Song

February 28, 2024 For nearly 50 years, members of the Gospel Choir at Appalachian State University have been uplifting the campus and local community through song in the Black religious tradition. According to hundreds of its alumni, the choir serves as more than just an elective course for students; it’s a vehicle for cultural expression and a welcoming family that provides a sense of home. Established in 1976 as part of App State’s Black Expo Week, the choir was formed by retired App State Chief Diversity Officer Dr. Willie Fleming ’80 ’84, who was a first-year student at the time, along with his friends and App State alumni Daisy Logan Hoyle ’77 and Daryll Howell ’78. They wanted to help inform the campus community about African American cultural traditions during a strained time in American history, Fleming said.

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App State Celebrates Mountaineer Pride with 11th Annual iBackAPP Event March 6

February 28, 2024 App State’s 11th annual iBackAPP event — the university’s day of giving and celebrating all things App State — will be on Wednesday, March 6. In 2023, thousands of donors made gifts to more than 200 funds — setting records for donor participation, providing support to every major area of campus and meeting crucial needs for the university. During iBackAPP, all members of the App State Community are encouraged to wear App State gear and black and gold colors, post photos and videos on social media using #iBackAPP, and consider making a gift of any amount to support present and future Mountaineers.

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New River Light and Power Customers Will See a Decrease in Their Electricity Rates


February 27, 2024 Beginning with services rendered on and after March 1, 2024, Appalachian State University’s New River Light and Power (NRLP) customers will see a decrease in their electricity rates due to adjustments approved by the North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC) on Feb. 19, 2024. The rate decrease is due to a decrease in the wholesale costs that the utility pays for electricity. With this rate decrease, NRLP is among the lowest cost energy providers in North Carolina. Beginning with your March bill, the typical residential customer will see a decrease of about $18.78 a month. This is an 18.9% decrease, based on approximate monthly consumption of 750 kWh of electricity.

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Mountaineers Pull Away Late in Come-From-Behind Win Beating Marshall 65-58

February 25, 2024 A sluggish first half plagued by poor shooting and tired legs led to a six-point deficit after the first-half horn sounded for the App State Mountaineers. But a strong second-half performance by Myles Tate and the Mountaineers allowed them to pull away late and secure a 65-58 victory in Huntington on Saturday. It’s the Mountaineers’ third win in front of a national TV audience this season. The win on the road over Marshall (12-17, 7-9 SBC) secured App State’s third season of at least 24 wins in program history. The last time a Mountaineer team posted 24 wins in a season was 2009-10. It also secured an 8-4 road record for the season. The Mountaineers wrap up the regular season with two straight home games next week, starting with a rematch against Old Dominion on Wednesday.

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Mountaineers Set to Close Out Road Schedule on National TV Saturday Night at 6 pm; Back Home Wednesday to Start Final Homestand of Season

February 24, 2024 After securing a winning season on the road last Thursday, the App State Mountaineers (23-5, 13-2 SBC) close out their road schedule with their third nationally televised game this season at Marshall (12-16, 7-8 SBC) on Saturday. App State will look to sweep its fifth season series of the year on Saturday. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN2. The Mountaineers’ 82-67 road win at Old Dominion last Thursday marked win No. 7 away from the Holmes Center this season, which is the most road wins in a season since 2021-22. It also secured App State’s fourth winning record on the road this century. With just four losses away from home this season, a win on Saturday would clinch the fewest road losses in a season since the 1997-98 team lost just four road contests. At 23-5 and 13-2 in Sun Belt play, the Mountaineers enter this week’s action in sole possession of first place in the league and have won 22 of their last 25 games. App State is one of just 10 Division I teams with at least 23 wins and one of only 17 teams in the country with five or fewer losses entering the weekend.

