Today, we honored over 1,500 graduates who are the latest to join a proud and passionate App State Alumni Association that is more than 150,000 strong. More than 1,300 of our fall 2025 graduates are undergraduates, and over 200 earned advanced degrees, including 12 who earned doctoral degrees. You can see this photo — as well as many memories that will last a lifetime — captured by App State alumni Troy Tuttle ’07, Chase Reynolds ’17 and Kyla Willoughby ’24, on App State’s Facebook, Instagram and X accounts.
Message from Chancellor Heather Norris: December 12, 2025
What a joyous occasion we are celebrating today, as we gather to commemorate the remarkable achievements of the fall 2025 graduating class. This ceremony is a celebration of their academic success and also of their resilience and perseverance.
Graduates: You are supported by families, loved ones, faculty and staff — those who mentored you and many whom you may never have met, but all of whom are dedicated to your success. Today is the beginning of an exciting new chapter for all of you. Your App State education has prepared you for the steps you will take next and the ones you will take later in life, and you will make meaningful and important contributions to communities large and small around the world.
At today’s commencement ceremonies, we honored over 1,500 graduates. More than 1,300 of our fall 2025 graduates are undergraduates who joined a growing base of passionate App State alumni that is more than 150,000 strong. Twelve graduates earned doctoral degrees as part of the more than 200 students who earned advanced degrees. One-third of today’s graduates are first-generation students who are among the first in their families to earn college degrees; more than 100 are graduates whose families are also Mountaineers; 38 are military-affiliated and 31 are student-athletes. Today’s graduates represent 86 of North Carolina’s 100 counties, as well as 23 U.S. states and 25 countries from around the world.
Each student has a unique story, yet all are bound together with a shared sense of pride and an aspiration to make meaningful contributions to the world around them. Earlier this week, a few of our graduates shared a bit about their App State Experience, and I hope you’ll take a moment to watch this video, which captures — in their words — what it means to be a Mountaineer.
I have spent my entire career in higher education, and each and every day, I continue to be inspired by the stories of our students, such as:
- Erin Rice of Durham ’25, who graduated today from the College of Fine and Applied Arts with a Bachelor of Science in public relations. Erin’s strong work ethic is demonstrated in part by her graduating a semester early, even after experiencing significant loss during Hurricane Helene, when severe flooding destroyed her apartment and car. While earning her degree, Erin found ways to grow as a leader, which included serving on the executive board of App State’s Public Relations Student Society of America chapter and leading a team of interns who coordinated the Department of Communication’s signature alumni and student networking event, which set record numbers for attendance and expert panel participation. For Erin, the App State Community has characterized her experience, and she encourages future Mountaineers to “take advantage of everything App State has to offer, because this is a really special place.”
- Elver DePaz-Lopez ’25, of Hickory, who graduated today from the Walker College of Business with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in marketing. Elver entered App State after earning his associate degree through a partnership with Catawba Valley Community College. While pursuing his App State degree, he developed his own talent production agency, and was also able to take advantage of international travel opportunities while taking classes on App State’s Boone and Hickory campuses. For Elver, a first-generation college student, earning his degree has meant “breaking a barrier,” and he encourages other students who may be the first in their families to earn college degrees to “put gas into it and don’t stop — you’ll come out stronger.”
- Bernice Rand ’25, of Clayton, who graduated today from the Williams School of Graduate Studies with a Master of Science in nutrition. Bernice enrolled in App State Online so that she could balance her graduate studies with her full-time job as a clinical dietitian at the WakeMed Raleigh Campus. She chose her career because of her desire to help others, combined with her passion for food and nutrition — a passion that is already making an impact. Her capstone research project, developed in collaboration with a WakeMed colleague, is helping to establish a new standard of quality care across the WakeMed health system — one aimed at reducing the risk of nutrition deficits and malnutrition and optimizing recovery times for patients undergoing surgical procedures. For future Mountaineers considering App State’s master’s programs, she encourages “soaking up all the information, because you never know when it will be applicable in a real-world situation, and stay open to learning, enjoying the experience along the way.”
Today, I also had the pleasure of bestowing honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degrees upon two outstanding members of the Mountaineer community — Barbara Freiman and G.A. Sywassink.
