College of Fine and Applied Arts

Congratulations to this year’s scholarship winners. They are (front, left to right) Amanda Hannon, John Williams and Cleone Hodges Scholarship; Dori Littman, RMA Scholarship; Dr. Paul Gaskill, chair of the Department of Health, Leisure and Exercise Science; (back) Erica Mask, Ed Turner and Eric Degroat Scholarships; Jennifer Mixter, Eric Degroat Scholarship; Christen Mushinksi, Ron Kanoy Scholarship; and Cameron McCarthy, Roger Thomas Scholarship.

by Josh Jarman, Intern, College of Fine and Applied Arts

Dr. Glenda Treadaway, interim dean of the College of Fine and Applied Arts, received the John Shields award for her continued service to Pi Kappa Delta (PKD) National Honor Society.

The John Shields award is annually presented to a PKD member who has shown dedication and commitment to the mission of the organization. It honors those who display outstanding service to its activities.

Treadaway became a member of PKD in 1985 and has served since as a member of the national council, tournament director and president.

“During her leadership, the organization modified its constitution to include a non-discrimination clause,” said Sandra Alspach, past president of PKD and internship director in the Department of Humanities at Ferris State University. “Her efforts to make [the] orgaization inclusive and welcoming to women and minorities of all kinds have been exceptional.”

Another highlight of Treadaway’s service was hosting the Pi Kappa Delta National Tournament at Morgan State University in Baltimore, a historically black college and university.

“Receiving this award was truly a touching moment for me,” said Treadaway. “To be recognized by my peers and the students that we teach and that I am passionate about was both an honor and a humbling experience.”

Pi Kappa Delta is an honorary consisting of educators, students and alumni committed to encouraging the education of articulate citizens through a three part focus: the commitment to and promotion of ethical, humane and inclusive communication and educational practices; the commitment to and promotion of professional development of forensics educators; and the commitment to and promotion of comprehensive forensics programming.

by Josh Jarman, Intern, College of Fine and Applied Arts

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Virginia A. Clement, a senior public relations student at Appalachian State University, presented before the National Park Friends Alliance April 16-18 about how nonprofit organizations could use online social networking as a marketing tool.

The Friends Alliance consists of nonprofit organizations connected with national parks throughout the United States. According to Clement, universally, national parks are underfunded, thus fund raising groups have been established to promote programming, maintenance, and restoration for these parks.

Dr. Janice Pope is on the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation Marketing Advisory Board and instructs the communication research course at Appalachian in which Clement is enrolled. Pope at the onset of the semester invited Dr. Houck Medford, president of the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, to visit the class and present information about his nonprofit organization.

“He came to our class and the first thing he said was that he was interested in the communication research class to look at how to use online social networking to increase awareness of the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation,” said Pope.

The class decided that Medford’s proposal would be a good semester long project and went to work researching the client. Medford informed the class that one student, selected by Pope, could go to the National Park Friends Alliance in Independence, Ohio, to present the gathered research.

“I selected Virginia because her literature review was outstanding, and she already has done another internship with a nonprofit,” said Pope.

Clement traveled with Medford to the Cuyahoga Valley National Park where she presented before 60 representatives of national parks, including The Yosemite Fund and the Rocky Mountains Fund.

“I was the youngest person there, which was a bit intimidating at first, but after my presentation I realized that knowing how to use online networking and new marketing tools was a valuable asset which is foreign to many in the workplace,” said Clement.

The presentation evaluated what attracts people to the Blue Ridge Parkway, and what drawls people to visit social networking sites. Clement proceeded to discuss how to use the Foundation’s website to attract more readership and ultimately how to provoke discussions about the issues and activities surrounding the parkway on various website resources.

“Her presentation was very professional, lively and thought provoking,” said Medford. “A large number of questions were a positive testimony to her presentation. Appalachian State has a positive relationship with the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation. It is because of the efforts of involved faculty members that these projects can be made possible.”

Graduate Dietetic student Sara Kim won first place in the graduate student research competition for her presentation, “Effectiveness of the Western NC Folic Acid Campaign in Watauga County,” at the 75th annual North Carolina Dietetic Association Meeting April 20-22 in Raleigh.

