Watauga Residential College Celebrates 45 years of Excellence

Watauga Residential Students

Watauga Residential College will host former and current students in celebration of the program’s 45th anniversary at Appalachian State University on Friday and Saturday April 13-14, 2018.

In 1972, students at Appalachian were introduced to the Watauga Residential College program, which encouraged students to read, write, argue, think and learn in different ways. Originally students lived in Watauga Hall and were moved to East Hall in the early 1970’s.

The Watauga experience continues to blend residential living with academics today. All current students in the Watauga Residential College program live in the Living Learning Center where they study and reside with their peers, still focusing on different ways to approach learning.

During this reunion celebration, current students will give tours of the campus to attending alumni. Other activities have been planned for the weekend such as a film screening, live music, a panel discussion with alumni, a memory quilt, an outdoor hiking trip, four square and remarks from the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. To see the full Itinerary, visit www.watauga.appstate.edu/watauga-45th-reunion.

To commemorate this anniversary year, Watauga has created a new student scholarship. This scholarship fund was conceived by current students and academic advisors to address the growing need to retain and support returning students. This scholarship will be awarded annually to Watauga College students based primarily on demonstrated need and merit. To support current and future Watauga students visit Give to Watauga.

This two day reunion event was planned by Patience Perry, a senior lecturer at Watauga Residential College, and current Watauga students Aurelia Klinck, Hannah Bennett, Hannah Daleness, Katherine Pate, Katherine Webb, Kathryn Stranathan, Ivy Welborn, Eden Lockamy, Sydney Van Ord, Jessica Crandell. To learn more about this event and Watauga Residential College, visit www.watauga.appstate.edu.

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About Watauga Residential College
Watauga Residential College is a specialized academic program where classes are discussion-based seminars that allow students to pursue topics of interest to them within the context of the class. This program provides an unusual opportunity for students to become engaged in learning at a deep level through class discussions and research projects. Watauga classes are interdisciplinary and this approach to learning requires students to integrate knowledge from a variety of disciplines to gain a complete perspective on a topic.

By Anna Muckenfuss and Ellen Gwin Burnette
April 6, 2018
BOONE, N.C.

This image shows students standing outside the Watauga Residence Hall, built 1929, at Appalachian State University (1967-current) in the 1970s. Two students can be seen sitting in the second floor window. (University Archives)
Published: Apr 6, 2018 3:05pm

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