Plemmons Medallion

On March 25th, the Board of Trustees awarded the W.H. Plemmons Medallion to Dr. Philip Ardoin from the department of Government and Justice Studies; Ms. Laura Byrd, student and W.H. Plemmons Fellow; Ms. Jenny Koehn, Student Development; Ms. Jean Roberts, Learning Assistance Program; and Mr. Peter Allen Rowe, SGA President and W.H. Plemmons Fellow.

Peter Allen Rowe

P.A. has served in a variety of leadership roles at Appalachian. He is the Student Government Association President. Previously, he served as a SOUL (Student Orientation Undergraduate Leader) leader. He was a founding member of Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI) Fraternity, Hollands Fellow participant, and an inaugural Walker Fellow in the College of Business. P.A. was selected as an entering freshman to be part of the W.H. Plemmons Leader Fellows Program. The breadth and depth of his engagement is extraordinary.

His nominator states.

P.A. has been an extremely effective student leader in a variety of settings. The quality of his leadership is exceptional. His commitment to his fellow students and in serving as a strong advocate for their needs, while keeping the success of Appalachian in mind, has been nothing short of extraordinary. I have watched him work with his peers, faculty, staff, alumni, and state leaders. At Appalachian, we challenge our students to seek engagement opportunities where they can develop their skills, impact the lives of their peers, and leave a legacy for generations to come. The impact of P.A.s leadership and his personal commitment to serving others has indeed left a legacy that others will benefit from for years to come.

He has accomplished all of this while never really seeking the recognition or the attention that one would expect. Yet, it is fair to say that in spite of his protests, PA is recognized throughout campus for his great personality, leadership, advocacy on behalf of students, and for his Appalachian spirit! In my 30+ years of working at Appalachian, I consider Peter Allen Rowe one of the best student leaders that we have had the pleasure to know and believe he is very deserving of this award.

Laura Elizabeth Byrd

Laura Byrd is a W.H. Plemmons Leader Fellow. The program is designed to foster leadership and engagement in its members. Laura has indeed taken that goal to heart. The quantity and quality of her involvement is impressive. As a Plemmons Fellow, she served as the student program coordinator and was instrumental in the success of the program. Laura has been actively involved in Student Government Association serving as a senator, secretary and most recently as Chief of Staff. She has served as a Student Undergraduate Orientation Leader (SOUL), an APPOL Corps leader, and a member of Club Council. In each of these leadership roles, Laura has worked tirelessly in support of students and serving as a strong advocate for them.

Her nominator states..

Laura has sought to make her mark at Appalachian in a variety of organizations. Many students confuse quantity with quality when it comes to involvement. Laura is one of those rare students who have been able to successfully balance a variety of involvement opportunities with the ability to be very successful in each. Through such involvements as SOUL and APPOL Corps, she has worked directly with incoming students to facilitate their smooth transition to collegiate life. These two programs worked with over 5,000 entering students over two years. As a senator and later a cabinet member in SGA, she worked to insure that student needs and concerns were effectively advocated to the University administration. It has been this desire to serve others that has guided her choices and motivation for being engaged on campus.

As I have worked with and observed Lauras work, I have been impressed by her genuine concerns for others, contagious personality, organizational skills, and most importantly her ability motivate others. The Plemmons Medallion is intended to recognize individuals who have contribute in extraordinary ways to the growth and development of our students. Laura has done this while being a student herself. The impact of her leadership and involvement will have an impact that will last long after her graduation!

Ms. Jean Roberts

Executive Director
Learning Assistance Program
25 Years at Appalachian
Category: Appalachian staff member

Selected excerpts from nominator and references:

She is a leader on campus and a person of tremendous drive, work ethic, and courage.

Jean works hard to build an authentic relationship with University staff, professors, and, most importantly, students. Her work ethic and leadership are strong examples for others. Furthermore, Jeans encouraging attitude also carries over to other members of the University.

As others will advocate in their letters of recommendation, we are fortunate to have one of the best examples of a caring University leader. I consider Jean to be among the best Appalachian student advocates. Jean shows all of the qualities that you would look for in awarding this medal. Charlie Cobb, Athletics

Whether serving students through a position in Student Programs, Academic Advising, Academic Services for Student Athletes or in her current title, Executive Director of the Learning Assistance Program, Jean brings a passion and commitment to her work second to none. First, Jean spends time getting to know each student individually. That, of course, includes their family, hometown, dreams and aspirations and, in the small town Southern tradition, the many ways Jean knows someone they know and most importantly, their favorite food because she invites her students into her home for meals with great regularity.

