Support

The Office of Community-Engaged Leadership works to cultivate programs that support the growth of our students. Community members are able to show support for some of our select programs with a special donation.

Leigh Lane Edwards ASE Scholarship

Your donation supports the Leigh Lane Edwards Scholarship, granting students the opportunity to participate in international service-learning through the Alternative Service Experience (ASE) program. This scholarship fund was named in memory of Appalachian State University student Leigh Lane Edwards, who touched the hearts of everyone she met and truly lived the life of what it means to be a servant-leader. A few months before her death, Leigh registered to participate in one of ASE’s international service-learning courses traveling to Bolivia. While she was not able to participate in this experience, we know that she would have wanted future App State students to have opportunities like it. It is our goal to raise enough money to assist students with fulfilling their dreams of serving abroad.

These trips range from $1,200 to $3,000 in cost depending on location, but we know first-hand the impact that they can have when students are provided the opportunity to engage in active, responsible, global citizenship. Alternative service break trips challenge students to enact positive social change while learning and contributing to dialogue around key social issues such as hunger and homelessness, poverty, youth education, and environmental sustainability. International programs have gone to places such as Jamaica, Panama, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Peru, Ecuador, Belize and Czech Republic. Your support helps ensure a student’s financial circumstances will not limit their personal growth and learning through such experiences.

“Leadership, like hope, begins and ends in what stirs our hearts… the social issues that cause our hearts to break also inspire us to hope for change, and this hope fuels vision for leadership and action towards meaningful change.”

— Leigh Lane Edwards, December 2003

“Going on an iASE was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The other participants really helped my experience be the best it could be as we all encouraged each other to dig deeper and explore perspectives that we’ve never encountered.”

— Hailey Pister

Plemmons Leadership Scholars Fund

Your donation supports the Plemmons Leadership Scholars, a cohort-based, four-year scholarship program offered through our office. Through opportunities in and out of the classroom, Plemmons Leadership Scholars are empowered to develop personally and professionally, embrace continuous reflection and learning, critically examine leadership systems and structures, take action on issues and causes that matter to them, serve as advocates alongside peers and community members, and contribute to lasting change in groups and organizations they are a part of. Dr. William Howard Plemmons, Appalachian State University’s second president, was known as the builder president for his investment and expansion in the campus infrastructure, curriculum, and student life. As a continuation of his impact, the Plemmons Leadership Scholars program provides support, development, and resources to motivated student leaders who seek to build a thriving, just, and caring campus community.

“The resources that Plemmons Leadership Scholars provided helped me create lasting bonds with people all around campus and I’m so lucky to experience that!”

— Aiyana Willoughby