Plemmons Medallion

Susie Greene has worked at Appalachian for more than 30 years. She has served in a variety of capacities that have influenced the quality of student life, including Assistant Director and Director of testing at the universitys Counseling and Psychological Services.

Greene is described as a mentor, confidant, cheerleader, motivator, arbitrator and a friend to students. As one of the universitys chief student advocates, she has mentored, counseled and advised countless young adults enrolled at Appalachian, sharing her wisdom, encouragement, and at times her admonishments, all to help them succeed in their personal and academic lives.

A nominator wrote, If you were to ask Susie what her job was, she would most likely respond Whatever the students need me to do to help them succeed. She can be as soft and understanding as anyone, but also as tenacious and persistent as a bulldog in supporting and challenging our students.

Jennifer Snodgrass has been a member of the Hayes School of Music faculty since 2005. She is known within the school as well as the music community for her innovate use of technology in the classroom and her work to ensure that her students achieve the highest level of thinking.

Snodgrass was instrumental in encouraging Appalachian students to establish the first student chapter of the College Music Society. She also is known for her work to empower undergraduates, foster student learning and engage students in academic research. She works with her students in an effort to engage them in research, presentations, and scholarly participation on the local, regional and national levels, a nominator wrote.

In 2007, Snodgrass received Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternitys National Collegiate Outstanding Advisor Award for her work with the universitys student chapter.

Michael McSwain has served in a variety of leadership and service roles on campus. He has been a Peer Leader in Freshman Seminar and was selected as an inaugural member of the Walker Fellows Program in the Walker College of Business. As a Holland Fellow in the Walker College of Business, McSwain studied abroad in Beijing and Shanghai.

McSwain has served as president of Club Council and the Appalachian Ambassadors, leading groups that have a dramatic impact on the quality of student life and the success of the university. With more than 275 clubs at Appalachian, the Club Council provides the leadership and advocacy for these groups. The ambassadors are one of the most visible student organizations and through their work with admissions put a student face on the admission experience.

McSwain is considered a builder of strong relationships, someone with a high level of commitment to others, hardworking resourceful, responsible and professional by his nominators.

Courtney Rickenberg was nominated for the leadership medallion by her peers in the W.H. Plemmons Fellows Program. As a Plemmons Fellow, Rickenberg coordinated the groups efforts to provide a middle school leadership day for two area middle schools. This included developing and overseeing the curriculum for the program.

She also has provided leadership on the Advisory Council, Scholars Weekend, and service projects.

Rickenberg also is an active member of Appalachian Ambassadors, the Student Association of Family and Consumer Science and Kappa Omicron Nu Honor Society. While she has served as president of several organizations, it is her behind the scenes leadership, enthusiasm and dedication to service that is recognized by her peers.

Rickenberg believes that being an active and engaged member of her community is a civic responsibility to be taken seriously and with complete dedication.