Next is the level of energy Jean brings to her work each day. Next the skills Jean brings to her work.Jean knows her stuff and she brings her many skills to work for the advocacy of what is best for the Appalachian students she serves.Finally commitment. Jean Roberts is passionate about her work and her students know it. Cindy Wallace, Student Development

Jean is an outstanding advocate for quality services to enhance students experience. Six years ago, Jean and I were the only employees in Academic Services for Athletes. It is a testament to Jeans gifts of collaboration, and the respect she has on this campus, that we now have a staff of six. Her leadership can be measured by program outcomes during her time as Director of Academic Services for Athletes, measures of student performance were consistently high. The NCAA Academic Support Services evaluation, conducted in 2009 concluded academic support services for student-athletes at ASU represent a best practice in higher education. Kim Sherrill, Academic Services

Jean epitomizes the old adage, kids dont care how much you know, until they know how much you care! Our players have so much trust in Jean because they know how much she cares about them as individuals. I have commented on numerous occasions that Jean, to me, is the most important member of our coaching staff. Chris Pollard, Athletics

Dr. Phillip Ardoin

Associate Professor
Government and Justice Studies
Years at ASU: 8
Category: Appalachian Faculty

Selected excerpts from nominator and references:

Phillip Ardoin is a Faculty-in-Residence in Frank Hall, home of nearly 250 ASU students. His apartment, where he and his wife and child live, is situated across from the lobby in Frank Hall. This gives Phillip access to students 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Phillip takes full advantage of the opportunity to be engaged with students. He and his son Cole are often found in the lobby talking to students or in the hall office hanging out with the Resident Assistants. Dr. Ardoin easily connects with students and provides opportunities for them to learn and have fun in the halls. He has hosted educational programs about hunger, interacting with faculty, and the confederate flag, as well as community builders such as photography contests and pumpkin carving. Students are often invited to his apartment for dinner.

Many freshmen live in Frank Hall. It is a great experience for them to have this interaction with Phillip during their first year at ASU. This helps them to understand that the faculty at ASU are committed to students and care about their success. Phillip's interactions with them help them realize it's not intimidating to talk to faculty. Phillip is truly a great ambassador for the faculty at ASU. Shari Williamson, University Housing

Dr. Ardoin is a leading advocate for maintaining the quality and cohesion of the General Education Program, for extending the academic and social connections within the classroom, and for ensuring that co-curricular opportunities are an integral part of the pedagogy and practice of liberal learning for the 21^st century. His involvement in the faculty governance of the General Education Program puts him in a unique place to ensure that undergraduate education at Appalachian prepares our students for success in a global society. Carter Hammett-McGarry, General Education

The ASU in Washington DC Course (HON 3510) is taught three Friday/Saturday class meetings throughout the semester. So it is a rigorous addition to Phillips already full teaching load on campus. It is designed to provide students with an academic perspective of the actors and institutions in our nation's capital through a hands-on exploration of Washington, DC. The course includes independent readings (related to student internships and/or contemporary political issues).

The program benefits greatly from Phillips excellent contacts in DC and tireless attention to the individual needs of each student participants career goals every semester. The course is student driven and therefore the readings and activities vary by semester depending on the internships and interest of the students participating in the course. Sharon Jensen, Career Development

Jennifer Jenny Koehn

Associate Director Student Programs
Department Student Programs
Years at Appalachian: 10
Category: Student Development Educator

Selected excerpts from nominator and references:

Jenny has mentored hundreds of students, developed major successful campus programs of note, empowered countless students to take leadership roles they never envisioned they could, and have supported faculty in the development of service-learning opportunities that have made social problems understandable, meaningful and often solvable for thousands of students in the last nine years. Dave Robertson, Student Programs

When I was approached to write a letter of support for Jenny Koehn in her candidacy for the W.H. Plemmons Leadership Medallion, I had to take a few moments to marvel at all that she has done for students here at Appalachian State University and wondered how I might adequately translate the incredible impact she has made here into words. Jennys career with Appalachian and the Community Together (ACT) began twelve years ago when she was fresh out of graduate school and full of energy. She immediately set to work building relationships with students and worked tirelessly to recruit and train dedicated and passionate student leaders. Shoulder to shoulder with the students she fostered a shared culture (occasionally referred to now as the ACT way) that emphasizes quality work, innovative thinking, and persistence beyond measure. This way of thinking has persisted and strengthened enabling ACT to turn out some of the best trained student leaders Ive ever encountered. Kate Johnson, Appalachian and Community Together (ACT); Student Programs

Jenny has the ability to immediately put students at ease and relate to them while at the same time pushing them mentally and socially to go beyond the boundaries and make a tangible, lasting difference. She is never comfortable taking the spotlight (another sign of s superior leader) and always looks for ways to involve students in the leadership of programs and activities.

Jennys thumbprint can be seen on just about every ACT program has that has taken place over the past 12 years and she is still coming up with new, innovative ideas for us to add to the palette each year. One such idea she conjured 12 years ago was the MLK Challengea full day of service for ASU Students in our local community. Based on the program model she created at ASU, Jenny has had the opportunity (via North Carolina Campus Compact) to help spread this model to over 130 campuses nationally. This Monday, on Jan 17^th, over 19,000 students from 28 plus states will be involved in similar MLK programs. Todd Mortensen, ACT Community Partnerships