Congratulations Kate Starr – Recipient of the Marvin Hoffman / McGill Associates Local Government Scholarship
Kate Starr was recently selected as the recipient of the Marvin Hoffman / McGill Associates Local Government Scholarship at Appalachian State University (App State). This scholarship provides support to an undergraduate or graduate student pursuing coursework related to town, city, and county management in the College of Arts and Sciences at Appalachian State University.
Dr. Pat Mitchell, Director Master of Public Administration Program at Appalachian State University congratulates Kate by saying, “Kate has the correct last name (with an additional “r”), she is a STAR! She is well-liked by her peers, friendly, personable and an excellent student in the classroom.”
The scholarship was named after Marvin Hoffman, who served as the MPA Director for nearly thirty years. During his tenure, Dr. Hoffman secured national accreditation for the MPA program, assisted in raising money for the permanent endowment of scholarships for students pursuing a career in local government, helped build the alumni networking association, and trained hundreds of students to become community leaders.
McGill is honored to support this scholarship and ensure its sustainability for years to come.
Meet Kate – Early Passion for Government
Kate was born in Hickory, North Carolina. Growing up, Kate was influenced by her father’s career in local government. Anthony Starr served as the planning director in Henderson County, and for the last twelve years, as the Executive Director of the Western Piedmont Council of Governments. She was able to see the direct impact his work had on communities, which inspired her passion for government.
Kate attended St. Stephen’s High School in Hickory. She participated in the Hickory Youth Council and various policy clubs. Following high school, Kate attended the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill (UNC-CH) and studied public policy. She was fortunate to take classes at the UNC-CH School of Government during her undergraduate studies, furthering her desire to pursue a career in local government.
Graduate Education at Appalachian State University
Upon graduation, Kate entered the Master of Public Administration program at Appalachian State University (App State) with a concentration in town, city, and county management. Kate recalls a phone call with Dr. Pat Mitchell, MPA Program Director, that influenced her decision to attend App State. She also attributes the strong alumni network, through the Appalachian State University Local Government Alumni Association, as another critical decision point.
Upon enrollment, Kate took advantage of the full experience of being a student in Boone. She is the MPA Program Assistant, a Senator on the Student Government Association, and part of the Graduate Ambassador program, which assists with graduate school recruitment.
She is excited about the peer relationships she has developed during her studies and knows those relationships will continue throughout her lifetime.
Applying What She Learned – Grant Writing
Kate has enjoyed the coursework, advice, and mentorship throughout her studies. Last year, Kate had the opportunity to serve as Dr. Crayton’s, Assistant Professor of Public Administration, graduate assistant. In this role, Kate completed research related to nonprofit organizations, which taught her about the collaboration between the public and nonprofit sector. Simultaneously, Kate took a grant writing class and wrote a grant for the Hunger and Health Coalition. This experience has been one of Kate’s most memorable experiences in her coursework because she could apply what she learned in the classroom to a real-world experience.
While serving as a graduate assistant, Kate helped Dr. Crayton develop Lab iMPACTLY. This program is designed to increase opportunities for college students to have hands-on experiences. Nonprofits in the community submit minor projects for students to work on, based on what they have learned in the classroom.
Internships Offer Real World Experience
Kate has also completed three internships. These experiences allowed Kate to apply her coursework to the workforce and solidify her desire to work in local government. She completed an internship with the City Manager’s Office in Hickory, where she helped develop career ladders for employees and assisted with a budget presentation. Kate also interned in Catawba County, where she worked on an employee engagement project and a dog permitting study. Most recently, she interned with the City of Lenoir, focusing on a code enforcement project and updating employee descriptions.
What’s Next – Advancing Her Career in Local Government
Next May, Kate will graduate and is interested in pursuing a career in local government management. She is excited to be a part of a community.
She is very grateful for the faculty and connections, as well as the opportunities her experience at App State has given her. She credits Dr. Mitchell and Dr. Crayton by saying, “They had such an influence on my academic career. They provided me with wisdom and encouragement that makes me excited for the future.”
Kate encourages teens and young adults who want to make a difference in communities to consider a career in local government or nonprofit management. She says that working in local government “is one of the most extraordinary ways to make a difference in your community.”
