Appalachian Regional Commission Hosts 120 Appalachian Youth Leaders in Washington to Discuss Regional Economic Development December 2015

 

WASHINGTON, D.C., December 4, 2015—Today the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) welcomed 120 students representing 15 schools in 10 Appalachian states to the 15th annual Appalachian Teaching Project (ATP). Supported by ARC and organized by the Center for Appalachian Studies and Services at East Tennessee State University (ETSU), ATP coordinates student teams from participating colleges and universities in Appalachia to develop applied research projects addressing emerging development issues across the Region. As part of ATP, student delegations present their research projects to ARC leadership and other federal officials in Washington, D.C.

"The Appalachian Teaching Project (ATP) is a flagship event for the Appalachian Regional Commission and one I look forward to every year," said ARC Federal Co-Chair Earl F. Gohl. "ATP is an opportunity to hear directly from the Region's next generation and learn about their innovative ideas for community development. I am always deeply impressed by the leadership, creativity, and poise each student brings to this program and to Appalachia's future."

This year's symposium will be held December 4–5 at the Crystal City Marriot at Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia.

The guiding research question for the Appalachian Teaching Project is "How do we build a sustainable future for Appalachian communities?" The 2015 projects (PDF: 154 KB) fall under five general themes of natural asset development, youth leadership, cultural asset promotion, tourism, and planning and innovation.

Participating student delegations represent:

• Alfred State College in Alfred, New York;
• Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina;
• Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama;
• East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tennessee;
• Emory and Henry College in Emory, Virginia;
• Frostburg State University in Frostburg, Maryland;
• Indiana University of Pennsylvania in Indiana, Pennsylvania;
• Morehead State University in Morehead, Kentucky;
• Radford University in Radford, Virginia;
• Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College in Cumberland, Kentucky;
• University of North Georgia in Dahlonega, Georgia;
• University of Pittsburgh in Bradford, Pennsylvania;
• University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee;
• Virginia Tech, in Blacksburg, Virginia; and
• Zane State College, in Zanesville, Ohio.

More than 1,800 students from 19 colleges and universities have participated in ATP since the program began in 2001.

The Appalachian Teaching Project can be followed on Facebook or on Twitter using #ARCATP. A full agenda and project descriptions is available on the ETSU Web site. Previous ATP presentations and agendas are available on the ARC Web site.

About the Appalachian Regional Commission
The Appalachian Regional Commission is a regional economic development partnership of federal and state governments across 420 counties in 13 Appalachian states. ARC's mission is to be a strategic partner and advocate for sustainable community and economic development in Appalachia.