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| Parents provide silent, strong support |
by Jennifer Schneider
Staff Writer
Appalachian State University has many groups that work in the background
to keep the campus running smoothly. These individuals work hard
to keep the campus connected.
The Parents Association is one of those groups.
Founded in 1988, the association keeps parents of Appalachian students
involved in programs and activities essential to the Appalachian
community.
“The Parents Association has been a great way to keep in touch
with everything that goes on on campus and stay involved in our
daughter Lindsay’s college life,” freshman parent Joe
Montanarella said.
According to its Web site, the association offers parents up-to-date
information about campus issues, a unique communication link with
administrators, faculty members, and other varieties of university
community as well as opportunities to partake in special projects
that enhance the lives of students.
“The Board of the Parents Association has been raising and
giving about $10,000 per year to special student projects that otherwise
would not be funded,” 2003-2004 Parents Association Co-president
Bill Staton said. “This amount could possibly double in the
next year.”
The association most recently raised $3,000 for Peer Career for
Wellness Peer Education, $1,000 for the Center for Student Involvement
and Leadership and the Student Government Association to educate
students about off-campus housing and $2,000 to the Women’s
Center for their monthly newsletter and Peer Education Programs.
To date, the Parents Association has raised over $51,300 for projects
to benefit Appalachian State students.
“Those of us on board know so much about the school which
enables us to become ambassadors for Appalachian and that in turn
helps us recruit superior students,” Staton said. “If
there is a more caring college institution anywhere we’d love
to know about it because ASU rates 100 percent on our scale.”
Other association programs include Summer Send Off, Orientation,
Family Weekend, Move-In Day and Open House.
“We are on hand at each Open House where we help parents and
students who look like they need help or have questions,”
sophomore parent Mark Ernst said. “I think we are a great
resource for new Appalachian parents and welcome their contacting
us directly.”
The Parents Association has spent the past 16 years looking for
ways to better student life on campus without much recognition.
They continue to work hard to improve Appalachian and the family
life the university prides itself on.
“They are an awesome group of people,” Director of Parent
Programs Susie L. Greene said.
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