The Highlands Biology Club at Appalachian State University has grown significantly this fall semester due to the club’s advancements to broaden its horizons by hosting fundraisers, going on trips and potentially choosing a philanthropy.
“We are excited to announce that at the first meeting we had 50-plus potential members show up and show interest in what we are trying to achieve,” club president Alex Lee said. “The biology club has grown significantly this year due to a dedicated board of officers who are motivated to offer as much opportunity to our members as possible.”
Lee said there were only eight consistent club members, including five club officers last year. However, this year there have been about 35 consistent and interested members.
“This year is all about trips being stapled into what we do each year,” Lee said.
The club will be making trips this year to Duke University’s School of Medicine and the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro, among other destinations.
“A trip to Duke University’s School of Medicine and the Asheboro zoo is an example of how members are presented with opportunities to expand on their field of study as well as broaden their knowledge of other fields of study within the major study of biology,” Lee said.
Sydney Bunting, the club’s secretary, said the club is very open to suggestions from members when it comes to possible trips and that the club hopes it will also go to an aquarium and possibly a museum or two.
“Having the title Biology Club leaves room for us to be open to not just one aspect of biology but all of them,” Lee said. “Club members who study ecology, virology, cellular/molecular biology [and] even entomology, the study of insects, are given a wide variety of trips to choose from.”
Bunting said the club will be participating in a particularly exciting event on Sept. 27th.
“One upcoming event that we’re excited for is called Sciencepalooza, which is just a cookout with all of the science clubs on Duck Pond Field that will be a lot of fun and hopefully become an annual event for the science community,” Bunting said. “We’ll also be having some cool fundraisers like Rent-A-Puppy as well as selling cookies and hot chocolate when it gets colder.”
In addition to the several trips and fundraisers this year, the Highlands Biology Club will be doing volunteer work.
“As far as philanthropy, we’re currently trying to determine as a club what organization we would like to donate to, but we do plan to do some philanthropy in the future,” Bunting said.
The club is open to all students, not just biology majors.
“We offer a friendly and open environment where you can have fun but also learn things about biology,” Bunting said. “It’s also a great place to make long-lasting friendships with people that share a common interest with you.”
Story: Nicole Caporaso