Sophie Schneider, a Sustainable Development major with a concentration in Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture, has been named a 2026-27 Chancellor's Scholar. Sophie Schneider is the only student from the College of Fine and Applied Arts selected for this year's cohort.
The Chancellor's Scholarship is App State's oldest and most academically competitive merit-based scholarship. The four-year scholarship program covers full institutional costs and provides students with research opportunities, academic mentoring and study abroad experiences through the Honors College.
Originally from Richmond, Virginia, Sophie discovered App State while searching for agriculture-focused academic programs. What began as a spontaneous application quickly turned into a life-changing opportunity. After interviewing for the scholarship in January, she received the news one week later and committed to App State the same day.
Through her studies and hands-on agricultural experiences, Sophie has developed a passion for sustainable food systems, food access and community-based agriculture. Her involvement in App State's Gardening Club and interest in study abroad opportunities to Costa Rica reflect her commitment to understanding the connections between people, food and the environment.
"Being named a Chancellor's Scholar has opened doors I hadn't previously considered," Sophie said. "It's given me the opportunity to think about graduate school and future possibilities without the financial barriers I once worried about."
Sophie working at Barbary Hill Farm (Connecticut coast)
When Sophie graduated from high school in Richmond, Virginia, college wasn't immediately part of the plan.
She was considering taking a gap year and spending time “WWOOFing”, or working on organic farms in exchange for room, board and hands-on agricultural experience. But encouragement from her mom led her to explore university options, and a search for agriculture-focused academic programs eventually brought her to App State.
"I honestly applied on a whim," Sophie said.
As she explored the university's Sustainable Development program, she discovered App State's Honors College and the Chancellor's Scholarship, the university's most prestigious merit-based scholarship. The opportunity was too compelling not to pursue.
Throughout several summers, Sophie volunteered at Shalom Farms, an urban farming initiative in Richmond dedicated to increasing access to affordable, healthy food. The experience introduced her to the complexities of food access and sustainable agriculture while showing how farming can strengthen communities.
Her interest also grew closer to home through time spent gardening with her mom during the pandemic and learning alongside her grandmother in the family garden.
"Those experiences really made me love plants and agriculture," she said.
This past summer, Sophie expanded her knowledge through a WWOOF placement at Barbary Hill Farm along the Connecticut coastline. Working primarily with flowers and produce, she gained firsthand experience in small-scale agriculture while exploring the type of work that first inspired her interest in sustainable farming.
At App State, she has continued seeking opportunities to connect her academic studies with practical experiences. She regularly participates in the Gardening Club, helping maintain plots at the Roots Garden and the Sustainable Development garden near the Living Learning Center. She is also active in the university's Rock Climbing Club and hopes to become more involved with the Farm Club as her schedule allows.
Looking ahead, Sophie hopes to continue exploring global approaches to sustainability. She recently applied to participate in the Sustainable Development and Biology study abroad program in Costa Rica, led by Dr. Rick Rheingans, where students examine ecological systems and sustainable development practices in one of the world's most biodiverse regions.
For Sophie, her story reflects the curiosity, initiative and commitment to making a difference that define both Sustainable Development students and Chancellor's Scholars.
As she cultivates her interests in agroecology, food systems and environmental stewardship, Sophie is planting the seeds for a future rooted in service, sustainability and community impact.
About the Goodnight Family Department of Sustainable Development
One of seven departments housed in the College of Fine and Applied Arts, the Goodnight Family Department of Sustainable Development at Appalachian State University prepares students to thoughtfully analyze human development while focusing on the applied practice of pursuing transformative, community-driven development with concentrations in agroecology and sustainable agriculture; community, regional and global development; and environmental studies; a Bachelor of Arts in sustainable development with a concentration in environmental studies; and a minor in sustainable development.
About the College of Fine and Applied Arts
Appalachian State University's College of Fine and Applied Arts is a dynamic and innovative group of seven academic departments, bringing together a variety of perspectives, experiences, and real-world education to provide unique opportunities for student success. The college has more than 3,500 undergraduate and graduate majors. Its departments are Applied Design, Art, Communication, Military Science and Leadership, Sustainable Development, Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment, and Theatre and Dance.
About Appalachian State University
As the premier public undergraduate institution in the Southeast, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives as global citizens who understand and engage their responsibilities in creating a sustainable future for all. The Appalachian Experience promotes a spirit of inclusion that brings people together in inspiring ways to acquire and create knowledge, to grow holistically, to act with passion and determination, and to embrace diversity and difference. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Appalachian is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System. Appalachian enrolls nearly 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio, and offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate majors.
Sophie Schneider article thumb
Sophie Schneider article thumb