We recently held our 2nd Annual CFAA Celebration of Excellence event at the Plemmons Student Union in the Parkway Ballroom to recognize our faculty, staff, and students for their excellence and innovation over the past year. This was also an opportunity to announce our "Outstanding Award" recipients which included Outstanding Service, Scholarship/ Creative Activity, Advisor, Staff, and Teaching, along with our newest award- the Dean's Jr. Faculty Innovation Grant Award.
As we approach the end of the Fall 2023 semester, this event allows us to come together as a college, not only to recognize the numerous outstanding efforts, but also to connect with one another. We are a small but mighty college of doers, dreamers, scholars, makers, and builders- we are also a caring community. We meet to acknowledge and honor one another, as well as to relax, laugh, and support each other.
"Since our last Celebration of Excellence, we have weathered storms, adapted to new policies and procedures, pivoted to ensure safety and compliance measures were met, and have adjusted to new physical locations. And, while it hasn't always been an easy path to traverse, we continue to move forward and navigate our way to success over and over, again and again. And, as a result, I remain in awe (and I mean this with genuine sincerity) I am in awe of the resilience of this college." - Dean Shannon Campbell
Here are some highlights of the faculty and students recognized:
Professors Richard Prisco and Michael Rall were instrumental in advising Applied Design students, Vic Stocker, Jon Kannapell, Ben Pipitone, and Austin Liebgott to national awards.
Dr. Anthony Wilson encouraged ADM Alum, Rachel Stevens ('20), to apply to the Tamron Hall Show and was featured on an Up and Coming Designer Series.
Tom Reeves led GCM students to their first-place finish in overall excellence nationally at the Phoenix Challenge, a national competition that includes a year-long problem-solving project.
Lela Arruza, who graduated from the Department of Art this past Spring, was recognized with a $15,000 grant as a 2023 Wingate-Lamar fellow; she was one of ten selected nationally.
Professor Jody Servon's latest publication, Saved: Objects of the Dead was featured as an Editor's Pick on CNN Today in September!
Frankie Flood was recently a part of the 4BYSIX Invitational small group exhibition curated by metalsmiths Boris Bally and shown in Notting Hill, London, England. His piece was a teapot that was made from recycled London bus panels and the proceeds from the exhibition sales will be donated to assisting disadvantaged people in London.
Noah Cornelius, an Electronic Media Broadcasting major in Communication, will be joining NBC 26 Northeast Wisconsin as their newest neighborhood reporter! Noah is currently a Reporter/ MMJ & Anchor, Production Technician with AppTV, as well as an On-Air Talent with 90.5 WASU FM and certainly one of CFAA's Shining Stars! Bob Dillner and Kevon Wilson have been outstanding mentors for students like Noah.
AppTV and Appalachian Weekly News received multiple awards at the ACP (Associated Collegiate Press) Awards in Atlanta, GA. The ACP is a national community of collegiate journalists and advisers. Faculty Advisor, Dr. Allison Bennett Dyche has been instrumental in leading the students.
Chris Moody, a Communication Lecturer in Electronic Media/ Broadcasting, and Digital Journalism, was recently published in The Washington Post for his article, The Enduring Allure of the Cheap Old House.
Dr. Volha Kananovich is part of a team that has secured a $1.7 million grant administered by the University of Iowa (App State will receive a sub-award). Dr. Kananovich is the Principal Investigator in the project.
App State's ROTC Ranger Challenge team came in first on the 6-mile Ruck March (2nd year in a row) and placed 3rd of 39 teams overall at the 4th ROTC Brigade's Ranger Challenge competition.
Mountain Man Memorial March, Female Full Marathon - 2nd place to Cadet Soucek & App State’s Male Team, Full Marathon, 1st place
Military Science and Leadership commissioned 20 Officers to Second Lieutenants this past year, 15 in May and 5 in September.
Bella Carpenter has been invited to attend the Nepal Study Abroad program with Dr. Baker Perry. Bella was nominated by Chairperson Dr. Jennifer Westerman.
Ben Pluska was named Rachel Carson Campus Fellow, a nationwide honor; as a university and SD Honors student, created the “Toxic Land/ Lifescapes” exhibition that was featured at the Looking Glass Gallery in November.
Laura England, was one of 15 university faculty/staff from around the country selected to be a part of The All We Can Save Project’s Climate Wayfinding Program, a 4-day workshop focused on supporting climate leaders.
Dr. Rita Joyner was awarded the Women in Clean Energy Award. Dr.Joyner led the Women in Clean Energy Initiative over the past two years. Her monumental work to build out an inclusive community for women in the clean energy field has generated critical momentum toward diversifying the industry.
STBE Hosted the Inaugural Construction, Design, and Sustainable Technology Career Fair to connect employers and students in this popular discipline.
Students and faculty from the Department of Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment traveled to Colorado for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon 2023 Design Challenge. App State won 1st place in the Retrofit Housing Division.
In collaboration with ZCAP FabLab + Timber, IDEX Lab, and Clemson University, along with direct assistance from the Office of Research, Paul Wilson, and Charna Howson, Dr. Arrezou Sadoughi was part of a nearly $300,000 grant from USDA-Forest Services to provide an innovative solution to affordable housing in the Appalachian Region.
Emily Daughtridge, a professor in Theatre and Dance, was the recipient of the 2023 Appalachian State University Excellence in Teaching Award.
Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival honors Theatre and Dance with four national awards for The Moors performance- directed by Dr. Paulette Marty.
Assistant Professor, Saloni Mahajan presented at the Global Symposium, "Unraveling the Threads: Exploring Indian Theatrical Costumes."
Outstand Award Winners
Outstanding Advisor, Dr. Matthew Ogwu, Assistant Professor, Sustainable Development
Outstanding Scholarship/ Creative Activity, Dr. Rebecca Witter, Associate Professor, Sustainable Development
Outstanding Service, Dr. Jiangxue (Ashley) Han, Associate Professor, Communication
Outstanding Staff, Amy Miller, Student Records Specialist, CFAA Academic Advising and Records Collaborative
Outstanding Teaching, IlaSahai Prouty, Associate Professor, Art
Dean's Jr. Faculty Innovation Grant Award - Dr. Matthew Ogwu, Assistant Professor, Sustainable Development
COE 2023 Dean Campbell
COE 2023 Dean Campbell