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App State Public Health AmeriCorps Program Boosts Public Health Resources in WNC

February 23, 2024 Fueled by a three-year, $1 million grant, Appalachian State University is implementing a Public Health AmeriCorps program to enhance public health preparedness and mental health training, resources and support in 25 rural Western North Carolina counties. AmeriCorps is a federal agency that brings people together to tackle the country’s most pressing challenges through national service and volunteering. AmeriCorps members and volunteers serve with organizations dedicated to the improvement of communities. Public Health AmeriCorps is a new initiative made possible through a partnership between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and AmeriCorps, with funding from the American Rescue Plan Act.

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No Men, No Boats, No Way You Want to Miss This Show! Feb. 28 to Mar. 2 at Valborg Theatre

February 22, 2024 The Appalachian State University Department of Theatre and Dance proudly presents “Men on Boats,” a thrilling and widely acclaimed work by Jaclyn Backhaus. The cast is comprised of thirteen individuals, spanning across all undergraduate class levels. The production will take place in the Valborg Theatre on campus at 7 p.m. from Feb. 28 to March 2 with a 2 p.m. matinee on March 3, 2024. Student admission is $10, faculty/staff is $15, and adult admission is $17. Tickets are available online through the department website, as well as by phone and in person through the Schaefer Center for the Arts box office.

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App State Partners with Foundation to Improve Literacy in the High Country and Catawba Valley

February 22, 2024 The Mebane Charitable Foundation has donated $100,000 to Appalachian State University to fund the expansion of reading assistance services for K–3 students in Watauga and Catawba counties. These services will provide critical literacy resources to local families, building on the model established at the Anderson Reading Clinic — which is located in the Reich College of Education (RCOE) on the university’s Boone campus and is the oldest university-based reading clinic in North Carolina

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Spring into ART; The TURCHIN CENTER Will Host Its Spring Exhibition Celebration March 1st


February 19, 2024 Matthew Makdad, P.E., has been named general The TURCHIN CENTER will host its Spring Exhibition Celebration on Friday, March 1st from 5-8 p.m. The reception is free and open to the public with refreshments, snacks and a cash bar available throughout the evening. With a firm commitment to fostering dialogue and understanding around pressing issues, the Turchin Center is proud to present a diverse array of thought-provoking exhibitions. Through the lens of artistic expression, these exhibitions delve into the intricate relationships between humanity, nature, and the rapidly changing world in which we live. From immersive installations to striking visual narratives, each exhibition offers a unique perspective, inviting viewers to engage with the need for awareness and action. By harnessing the power of art to inspire, educate, and provoke meaningful discourse, the Turchin Center aims to enact positive change and empower individuals to become stewards of our planet.

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Jazz at Lincoln Center Presents SING AND SWING: Our American Songbook at App State’s Schaefer Center on Tuesday, March 5

February 19, 2024 The Schaefer Center Presents series, presented by Appalachian State University’s Office of Arts and Cultural Programs, welcomes Jazz at Lincoln Center’s SING AND SWING: Our American Songbook, Tuesday, March 5 at 7:30pm at the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts. This celebration of the Great American Songbook and iconic partnerships in jazzfeatures trumpeters, vocalists, and composers Bria Skonberg and Benny Benack III. The North American tour of SING AND SWING: Our American Songbook will reach 45 cities across the United States and Canada, including major markets such as Los Angeles, CA, and Toronto, ON, and smaller but significant destinations such as Irving, TX, Ogden, UT, and Boone, NC.

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Matthew Makdad Named General Manager of App State’s New River Light and Power


February 19, 2024 Matthew Makdad, P.E., has been named general manager of Appalachian State University’s New River Light and Power (NRLP), effective Feb. 1. Makdad had previously served as the utility’s engineering supervisor since 2017. In his new role, Makdad is responsible for overseeing the operations of NRLP, ensuring safe and reliable electricity is provided to the nearly 9,000 commercial and residential customers within the public power utility’s territory in and around Boone, including the App State Boone campus. The utility’s infrastructure includes 1,500 transformers and nearly 100 miles of overhead and underground power lines. Makdad leads a motivated team of highly skilled lineworkers, technicians and support staff that includes business officers, customer service representatives, billing, mapping and communications.

