Last Updated on April 11, 2026 8:29 pm
Friday, April 10, 2026
With less than a month until Spring Commencement, milder weather and spring flowers in Boone and Hickory are contributing to the fresh energy and adding to the excitement, accomplishment and vibrance that characterize the final weeks of the academic year.
This energy was enhanced by more than 400 middle and high school students — as well as a group of fifth graders from our own Academy at Middle Fork — who recently arrived on the Boone campus to participate in our annual STEAM Expo, spearheaded by the Reich College of Education’s Mathematics and Science Education Center. Students from area schools rotated through a variety of rooms and stations, interacting with App State faculty and students through engaging exhibits, hands-on explorations and activities designed to showcase the power and excitement of research and education through science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics. I encourage you to watch this short video put together by our University Communications team, so you can experience a bit of this event through the eyes of the attendees.
On our Hickory campus, local families enjoyed a fun outdoor block party — complete with music, food and games — hosted by faculty and staff. It was a wonderful opportunity to showcase the latest upgrades and renovations at our Hickory campus while also continuing to build connections with the local Catawba Valley community.
These interactions do more than teach concepts; they share the possibilities that are opened through education — and for many of these visiting students, seeing themselves as future teachers, scientists, creative scholars or innovators begins with the mentorship they find here at App State.
In the Beaver College of Health Sciences, App State students pursuing careers as future health professionals in pediatrics, rural health and developmental care are learning under the mentorship of clinicians while providing patient-centered care to children and their families. Our Growing Well Developmental Clinic is the first of its kind in the nation to offer diagnosis and treatment outside of a traditional hospital setting — helping meet a significant need in the region. Through the academic and clinical expertise of our faculty, we’re training students while also providing specialized pediatric services that are often difficult to access in rural areas, including early screening, evaluation and guidance for any developmental condition — including cerebral palsy and autism — in young children.
Thanks to $2 million in funding support from Vaya Health, we’re expanding the clinic’s services; beginning in May, the clinic will offer services to the Catawba Valley area at our Hickory campus. We’re proud to continue developing partnerships like this one, which serve our communities while preparing the next generation of leaders to make meaningful differences in the quality of life for families in our region, state and beyond.
Signature moments in the App State Experience often carry beyond the classroom, and some even make university history. Two of our a cappella groups, VoiceMale and Ear Candy, swept the top two spots at the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella quarterfinals, proving they could thrive on an international stage, making lifetime memories and earning a trip to the semifinals in New York. The moment, in the words of VoiceMale president Joshua Littlejohn, was “a reminder that music at App State is thriving, and that our students can compete and succeed on a major stage.”
And, our Mountaineers Cheerleading team advanced to the final round of the Universal Cheerleaders Association College Cheerleading National Championship earlier this year. The team finished second in the semifinals, held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida, which earned them a trip to the finals for the first time in team history. This milestone is a hard-earned reward for their unity and tireless work throughout the season.
As we look toward the final weeks of the spring semester, we are also preparing for one of our favorite campus traditions. For those who are counting down the days until Football season, next Saturday, April 18, we’ll offer a preview of the upcoming season during the “Battle at The Rock” spring football game. It is a chance — full of fun and excitement — to gather as a community, enjoy the Pregame FanFest and get a preview of the 2026 team. Looking ahead to the fall, I hope you will also mark your calendars for two of our biggest celebrations: the Homecoming football game on Oct. 10 and Family Weekend, which begins with our Thursday night football game on Oct. 22.
From classrooms and clinics to community showcases and competition stages, the impacts of our scholarship and engagement are far, wide and lasting. Thank you for your contributions to our mission of teaching, research and service.
Heather Norris
Chancellor