Appalachian State University graduate dietetic students Sara Kim and Kayce Chapman Boggs placed first and second, respectively, in the graduate student research competition April 20-22 at the 75th Annual North Carolina Dietetic Association (NCDA) State Meeting in Raleigh.

The North Carolina Dietetic Association (NCDA) is one of 50 state affiliates of the American Dietetic Association (ADA). The American Dietetic Association is the world’s largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. ADA is committed to improving the nation’s health and advancing the profession of dietetics through research, education and advocacy.

“This is the first year the award has been given, and it was so great to see two ASU students receive this award,” said Dr. Lisa McAnulty, professor of foods and nutrition in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences at Appalachian.

A committee of seasoned researchers from North Carolina universities and institutions are organized each year by the NCDA Poster Committee to review all undergraduate and graduate research posters at the annual meeting. Posters are judged on knowledge or experience achieved, effective use of method/ medium, clarity of expression and response to questions and originality and creativity.

Thirty-three posters were submitted this year. The first place winner received $100.

Kim’s study, “Effectiveness of the Western NC Folic Acid Campaign in Watauga County,” investigated whether the significant reduction in neural tube defects, experienced in NC over the past decade and primarily as a result of the efforts of the Western NC Folic Acid Campaign (WNFAC), is due to increased folate intake in the diet and/or increased folic acid (synthetic form of folate) from supplements. Findings from her study suggest that, in Watauga County, the education received by women of child-bearing age appears to be effective in increasing folic acid intake from supplements but not dietary folate.

Boggs’ project, “Nutritional Quality of Prepared Meals at Food Assistance Programs in Watauga and Wilkes Counties, North Carolina,” looked at the distribution of vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B6, vitamin E, folate, iron, magnesium, zinc, calcium, and calories from protein and carbohydrates both among and within three food assistance programs in Watauga and Wilkes Counties, North Carolina, and determined if the three food assistance programs, on average, met one-third of the RDA for the above micronutrients. Four nutrients, calcium, magnesium, folate, and iron (especially important for optimal health of women) did not meet 1/3 of the RDA.

Kim is a student of Dr. McAnulty’s, and Boggs is a student of Dr. Sarah Jordan, chair of the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences and professor of foods and nutrition.

Appalachian’s Department of Technology held its fifth annual Berkline BenchCraft LLC Chair Design Competition May 1. Pictured are (left to right) Kern Maass of the department’s Furniture Design program and coordinator of the event; Matthew Agostinelli of Bernhardt Design, judge; Matthew Jarrett, third place winner; Paul Veto, second place winner; Hugh Owings, first place winner; and Charlie Sutton of Furniture Review, judge.

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Appalachian State University student Hugh Owings took first place with his “One Man’s Treasure” chair at Appalachian’s Fifth Annual Berkline BenchCraft LLC Chair Design Competition May 1 at the Broyhill Inn and Conference Center in Boone.

Owings receives a plaque and $2,000. Second place went to Paul Veto with his chair, “Stretch.” He receives a plaque and $1,500. Matthew Jarrett’s chair, “Melt,” took third place with a plaque and $1,000.

“While we always look at the depth of a concept behind the student’s design, and how well the design was executed or crafted, this year’s contestants were exceptional,” said Charlie Sutton of Furniture Review and one of the judges. “The designs were intelligent, had a clever use of a range of materials, were environmentally and user friendly, and in several designs, very marketable. I would put our top three up against any design school in the country.”

The competition is at the core of the Department of Technology’s Furniture Design program. The program prepares students to work in the ever-changing furniture industry and to remain competitive with the trend towards off-shoring of furniture production. The competition is the culmination of student work throughout the academic year. The competition evaluates students’ design concepts, construction techniques, finishing techniques and feasibility of production. The designs of the chairs must be original and unique.

The pieces were judged on overall design, scale and proportion, choice of materials, workmanship, comfort, design application, reproduction and marketability. In addition to Sutton, Matthew Agostinelli from Bernhardt Design served as a judge. Appalachian’s competition was sponsored by Berkline BenchCraft LLC.

Students will enter their pieces in the bi-annual Association of Woodworking and Furniture Suppliers (AWFS) Fresh Wood student competition in Las Vegas in 2009. In addition, Appalachian is gearing up to host the 2009 Furniture Society Conference, an international gathering of more than 450 professionals, academia and students from the field of furniture.