Appalachian Today | June 5, 2024

On this episode of Appalachian Today, University Communications’ Dave Blanks provides a quick rundown of some of the latest news stories available at today.appstate.edu. 

Transcript:

This is Appalachian today. A quick rundown of some of the stories you'll find online at today.appstate.edu. From Anne Belk Hall on Appalachian’s Boone campus, I'm Dave Blanks.  Appalachian State University held its annual Memorial Day commemoration on May 24th, paying tribute to those who died while serving in the U.S. military. The observance took place at the Veterans Memorial, located next to the B.B. Dougherty Administration Building on the Boone campus. Interim Chancellor Heather Norris selected U.S. Army Reserve veteran and App State alumna Caitlin Langley to lay a wreath at the memorial, an App State tradition. Langley, from Prospect Hill, enlisted in the Army Reserve in 2018, serving as a heavy equipment operator and eventually achieving the rank of specialist. She was deployed twice during her time at App State. A first generation college graduate, Langley graduated in May, earning a bachelor's degree in sustainable development, environmental studies. She completed her military service in January.

If you've been down River Street in Boone lately, you may have noticed a new sculpture in front of John E. Thomas Hall. The sculpture is of the former chancellor himself, John E. Thomas, seated on a bench outside the building named in his honor. Thomas first came to App State in 1974 as vice chancellor of academic affairs, before serving as the university's fourth leader for 14 years from 1979 to 1993. After retiring, Thomas returned to App State in 94 to teach in the Department of Management in the Walker College of Business for the next decade. Thomas died at the age of 90 on September 2nd, 2021. The sculpture was unveiled on May the 9th. The ceremony included comments from Thomas's close friend. 1985 App State alumnus C. Philip Byers, a member of the UNC System Board of Governors and the sculpture benefactor. Byers shared stories of his time as a student at App State under Thomas's leadership, and the lasting impact the Chancellor made on his life, calling Thomas a hero and a mentor. Several of Thomas's family members were present at the event, including his wife Jan Thomas and their sons, both App State alumni, Brandon Thomas and Department of Physics and Astronomy lecturer Dr. Scott Thomas, along with the structures creator, local artist Suzie Hallier, and members of the App State Board of Trustees.

Appalachian State University recently announced the Student Teacher of the year. The honor went to Mount Airy’s Gracie Bullington, who earned a Bachelor of Science in history social studies education in December of 2023. Bullington said as long as she could remember, she had dreamed of working as a teacher, saying that she was honored to be recognized by state for the work and love she poured into her students and the school during her student teaching time. As an undergraduate, Bullington took advantage of the accelerated master's program at App State. She's currently completing her Master of Arts in history with a concentration in teaching, all while substitute teaching for Watauga County Schools.

Appalachian State student athletes extended their streak of 24 consecutive semesters with a cumulative GPA over 3.0. The Mountaineers ended the spring with a 3.20 semester GPA for all student athletes. In September, when the Sunbelt Conference last announced academic honors for its members, App State ranked in the top four among the 14 football playing member institutions.

More news from Athletics. For the third consecutive year, App State has sold out of football season tickets. Home games this coming season include matchups against East Tennessee State, South Alabama, Liberty, Georgia State, Old Dominion and James Madison. All five FBS teams traveling to Boone made bowl appearances a year ago. According to ESPN, the mountaineers returned 68% 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 Sean Clark in 2023. App state set program and Sunbelt season attendance records for the third straight year in 2023, with an average crowd of 34,734 fans at the Rock, with official capacity listed at 30,000, App State led the nation by filling the stadium to 116% capacity. For the most up to date ticket information, go online to appstatesports.com.

You can see some fantastic pictures of the John E. Thomas sculpture and the ceremony, find the link for the 2025 football season ticket waitlist and get complete details on these and other app state stories, podcasts and videos by going online to today.appstate.edu. For Appalachian Today, I'm Dave Blanks.