BOONE—Appalachian State University ranks second among top 40 master’s degree granting institutions for the number of students participating in a short-term study abroad program in 2007-08. The data, released by the Institute of International Education’s annual Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange, also lists Appalachian sixth among the top 40 master’s degree granting institutions in terms of the number of students participating in all study abroad programs. [more]

BOONE—A college class in bluegrass traditions has resulted in the release of a bluegrass CD featuring banjo player Eric Ellis of Wilkes County.

Leila Weinstein and Emily Schaad, now graduates of Appalachian State University, began planning the project while enrolled in the Appalachian studies class “Bluegrass Traditions” taught by Dave Haney, vice provost for undergraduate education at Appalachian. [more]

BOONE— Each year more than 32,000 people die by suicide, and every one of them leaves behind loved ones and friends.  Appalachian State University joins the 11th Annual National Survivors of Suicide Day Nov. 21 for an event to offer healing, support and empowerment. [more]

BOONE—The holiday season is celebrated Friday, Dec. 4, with the annual holiday scholarship concert presented by Appalachian State University’s Hayes School of Music. [more]

BOONE—Belk Library and Information Commons at Appalachian State University will host a reception Tuesday, Nov. 24, for the campus and community in celebration of the Watauga County Historical Society’s recently published book “The Architectural History of Watauga County, North Carolina.” [more]

BOONE—The Hayes String Quartet from Appalachian State University’s Hayes School of Music will perform Nov. 23 at 6:15 p.m. in Broyhill Music Center’s Recital Hall. Admission is free. [more]

BOONE—The master of social work (MSW) degree program in Appalachian State University’s Department of Social Work has received full accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education, the field’s national accrediting agency.

The accreditation process began four years ago when the program was approved for candidacy by CSWE. The program enrolled its first students in January 2007. [more]

Appalachian State University faculty and staff donated more than $13,000 to take 90 school children from Watauga County shopping for winter clothing and other necessities. The community service project called AppKIDS (Appalachian kindness in donations) pairs volunteer shoppers with children selected to participate in the program. In addition to clothing, each child received a backpack or tote bag containing school supplies donated by faculty and staff, an Appalachian fan towel from Appalachian’s Department of Athletics, and breakfast and lunch at the Broyhill Inn and Conference Center. This is the 29^th year that Staff Council has sponsored the annual shopping day for children. AppKIDS co-chair Laura Young, left chats with Kinyata Adas, one of the volunteer shoppers. Adams is assistant director of multicultural student engagement at Appalachian. Young is conference coordinator at the Broyhill Inn. (Appalachian photo by University Photographer Troy Tuttle)

BOONE—The works of student composers in Appalachian State University’s Hayes School of Music will be performed Nov. 23 at 8 p.m. in Broyhill Music Center’s Rosen Concert Hall. Admission is free. [more]