On January 9th, we had to cancel our SA Annual Conference due to weather! However, we still wanted to celebrate our award winners so we presented them at departmental staff meetings! Below are our award winners:
Behind the Scenes Award: Paul Ford (Plemmons Student Union) and Anna Lee Evans (University Recreation)
Impact Award: Nursing Staff (M.S. Shook Student Health Service)
As we enter Women's History Month, Intercultural Student Affairs is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Appalachian State University Women's Center. For a quarter-century, this center has been a fundamental resource for the University and the empowerment, advocacy, and support for women at our institution.
To mark this significant milestone, the Women's Center, in collaboration with Intercultural Student Affairs, is thrilled to announce the 2024 Women's History Month kickoff event featuring the accomplished Appalachian author, Halle Hill.
Halle Hill has made waves with her debut novel, *Good Women*, published by Hub City Press. The book has received accolades from Kirkus Reviews, O Magazine, Electric Literature, Book Riot, and Southwest Review, establishing Hill as a powerful voice in contemporary literature. Her stories delve into the depths of womanhood, identity, and resilience, resonating with readers of all backgrounds.
Join us on March 6, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. in the solarium of the Plemmons Student Union for an engaging Craft Talk and Book Signing with Halle Hill. This event promises an intimate opportunity to interact with the author, gain insights into her creative process, and have your copy of *Good Women* personally signed.
ISA and The Women's Center would like to thank Clarinda Choice, our former assistant director, for her invaluable contributions in organizing this event and bringing Halle Hill to our campus.
To secure your spot, please RSVP via Engage. For any questions about the event or the Women's Center, feel free to contact Cody Michael Henderson.
Let's come together to celebrate the Women's Center's remarkable journey and honor the voices and experiences of women throughout history.
In a 4,400-square-foot facility located in the Gramercy Park neighborhood of Manhattan, you will find the Appalachian Loft -- a cozy unassuming floor designed to provide a hostel-type living environment for students, faculty, staff, and alumni in New York City. The New York Loft program was created in 1973, providing an affordable and convenient environment for the Appalachian community.
When I started working full-time with AppState in 2016, I was able to participate in a faculty study away at the Loft. This is when I first became aware of this incredible resource. Since then I have often traveled back for work and leisure. Most recently I had the pleasure of serving as the Staff Director for 2.5 weeks over this past Winter Break. The guests that came through the Loft over my time there truly represented our diverse and vibrant AppState community; a recent alumnus between leases in the city, international students celebrating the New Year Holiday in Times Square, alumni attending a much-anticipated Phish concert, and a cohort of senior theater students attending live performances and conducting auditions with Julliard and cruise lines. There was plenty of downtime -- giving me the opportunity to visit sites like the Met Museums, be an audience member in the live-recording of the Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and even be in Times Square for the New Year’s celebration.
The Staff Director position at the Appalachian Loft in New York City is available to all full-time Appalachian staff (SHRA and EHRA non-faculty). A staff director is needed at the Loft for two brief periods during Winter Break. The Office of Finance and Operations sends out an official call for staff directorship applications at the beginning of each Fall Semester. Directors live in and keep up the daily operations of the Loft. If you have any questions about utilizing the loft for your travels to NYC or serving as a Staff Director, check out ny.appstate.edu or feel free to contact me with any questions!
Megan Kasper (she/they)
Associate Director of Community-Engaged Leadership / Director of the Leadership Studies Minor
Congratulations Savannah Raley for Receiving the Community Impact Student Award for Outstanding Work in Civic and Community Engagement
Article and picture from NC Campus Engagement
Over the weekend of November 4, Appalachian State University student, Savannah Raley, was presented with the Community Impact Student Award by NC Campus Engagement for her outstanding commitment and contribution to civic and community engagement. Savannah was selected as the award winner by Appalachian State University administration after careful consideration of the students who made a lasting impact on their campus. She was honored for her efforts and achievements at the NC Campus Engagement biennial CSNAP Student Conference.
Since 2006, the Community Impact Student Award (CISA) recognizes an outstanding, full-time undergraduate student service leader from each NC Campus Engagement member campus. Award winners are selected by campus leaders and honored during the biennial CSNAP Student Conference. This year, CSNAP was held at NC State University with the theme, “Rising Together: Students Depolarizing North Carolina.”
Savannah was selected as the Appalachian State University CISA winner because she demonstrated remarkable dedication and enthusiasm across various campus initiatives.
Notably, Savannah spearheaded a comprehensive overhaul of the Student Government Association (SGA), facilitating a transformative restructure aimed at creating a more sustainable and equitable platform for student advocacy. Her leadership within the SGA was pivotal in fostering a renewed focus on empowering students and advocating for their rights. Simultaneously, Savannah served as the Appalachian State Delegate to the University of North Carolina Association of Student Governments, amplifying her influence beyond the campus to positively impact the state's student community.
Her involvement extends further as a Plemmons Leadership Scholar, Membership Coordinator for the Appalachian Popular Programming Society (APPS), Head Lifeguard at University Recreation, and Global Leadership Exchange Student Fellow, signifying her diverse engagements in fostering intentional student engagement and leadership development.
Savannah stands as a shining example of an exceptional student leader whose passion, resilience, and dedication to community betterment have left a mark on Appalachian State University.
Savannah graciously accepted the Community Impact Student Award as the Appalachian State University winner, among 14 other students representing colleges and universities across North Carolina.
North Carolina Campus Engagement (NCCE) is a collaborative network of colleges and universities committed to educating students for civic and social responsibility, partnering with communities for positive change, and strengthening democracy. The NC Campus Engagement state office fosters connections between campuses, shares best practice information and resources, recognizes outstanding work, and champions civic and community engagement in higher education. To learn more visit ncccampusengagement.org.
