Appalachian Today | Dec 20, 2023

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

Recently released numbers concerning App State’s economic impact. According to a study conducted by labor analytics firm, Lightcast, in fiscal year 2021–22, the university generated an estimated $573 million in added income for  Watauga, Ashe, Avery, Caldwell and Wilkes counties. Statewide, the estimated economic impact of App State was $2.2 billion.

Some interesting takeaways from the study-

For every dollar invested by App State students they will gain $5.80 in higher lifetime earnings. 

Also for each dollar $1 public funding that taxpayers invest in App State in 2021–22, over the course of students’ working lives, North Carolina taxpayers will gain $3.20 in increased tax revenue and public sector savings from reduced demand for government-funded social services.

App State Chancellor Sheri Everts said the statistics demonstrated the power of higher education to change lives. 

 

Following 12 years of care and anticipation, Appalachian State University’s rare corpse flower,  graced observers with a long-awaited bloom on Friday, Nov. 24.

Officially classified as titan arum,the corpse flower’s bloom was its first since arriving at the Department of Biology Greenhouse in 2011.

The public was invited to view the flower lovingly referred to as Mongo by the greenhouse staff, firsthand or via livestream and shared updates on social media during the weeks leading up to the bloom.

It was estimated that approximately 3,000 people visited the corpse flower at the greenhouse, and at times, the waiting line extended all the way around the greenhouse and past the adjacent compost shed.

Most corpse flowers require seven to 10 years to produce their first blooms. Once it reaches maturity, it has an unpredictable blooming cycle, typically blooming once every few years. The average bloom lasts only two to three days, with the peak growth and odor occurring at night into early morning.

The Department of Biology Greenhouse located on Dale Street beside the state farm parking lot. has more than 1,400 species of plants from around the world, and Mongo is just one of more than 100 species in the facility’s collection that are considered threatened in their natural habitats. Mongo will be moved to the new Conservatory for Biodiversity Education and Research at App State’s Innovation District upon the facility’s completion, which is slated for 2025.

 

This fall, the National Science Foundation awarded three faculty at Appalachian State University a three-year, $531,000 grant to support aerosol research at App State’s Appalachian Atmospheric Interdisciplinary Research facility and Applied Fluids Laboratory.

The project is funded by NSF’s Major Research Instrumentation Program and supports the development of an Aerosol Chemical Speciation System (ACSS) at AppalAIR.

According to associate professor in the Department of Chemistry and Fermentation Sciences and principal investigator, Dr. Robert Swarthout, “Having an Aerosol Chemical Speciation Monitor at the AppalAIR site will improve the world-class data set that App State already produce and it will allow us to figure out how the chemicals that make up aerosols are changing as our country changes the way we use our land and generate energy. Knowing more about changes in aerosol chemistry, along with the other measurements of aerosol size and interactions with sunlight, will help scientists understand how aerosols are impacting our health and climate.

Currently, the team also includes contributions from four App State physics students and additional undergraduate and graduate students will have the opportunity to contribute to the projects.

Swarthout added that the project will provide opportunities for App State students to train in atmospheric science using state-of-the-art instrumentation which will make them more competitive for high-quality careers in this growing field.

 

A first-year student at Appalachian State University has been named the newest recipient of the Jerri Kent Heltzer and Harry Heltzer Endowed Scholarship for the 2023–24 academic year. Nathanael Cox, a native of Boone who is majoring in history, joins a group of three students who received the scholarship last year.

The scholarship — which covers approximately 75% of the students’ tuition and is renewable annually — honors longtime friends of the university, Elizabeth “Jerri” Kent Heltzer and Harry Heltzer, and provides assistance to students who demonstrate financial need.

Established in 2021 from funds bequeathed to the university by the estate of Jerri and Harry — who passed away in 2021 and 2005, respectively — the scholarship is a capstone of the couple’s long-standing investment in the App State Community.

Appalachian State University has been recognized among the top schools nationwide for military service members and veterans, according to Military Times, which named App State to its 2023 “Best for Vets: Colleges” rankings list, released Nov. 6.

The university ranked as No. 99 out of 325 nationwide schools included in the overall rankings list, or within the top 30% of schools recognized. Additionally, App State placed as No. 21 among “Best for Vets” schools in the Southeast, or within the top 35% of schools recognized in this category.

Of the 173 four-year, public schools named to the list, App State secured the No. 70 spot, placing the university within the top 40% of schools recognized.

App State Chancellor Sheri Everts.  Called it a privilege to serve military-affiliated students, veterans and their families — and said the recognition affirms App’s universitywide commitment to their success.

Military Times compiled the rankings based on surveys sent to colleges and universities about their programs for veterans, as well as public data obtained from the U.S. Department of Education and Department of Veterans Affairs.

 

Class of 1976 alumnus, Robert Thomas "Tommy" Sofield Jr., his wife, Debbie, and the Sofield family have donated a significant gift to Appalachian State University in support of athletics facilities enhancements, including a new multipurpose indoor practice facility.

 

Tommy Sofield, who played football for the Mountaineers and was captain of the 1975 team that went 8-3 with wins over East Carolina, Wake Forest and South Carolina, has been a successful businessman and real estate developer in Boone since graduating from App State. He also currently serves as Vice Chair of the Appalachian State University Board of Trustees among other leadership positions in the community.

 

The Sofields' lead gift will help fund a new indoor practice facility – with a 100+ yard artificial turf surface – to replace the current Sofield Family Indoor Practice Facility that opened in October 2007, for which the Sofields also donated the lead gift.

 

 With his latest gift, the university has raised $41 million toward the $100 million goal for the All for App initiative to invest and build for the future of App State Athletics. Other current athletics facility plans include the construction of a fieldhouse, outdoor tennis courts, softball field and indoor tennis courts at the Appalachian 105 facility.