Appalachian State University's Student Government Association (SGA) hosted its first Student Success and Leadership banquet on Thursday, bringing together faculty and student leaders. The event served as a platform to discuss the multifaceted nature of success in college and how it extends to preparing students for life.
Malik Harris, the Academic Affairs Director for the SGA, organized the event and was introduced by Student Body President Elizabeth Ford. In his opening remarks, Harris shared his reflections on the academic needs of students and what it truly means for them to thrive at App State, underscoring student success as a core concept. He expanded on this idea, suggesting that while preparing students for successful careers is important, the university should also prepare them for more than just a career. Harris advocated for App State to prepare students for "life. For leadership, service, responsibility and courageous citizenship."
Following Harris’s opening address, Vice Provost for Student Affairs Jeff Cathey took the stage to elaborate on the crucial role of partnerships between students and faculty. Cathey expressed his view that student success involves the opportunity to continue engaging in "high-impact things" through collaborative efforts among all attendees.
A brief intermission allowed guests to enjoy food from Bella’s Italian and network. The program then continued with Harris introducing a video documentary. This film featured App State students and faculty sharing their personal connections to the university and illustrating how their experiences there have contributed to their success.
Calvin Powell, the Deputy Director of Academic Affairs, subsequently introduced the keynote speaker for the evening, Associate Vice Provost for Student Success Shernita Lee. Lee commenced her presentation by recounting a personal story about her path to App State and the various decisions that led her to her current position. She likened her life story, and the overarching theme of her speech, to the concept of a 'choose your own adventure' book, where choices dictate outcomes.
Lee articulated that student success and leadership are not linear experiences, but rather a sequence of choices, moments, and pivotal turning points. She emphasized that every student's journey is shaped by the choices they make as leaders. As she connected her personal choices to her arrival at App State, Lee linked the theme of student success to the 'choose your own adventure' narrative, highlighting how each step a student takes is ideally supported by faculty and staff, guiding them toward a positive outcome.
Lee acknowledged that while everyone has their own story and chooses their own adventures, students may face different barriers. She stated that every student at App State is choosing their adventure, and it is the responsibility of leaders to shape that experience, create opportunities, understand potential barriers, and assist students in navigating them.
Following the keynote address, an interactive activity challenged guests. Three lead fellows from the Office of Community Engaged Leadership facilitated the task, where each table was provided with paper and markers to create a slogan centered on the theme of student success. Guests then voted on the slogan that best embodied the theme, with "Success starts with access" being selected as the winner.
Before the ceremony concluded, Dean of Students Judy Haas was honored with the Provost Award for Student Success and Leadership. Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Neva J. Specht presented the award, which was met with a standing ovation from the attendees.
Malik Harris returned to the stage for a final time to reiterate the evening's message. He underscored that the work done on campus to support students is a collective effort, stating that it "relies on all of us to uplift and build that culture." The banquet served as an inaugural gathering to foster this shared commitment to student development and leadership at App State.