- Barbara’s contributions to Appalachian State University are exemplary. Together, she, her late husband Larry, and their family have supported App State’s University Libraries, An Appalachian Summer Festival and Hayes School of Music, including the establishment of three endowments for student scholarships and guest-artist residencies. This support has ensured that the university’s arts and education programs will continue to make an enduring impact throughout our campus and extended community. The profound philanthropic commitments made by Barbara and her family exemplify our university's values, mission and vision, guided by her extraordinary generosity, unwavering support of education and the arts, and lifelong commitment to creating access and opportunity for others. In every sense, Barbara embodies the spirit of service, generosity and excellence that Appalachian State seeks to honor, and her impact will be felt for generations. She represents the very best of what we hope to inspire in our students and alumni: A life lived in thoughtful service to others, driven by conviction and compassion.
- G.A. is a former member and past chair of Appalachian State's Board of Trustees, and he has also served on the university's Foundation Board of Directors and Board of Visitors. He is also a former member of the University of North Carolina System’s Board of Governors. His decades-long history of transformational support for our university has ensured generations of students have benefited — and will continue to benefit — from his profound commitment to creating upward mobility and opportunity for others. G.A.’s support has included funding for scholarships and facilities — from active learning classrooms to our current Peacock Hall building fund. G.A. was one of the original contributors in Walker College's signature event — the Boyles Distinguished Lecture Series — through which our students interact with and learn from thought leaders and high-level business executives. For his enduring service and leadership, G.A. received our university's Honorary Alumni Award in 1994. His many years of contributing to society and the welfare of humankind, his distinguished success in his professional life and his distinguished service to the Walker College of Business and Appalachian State University demonstrate the lasting spirit of generosity, service to others and commitment to excellence that we strive to instill in our students.
Today, App State’s representative to the UNC System Board of Governors and a lifelong champion for our university, Gov. Philip Byers ’85, recognized Dr. Charlie Chen with this year’s Board of Governors Excellence in Teaching Award. The award was established in 1994 to encourage, identify, recognize, reward and support great teaching from each UNC System campus. Charlie is a professor in the Department of Computer Information Systems who is in his 23rd year at Appalachian State University. He has designed and taught nearly 30 undergraduate and graduate courses in the Walker College of Business. Throughout his distinguished career, Charlie has inspired his students and his colleagues alike through his leadership, mentorship and unwavering commitment to ensuring the success of students both in the classroom and in their future endeavors. I extend my congratulations to Charlie for earning this esteemed and well-deserved recognition.
The macebearers for today’s commencement ceremonies were Joseph Bathanti, of the College of Arts and Sciences, Dr. Justin Cox, of the Walker College of Business, and Dr. Janice Pope, of the College of Fine and Applied Arts. In recognition of their impressive careers at Appalachian State University and their contributions to the lives and careers of countless App State students, these exceptional faculty were selected to lead the procession of university leaders to the platform to formally open and close today's ceremonies. The university owes each of them a debt of gratitude for their teaching, research, service and unwavering dedication to student success. You can learn more about each of them here.
In case you have not heard, our Mountaineers Football program is headed to the 2025 JLab Birmingham Bowl in Birmingham, Alabama, to play our Sun Belt Conference rival Georgia Southern on Dec. 29. We’re excited that our hard-working student-athletes have an opportunity to compete during the postseason! The game will be shown on ESPN, and I look forward to cheering on our team with Mountaineer fans who will be representing the black and gold!
I wish each of our graduates the best of luck in their future endeavors as they begin their new journeys. I thank our honorary doctorate degree recipients for their dedication to our students and this wonderful university. I thank our macebearers for their years of service and dedication to student success.
To each of you, remember that no matter where life takes you, you will always be a Mountaineer.
Have a wonderful break, enjoy the holiday season, and I look forward to seeing our returning students, faculty and staff in the new year.
Heather Norris
Chancellor
From left to right: Today, Erin Rice, Bernice Rand and Elver DePaz-Lopez crossed the commencement stage, representing more than 1,500 December graduates and joining Appalachian State University’s Alumni Association, which is more than 150,000 strong. Thanks to Chase Reynolds in University Communications for these wonderful portraits!
