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Feature/Profile Articles

Below are features, human interest and profile pieces written for The Appalachian.

The Appalachian •

The solo Alpha keeps the letters alive at App State

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, is the largest historically Black fraternity in the nation, yet senior marketing major Jaden Hatcher is the sole member on App State’s campus.
President, secretary, treasurer, recruitment chair and more are all roles members of Greek organizations can choose to step into. Hatcher became all of those positions for the Pi Nu chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, following his crossing on March 26, 2024.
“Being a solo in my chapter is hard, b...
The Appalachian •

Student activism over the years: Where are they now?

Whether it be local to App State’s campus or Boone, or it’s a national or international issue, Sanford Mall and the pavements of App State have beared witness to dozens of marches, hundreds of chants and thousands of signs and heard the voices of student activists.
Stepping back in time through The Appalachian’s coverage, App State students of the early 1960s protested issues revolving around campus restrictions. A decade later into the 1970s, students voiced their opposition to the Vietnam War...
The Appalachian •

E-News from the ground up: Celebrating 30 years of Boone’s classic coffee shop

Over 30 years ago, one would walk into the small building on Howard Street and smell the rubber of tires and see cars and other equipment for sale. Today, people walk into that same building, smell the aroma of coffee grounds, ask for a white chocolate mocha and sit down at the same table someone sat at decades before them.
What originally started as Espresso News and Mosaic Books in October of 1994, founded by Mark DeBroder and Teresa Webb, now celebrates its 30th anniversary this October as Es...
The Appalachian •

How a lack of Hispanic education is bringing people closer to their roots

Coming into App State as a first-generation student, Karol Perez noticed things were different at a predominately white institution. With her family not around, Perez experienced fewer Hispanic gatherings, spoke Spanish less and the food options were limited. She described it as “not being where I was.”
When confronted with the changes, she realized she was different from her peers in a cultural sense.
“I’m different from the rest of the people,” Perez said. 
However, it wasn’t just in the exper...
The Appalachian •

Celebrating Women’s History Month: The development of App State’s women’s sports

Over the course of App State’s 125-year tenure, its athletic program has seen many changes pertaining to women’s sports. This includes the formation and ending of teams, milestones, changes in leadership, victories and more. However, through the rise and fall of some of these sports, the legacy of women in athletics will continue to stay. 
In honor of women’s history month, here are some of the early moments that helped shape the women’s athletic program at the university.
 
1930s – Girl Cagers....
The Appalachian •

Black at App TV spotlights Black community

“Where’s the Black people show?” asked Tessa Cokley, a junior electronic media/broadcasting major, when wishing to get involved with AppTV and seeing the options of the shows she could join.
In the Fall 2023 semester, Cokley took it upon herself to create Black at App TV, the first Black-led and focused program on AppTV.
“I was like, you know what? Let me go ahead and start this, make my little mark at App,” Cokley said. “It’s definitely something that I can do.”
The goal of the show, Cokley sai...
The Appalachian •

Father Duck: Meet App State’s duck caretaker

It’s less than 20 degrees outside, there’s snow on the ground and campus is still. Passing Stadium Drive, one can hear the waddles and small quacks of the other residents on campus: the App State ducks.
Although Boone is quiet and cold during winter break when everyone goes home, there is one person who stays behind and joins the ducks in the cold weather to ensure they are cared for, and his name is Daniel Byrd.
Director of Teacher Education, an animal lover, a practicing pilot and a pianist, B...
The Appalachian •

Family fear attraction brings nightly frights to Boone

Night is falling at the High Country Fairgrounds and the Bloody Pines scare actors race against the setting sun. The atmosphere is thick with anticipation, as one family and its volunteers prepare for a night of terror, screams and memories. 
Coming out of an off-season, The Bloody Pines haunted house and trail is back with a new name to give guests a spooky season experience every Friday and Saturday night in October, plus the first weekend of November if weather permits.
Located at the High Co...
The Appalachian •

Active Minds: Mental health resource to students by students

New year, new classes, professors, assignments, tests, home, friends, jobs, commitments and changes. The list goes on. Whether one is a new or returning student, the start of another school year can mean all of these things and more, including stress, sadness or discomfort. 
App State has many resources to help students get through stressful, sad or lonely times; one resource being a student-run club.
The App State chapter of Active Minds, a club run by co-presidents and roommates Larisa Eichler...
The Appalachian •

From masks to degrees: App State’s COVID cohort

Leaving campus for spring break can be exciting, as adventures or relaxation usually awaits— beach trips with friends, traveling and attending parties, or just the thought of seeing family for the first time in months. However, the adventures were put on a quick pause, the traveling and parties were strictly prohibited and the week-long relaxation with family turned into months.

“Classes will continue as scheduled,” read a university email from March 9, 2020. Within 48 hours, another email was...
The Appalachian •

‘Sometimes you just need a hug’: Free Moms bring love, support

When walking across Sanford Mall on a Thursday afternoon, there might be a table and a sign promoting free listening, free treats and free moms and dads.

Free Moms is a group of volunteers, most of which are parents, who give out snacks, support and hugs to students walking by. The catch? Absolutely nothing. The group does not require students to put down their email, attend any events, donate or follow up with them.

“There’s no hooks,” said Doug Walton, a “free dad” with the group. “It’s just...
The Appalachian •

La gente de Boone: The Hispanic/Latine community

We hope you appreciate this article! Before you move on, our student staff wanted to ask if you would consider supporting The Appalachian's award-winning journalism. We are celebrating our 90th anniversary of The Appalachian in October 2024!
We receive funding from the university, which helps us to compensate our students for the work they do for The Appalachian. However, the bulk of our operational expenses — from printing and website hosting to training and entering our work into competitions...
The Appalachian •

The story of Boone’s first mosque

Aladdin leads the call to prayer beginning the Jumaah Prayer service, on August 26, 2022 in Boone, North Carolina.

Boone welcomed a new mosque in July, making it the first official mosque in the High Country.

Located at 643 Greenway Road #G, the Islamic Center of Boone opened its doors to the public July 1. The mosque allows Muslims to pray, connect with each other and access resources, and invites non-Muslims to learn more about the religion.

The Islamic Center opens at 1:30 p.m. and holds i...
The Appalachian •

Graduating seniors leave Boone and local businesses employment

After taking their last final exams, finishing up internships and moving out of apartments, seniors not only leave Boone, but they also depart from jobs at local businesses.

Every year businesses lose employees because of graduation, causing a change in operation. Anna Banana’s, Macado’s, Lost Province Brewery Co. and other local businesses all employ seniors who are about to graduate or recently graduated.

Macado’s employee Nirali McColgin said they have many senior employees who are about to...
The Appalachian •

App State student, family bring Christmas to children’s hospital patient

With the help of several communities, an App State student and her family brought Christmas cheer to a girl who lived in a hospital for nearly three years.

Grace Smithson, a senior psychology major, and her father, Miles Smithson, were at Brenner Children’s Hospital during the week of Thanksgiving for a family member. Upon their arrival, they noticed the room next to theirs was very large and already decorated for Christmas.

“We were wondering if the person that’s in there was going to be ther...