Student Affairs

Congratulations Savannah Raley for Receiving the Community Impact Student Award for Outstanding Work in Civic and Community 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. 

Twitch Streaming: Health Promotion LIVE on Twitch

Written by: Elisabeth Cavallaro

Engaging and educating Appalachian State University students has taken a dynamic turn with the Wellness and Prevention Services' ever-growing Twitch streaming community. Since its launch in October 2021, the channel has amassed 140 followers. Streaming sessions occur twice weekly, on Mondays from 7pm to 9pm and on Thursdays from 6 pm to 8pm.

Mondays are helmed by Jay Ward, an intern at Wellness and Prevention Services and the president of We Care. Jay invites campus partners to share information about their department while playing multiplayer games like SpiderHeck and Mario Party, puzzle games like Superliminal and Limbo, and cozy simulators like The Sims 4 and Stardew Valley. Featured guests in the Fall semester included Community Engaged Leadership, Counseling and Psychological Services, the Career Development Center and the Tutoring Center.

Thursday night streams, hosted by Ella Kate Jordan, a member of We Care, focused on the neurodivergent experience at App State. Ella Kate candidly shares personal experiences, encourages viewer participation, and educates the audience about both on- and off-campus resources. A highlight of these streams was the inclusion of the Boone Barbies, who discussed how drag positively impacts mental health and serves as a means of self-expression. Ella Kate fostered a neurodivergent-friendly community space, hosting events like PowerPoint Night where viewers presented their special interests, and Dungeons and Dragon one-shots.

Next semester, Wellness and Prevention Services add an additional stream focused on recovery, hosted by Collegiate Recovery Community peer mentor Jaelin Phillips. Tune in Wednesday nights at 7pm to learn about how to maintain recovery over breaks, the role relationships play in recovery, setting boundaries, and how different identities like religion and sexuality intersect with recovery.

Thursday night streams, continuing with Ella Kate as the host, will cater to the Esports community. With over 130 members, the Appalachian Esports community is vibrant, and Ella Kate, as the co-present of the Appalachian State Esports club, is excited to play popular games like Valorent and Rocket League, while discussing themes such as forming friendships offline, knowing the warning signs of gaming addiction, and navigating the Esports world as a woman.

Jay will continue hosting the Monday night streams, offering a mix of general wellness discussions and neurodivergent topics. Expect appearances from the Office of Diversity, the Collegiate Recovery Community, the Makerspace and more.

Streams kick off on Monday January 22nd and will run three times a week, through April 29th. Join us on Twitch, where health education meets innovation!

If you have any questions, please reach out to Justin Parks, Coordinator for Wellness Promotion (parksjd@appstate.edu). 

Upcoming Professional Development Opportunity: Sustained Dialogue Moderator Series

Appalachian State is a member of the Sustained Dialogue Network which offers regular training to become certified in dialogue moderation. This 12 hour series teaches moderators the Sustained Dialogue process, which is designed to be led by everyday people who want an alternative to intergroup divides. In addition to the excellent skills gained and certification for your resume, faculty, staff, and graduate students who complete the training series are then eligible to serve as moderators for the annual Appalachian Interchange Retreat through Community-Engaged Leadership.

Two up-coming virtual sessions are available:

• Fridays in December from 12:30 - 4:30 - Click here to register
• Thursdays from 3:00 - 4:30 pm beginning in February - Click here to register

As a member of the Appalachian State community, you have access to our special discount code in order to register for free. The discount code is: Free4sdcnDeepMember (note it is case sensitive). If you have any questions, please reach out to Summer Wisdom in the Office of Community-Engaged Leadership.

(Please note this workshop is a public workshop run by the Sustained Dialogue Institute. It is not specific to App State and if you choose this workshop you will be in a group with participants from many different universities & communities.) 

AppState Alum Joins the Intercultural Student Affairs Team! 

The Office of Intercultural Student Affairs (ISA) is thrilled to introduce our newest team member, Allie Harrell (she/her/hers), who has joined us as the Program Associate. Allie is a May 2023 graduate of Appalachian State University. Allie earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a concentration in Sustainability and a minor in Sustainable Development. We are excited to have her on board to further our commitment to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within our campus community.

Allie's journey to ISA is remarkable, as she brings a solid educational background and four years of invaluable experience within our department as a Student Office Assistant. Her academic pursuits in Psychology with a focus on Sustainability align with ISA's mission of cultivating an inclusive environment that respects and celebrates all cultures. Allie's unique academic knowledge and hands-on experience make her a valuable addition to our team.

In her new role as Program Associate, Allie will be working closely with the Tri-Centers and Campus partners to coordinate and support programmatic efforts, workshops, and events that promote the mission and vision of ISA. She will oversee the administrative and budget processes for ISA and the Tri-Centers. Her experience as a Student Office Assistant in ISA has given her unique insights into the department's operations, making her well-prepared to take on this vital role. We encourage the division to join us in welcoming Allie Harrell to the ISA team! We're excited that our former student employee has filled this role. Her background, experience, enthusiasm, and commitment to promoting intercultural awareness and Sustainability will positively impact our division and campus.

By Cody M. Henderson, Assistant Director, Intercultural Student Affairs