It was a joy to see so many families gather on the Boone campus for “Trick-or-Treat for Tots,” where our Mountaineer students, student organizations and campus partners hosted tables full of treats and games to create a safe, fun and festive evening for our App State Community. Thank you to Kyla Willoughby in University Communications for this photo.
Message from Chancellor Heather Norris: October 30, 2026
This week, I had the opportunity to spend time at our Hickory campus with people whose perspectives both shape the campus and reflect its impact across the region. A gathering with Hickory-area business and community leaders offered time to discuss the partnerships we are building together to strengthen the region. At a student engagement luncheon, I appreciated hearing directly from our students about their experiences at App State and what matters most to their educational experience.
From those important conversations, the campus took a festive turn with the Hickory Fall Festival. Yesterday, students, faculty, staff and community members came together for an evening of trunk-or-treating, refreshments, inflatables and other fun fall activities. The festival also marked the launch of Hickory’s involvement with AppKIDS, a longstanding Staff Senate initiative that supports 100 K–12 students in Watauga County each year with winter clothing, hygiene items and snacks. The initiative’s next event is scheduled for Nov. 13 at our Boone campus.
Meanwhile, seasonal festivities are in full swing across the Boone campus. Yesterday, University Housing hosted “Trick-or-Treat for Tots,” bringing together App State families for treats and family fun, and tonight the Appalachian Community of Education Scholars will host an indoor Trick-or-Treat event at the Reich College of Education, complete with games, face painting, sweets and more. The evening also includes the Hayes School of Music’s annual Halloween Monster Concert, presented by the Organ Studio in Rosen Concert Hall. Led by Dr. Joby Bell, the free concert showcases the musicianship of our organ students through a program designed especially for the season and offers a fun way to experience both the remarkable range of the organ and the talents of our students.
These celebrations offer the App State Community memorable ways to enjoy the season together across our campuses, thanks to the dedicated staff, faculty, students and volunteers who bring them to life.
In a major endorsement of App State’s community outreach, a new seven-year, $35 million GEAR UP grant from the U.S. Department of Education will expand App State’s work to help thousands of middle and high school students across Western North Carolina prepare for college, careers and the pathways available to them after graduation. Led by the Office of Rural Promise, the grant will support academic preparation, advising and partnerships with schools and families. This is App State’s second consecutive $35 million GEAR UP award, building on decades of work to expand educational access across our region. You can read more about the GEAR UP grant in this Appalachian Today news story.
That investment in educational opportunity also extends to the educators who help students succeed. The Office of Rural Promise has secured an additional $10 million federal grant to expand App State’s Empowering Teacher Learning model through ETL SPARK — Empowering Teacher Learning: Strengthening Professional Learning to Advance Reading Knowledge. The five-year initiative will work with public school teachers across North Carolina through a teacher-directed, competency-based model that allows educators to identify areas for growth and build new skills through microcredentials, with a particular focus on literacy and reading knowledge. Together, these two grants represent $45 million in new federal support for work that strengthens students, educators and educational pathways across North Carolina. Read more about the ETL federal grant in this Appalachian Today news story.
And shifting to App State Athletics, our Men’s and Women’s Cross Country teams carry strong performances into the Sun Belt Cross Country Championships happening today in Foley, Alabama. At the Arturo Barrios Invitational earlier this month, the men placed second among 38 teams and finished ahead of every other Division I program in the field. Noah Martinson set an App State 8K record with a time of 23:17.4, while Thomas Wlazlowski also finished faster than the previous program record. On the women’s side, every runner posted a season-best performance, led by Josie Jackson, whose personal-best 6K time moved her to sixth in App State program history. The men enter the championships seeking their fourth consecutive Sun Belt title, while the women will compete for their third straight title. Join me in cheering on these dedicated Mountaineers as they represent the Black and Gold!
As the weekend approaches, I hope you find time to enjoy the many activities taking place across our campuses and communities. Have a safe and enjoyable weekend!
Heather Norris
Chancellor
Clockwise, from top left: At the Family Weekend Brunch, I had the privilege of welcoming our App State families to the Boone campus and was deeply inspired by Student Government Association President Elizabeth Ford’s heartfelt remarks on what family truly means to our students; Conversations are vital to strengthening our campuses, and at App State Hickory, I appreciated the opportunity to connect with leaders who live, work and serve in the region as we explore new ways for our university and community to grow together. In this image, App State Hickory Senior Vice Provost Jamie Parson, third from left, Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Neva Specht, far right, and I, second from right, are speaking with App State Board of Visitors member Anthony Starr, who also serves as executive director at Western Piedmont Council of Governments, second from left, and C. Randall Isenhower, chair of the Catawba County Board of Commissioners, far left; I am so excited to see our Men’s and Women’s Cross Country teams enter the Sun Belt Conference championships strong and look forward to watching how far their hard work takes them this season; I am deeply proud that App State has secured $45 million in new federal grants — including a $35 million GEAR UP award and a $10 million literacy grant for educators — which will expand educational access, elevate classroom learning and transform opportunities for students and teachers across North Carolina. Thank you to the Office of Rural Promise, App State Athletics and Kyla Willoughby in University Communications for these images.