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High Country Humanities Presents ‘From West Africa to Appalachia,’ an Interactive Dance Demonstration Event, on Feb. 15

February 13, 2024 Appalachian State University’s High Country Humanities — with support from North Carolina Humanities — is pleased to present “From West Africa to Appalachia: Expert Insights and Demos with Music and Dance” on Thursday, Feb. 15, from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. The event will take place in Rosen Concert Hall in App State’s Broyhill Music Center at 813 Rivers Street in Boone.

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Todd Wright and Friends presents An Evening of Valentines Gems on Wednesday February 14


February 9, 2024 Todd Wright and Friends presents An Evening of Valentines Gems on Wednesday February 14, at the Rosen Concert Hall on the App State campus beginning at 8:00 pm. Todd Wright and Friends have been coming together for this popular event for over three decades. The concert features mainly wonderful classic gems from the American Songbook. The evening also displays the talent of special guests. This season’s guests will feature Appalachian State University’ Mary Gayle Greene McClune on vocals and pianist Chris Rottmayer of University of Wisconsin. Many NC High Country locals keep this annual event on their calendar. The evening will feature Todd Wright on saxophone, Andy Page on guitar, Adam Booker on bass and Rick Dilling on drums. This year’s special guests are Mary Gayle Green McClune on vocals and Chris Rottmayer playing piano and keyboard.

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W.A.M.Y. Community Action Celebrates 60 Years of Fighting Poverty in the High Country

February 9, 2024 W.A.M.Y. Community Action is proud to announce its 60th anniversary of combating poverty and fostering self-sufficiency in the High Country. Over the past six decades, W.A.M.Y. Community Action has dedicated its resources and efforts to uplift individuals and families from poverty, making a significant impact on communities in Watauga, Avery, Mitchell, and Yancey counties.

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Contemporary Dance Company Urban Bush Women Celebrates 40 Years with Powerful Legacy + Lineage + Liberation February 16

February 7, 2024 The Schaefer Center Presents series, presented by Appalachian State University’s Office of Arts and Cultural Programs, welcomes contemporary dance company Urban Bush Women, celebrating their 40th anniversary in Legacy + Lineage + Liberation, Friday, Feb. 16 at 7:30pm at the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts. UBW’s Legacy + Lineage + Liberation celebrates the power of Women(+) in an evening of classic works that transcend genres and amplify the voices of Women(+) of color. These iconic works portray multiple dimensions of life that resonate in this time of reflection around equity and justice, and lift up Black lives in inspiring ways.

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Strelow: First-Place App State Thrives With Assist From Top-Notch Holmes Crowd

January 29, 2024  Immediately after directing App State past host James Madison in a packed, raucous arena on Jan. 13, coach Dustin Kerns challenged the fans of his program to return the favor when the late-January rematch occurred in the High Country. Kerns could sense that App Nation was ready to answer the challenge well before tipoff Saturday. The game sold out, drawing a crowd of more than 8,000 fans, including a group of students who lined up outside the Holmes Center in rainy conditions roughly five hours before an 82-76 victory that was also seen by a national-television audience on ESPN2.

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App State Basketball Sweeps JMU in Front of a Crowd of 8,052 Fans at the Holmes Center

January 29, 2024  For the second time this season – and ever – at the Holmes Center, the App State Mountaineers took the floor for a nationally televised bout and won. This time, the Mountaineers completed the season sweep of James Madison, winning 82-76. The arena reached as loud as 106 decibels and the crowd played a major factor on Saturday. With the win, App State (17-4, 8-1 SBC) completed an undefeated four-game home stand and are now 10-0 at the Holmes Center. A crowd of 8,052 people showed up to watch the game.

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