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GEAR UP Director and Deputy Director of the Office of Rural Promise Corinne Smith to serve on NCCEP Board of Directors

Appalachian GEAR UP Director Elected to NCCEP Board of Directors
Jan 9, 2026

Corinne Smith, director of Appalachian GEAR UP and deputy director of the Office of Rural Promise (ORP), has been elected to serve a three-year term on the...

Front page, GEAR UP

New L.E.A.D Cohort Kicks Off at Appalachian State
Dec 19, 2025

On Saturday, December 6, Appalachian GEAR UP hosted the first L.E.A.D. Gather-Connect for the second cohort of the program. 

GEAR UP, Front page

A Month in Review: November
Dec 4, 2025

November was another busy month for the Office of Rural Promise!

Front page
Kallie Kressly

Navigating College Access Barriers for Students in Foster Care
Apr 22, 2022

I have had the privilege of serving as the Appalachian College Advising Corps Adviser at Marjorie Williams Academy (Williams) for nearly two years.

Advise NC
Upward Bound students participate in the Upward Bound Scholars’ Bowl at the SAEOPP 2022 Regional Academic Competition at Atlanta Metropolitan State College
Edgar Sandoval-Rodriguez

Upward Bound Celebrates 50 Years! Part Four
Apr 5, 2022

In this series, we will spotlight Upward Bound students, staff, and partners as we celebrate 50 years of the program at Appalachian State University.

Upward Bound
Stafford (far left) in attendance at the Student African American Brotherhood (SAAB) Conference.

I am my brother’s keeper: A journey of resilience
Apr 1, 2022

“I am my brother’s keeper!”, the phrase that was echoed throughout a room filled with black and brown young men that possessed hunger, dedication, and resilie

Advise NC
Madison High science teachers

RootEd Program Supports Local Restoration Program
Mar 29, 2022

MARS HILL - What started off as a trip to a local park has now turned into something far more substantial. 

GEAR UP
Molly Riddle
Trinity Robertson aims for higher when it comes to scoring in air rifle competitions and in her postsecondary goals. She and her JROTC rifle team at R-S Central High School in Rutherford, North Carolina, won the State Air Rifle Championship in 2021 and in 2022. Trinity will join the Army National Guard before heading to Appalachian State University in the fall.
Jacob Morgan

Scoring All Zeros
Mar 18, 2022

Scoring all zeros on a FAFSA is a strange, bittersweet feeling. Initially, you see that score, a perfect score as I like to call it, and think “Wow!

Advise NC
Matt Ruble

Upward Bound Celebrates 50 Years! Part Three
Mar 9, 2022

In this series, we will spotlight Upward Bound students, staff, and partners as we celebrate 50 years of the program at Appalachian State University.

Upward Bound
Tiffany Patterson

Thriving in the Unexpected
Mar 1, 2022

So your prospective job is asking you to move to a new place? That place being somewhere that is miles from your close friends and family?

Advise NC