Message from Interim Chancellor Heather Norris

Friday, July 12, 2024

We are enjoying a summer full of students, families and visitors taking part in events and programming across the university — orientation, educational and athletic camps, and An Appalachian Summer Festival, just to name a few!

This weekend, we look forward to one of our biggest events of the summer: welcoming our alumni home for what promises to be a fun and memorable Alumni Weekend. This year’s celebration is made even more special because it is part of the university’s 125th anniversary year. Beginning today, we will hold several events to honor and celebrate our alumni, who helped shape what Appalachian State University is today, and who have helped lead the way for our current and future Mountaineers.

  • This afternoon, more than 200 attendees will join us as we honor the donors who have invested in our students through their support of scholarships, and celebrate our student scholars, who are achieving their academic dreams with the help of their scholarships. Nearly 70% of our students receive some form of financial assistance, and each year, the university awards an average of $25 million to students based on need, academic merit and athletic achievement.

    Our students inspire so many people to dream big for a future that we know will be bright — because our students' capabilities, resilience and dedication to excellence are underpinned by an incredible education from Appalachian State University.

    As we celebrate the accomplishments of our scholarship recipients, we thank all the remarkable people who see the promise we see in our students every day — an ambitious work ethic, resilience and a desire to make their communities stronger, healthier and more fulfilling places to live and work.

  • Tomorrow afternoon, we will celebrate the 50th graduation anniversary of the Class of 1974 at the Black and Gold Reunion, inducting each class member in attendance into the university’s Black and Gold Society and presenting them with a commemorative gold medallion in honor of their contributions to the university while they were students and as alumni. The roots of Mountaineers run deep and strong, and the Class of 1974 joins nearly 13,000 living alumni who have marked 50 years or more since graduation. To the Class of 1974: You have helped shape who we are and who we will become. Thank you for your commitment to your alma mater and for continuing to make all of us proud!

  • Tomorrow evening, we will hold the signature event of the weekend, the Alumni Awards Gala. At this event, we celebrate exceptional Mountaineer alumni who have made a lasting impact on both society and the university through their outstanding professional, philanthropic or volunteer accomplishments. This year’s recipients are Coach Steve Wilks ’92, to be honored with the university’s Outstanding Service Award, and North Carolina Sen. Ralph Hise ’00 and App State Trustee Jeff Chesson ’77, both of whom will be honored with App State’s Distinguished Alumni Award.

    These three alumni have demonstrated exemplary commitment to the success of Appalachian State University students — past, current and future. Their dedication and generous contributions of time and resources have expanded opportunities for countless individuals, who, in turn, are continuing their legacy.

    During the gala, we will also recognize and confer awards to 10 alumni representing each college, as well as University Libraries:

    • Stephen Fleming '90, who is being honored by the Beaver College of Health Sciences;
    • Richard Thomas Guy '07, who is being honored by the College of Arts and Sciences;
    • John Michael Rhem '13, who is being honored by the College of Fine and Applied Arts;
    • James Gwyn Daugherty '93 and '94, who is being honored by the Hayes School of Music;
    • Anna Ramsey Rubin '05 and Steven Rubin '04, who are being honored by the Honors College;
    • Roger Hyatt '71 and '74, who is being honored by the Reich College of Education;
    • MaryCraven Poteat '77, who is being honored by the University Libraries;
    • Anthony Craig Stephenson '82, who is being honored by the Walker College of Business; and
    • Dr. Leslie Alexander '11 and '18, who is being honored by the Williams School of Graduate Studies.

    It is my honor to be part of helping recognize the accomplishments of this year’s honorees. Congratulations to all!

An important update:

I wish everyone a wonderful weekend, especially to the more than 150,000 App State alumni across the state, nation and world.


Heather Norris
Interim Chancellor