The Appalachian State University GEAR UP Partnership is pleased to offer an exciting, hands-on experience to 9th graders at Alleghany High, Avery County High and Freedom High schools.  Students who are interested in this opportunity should complete the electronic application below.  Each student who is selected to attend this weekend will choose one of the following topics as their focus.  Students selected by the Appalachian State GEAR UP Partnership will attend the weekend FREE of charge.

Review the topics below, prioritize your choices and review the application at the link below.  When you have all your answers and information ready, click on the link again and complete your application.  Be sure to submit a complete application by 5:00 p.m. on October 28th.
 
We look forward to hearing all about you through your application.

Sustainability: Showing Respect for Mother Nature

Sustainability has become a watchword of contemporary life. Often missing from discussions about sustainability is recognition that the choices we make and the technologies that we use play a major role in achieving the goal of sustainability. In this course, students will learn to distinguish feasible solutions that address the three pillars of sustainability (environment, equity, economy) from those that are merely “greenwashing.” In addition, students will explore the diverse realms of human technological activities. These consist of energy, transportation, buildings, food systems, and more. Course activities will include, but not be limited to discussion, debate, solar cooking, renewable energy activities/demonstrations, carbon footprint analysis, and the first ever “Sustainability Olympics.” If you love the mountains and learning about green living strategies, then this is the course for you. Instructor: Lee Ball

Amazing Appalachian Amphibians!

Discover one of the more diverse vertebrates - the salamander. Working in groups, students will visit field sites to capture and mark salamanders using several distinctly different techniques, identify the different specimens, and record their findings. Students will photograph specimens, study habitat choices, estimate population size, and make comparisons of reproductive patterns among species. Students will have the opportunity to see first-hand the research being conducted at Appalachian with visits to the live animal facility and the museum and teaching labs. Participants will be exploring outside and are asked to wear old, warm clothes. Instructor: Dr. Wayne Van Devender

Flight Science

Birds, bats and insects may make it look easy, but flying is actually a rather challenging endeavor. It is only in relatively recent history that people have finally "conquered" the air, despite working on the problem at least since the time of the ancient Greeks. This course will start with a study of the basics physics of flight, then move on to some of the important engineering and design principles involved in flying objects. Students will have an opportunity to build, test and redesign various flight vehicles. Since construction and testing are inherently messy affairs, students are strongly advised to wear ONLY old clothes to class. Instructor: Dr. Jon Saken

Journalism in A Multimedia Age

Podcasting, podcatchers, RSS feeds, aggregators, readers – what does it all mean? This course will demystify the terms associated with podcasting and provide the opportunity to produce the first episode of your own podcast. Learn how to use free tools to create, publish and syndicate media rich episodes for your chosen audience. We will review acceptable use policies that address responsibilities for presentation of appropriate content, and expectations regarding acquiring source materials as well as how to use feed readers/podcatchers to subscribe to and explore podcasts such as Google Reader/iTunes. We also will explore Google accounts and applications as well as other free podcasting tools such as Audacity, Garage Band, iMovie, iPhoto. Our main activity will focus on planning for your own podcast; this will include identifying your audience with attention to use of interviews, comedy, sports, and creating a planning outline or script that includes a plan for media such as voice, video and/or text. You also will publish a pilot for your podcast and seek feedback from your audience. Instructor: John Spagnolo

To be eligible for participation:

Please complete the following application. An admissions committee will review each application and select camp participants based on the accomplishments of the student and the thoroughness of the application. Completed applications must be received on or before October 28th by 5:00 p.m. Finalists will be notified by November 4th.

Application Instructions

1. Talk to your parents or guardians about this opportunity.  Make sure they give their permission for you to attend Scholar Weekend on November 14-15, 2009 before completing the application. 
2. This application consists of questions about yourself and an essay submission. Preview the application questions to ensure that you have all the information that you need.
3. Preview the essay topic at the end of the application and prepare an essay. Before you begin completing the application electronically, have your final draft ready to cut and paste into the text box provided at the end of the application.
4. You will receive an immediate confirmation that you have submitted your application successfully.
   
   If you are ready to preview or begin the application, please click the link below.
   
   

gocollege.appstate.edu/gear-up-application