Appalachian State University marked 127 years of educational leadership and service on Friday, September 18, 2026, with its annual Founders Day ceremony at Founders Plaza. During the event, the university inducted eight individuals into its Bell Ringers Society, recognizing their lasting impact on the institution. This year's honorees included Richard Sparks ’76 ’78, Judy James ’69, Barbara Freiman, Elizabeth “Lizzie” Ford, Winfield Beroth ’65, Duane Reese, and Dr. Harold McKinney '70. The university also posthumously recognized Dr. Cathy McKinney, professor emerita in the Hayes School of Music, as a society member, honoring her legacy as an educator, mentor, scholar, and colleague. Chancellor Dr. Heather Norris rang the Founders Bell alongside the newest members of the society, a tradition signifying the beginning of another academic year.
Earlier the same day, the campus community gathered to commemorate the vision of the university’s founders, B.B., D.D., and Lillie Shull Dougherty, who established Watauga Academy in 1899 with the goal of expanding access to education across the High Country.
In other university news, App State Athletics is preparing to induct its 51st class into the App State Athletics Hall of Fame this evening, Friday, September 18, 2026. The ceremony will celebrate five exceptional student-athletes and a dedicated staff leader. Inductees include Kyle Blevins ’12 (Wrestling), Hector Crespo ’13 (Baseball), John Fitch ’82 (Men’s Basketball), K.T. Stovall ’03 (Football), and Maryah Sydnor ’15 (Women’s Basketball). Chip Sigmon, who served as App State’s head strength and conditioning coach from 1984-90, will receive the Special Service Award. These individuals are recognized for their enduring impact on the university's athletics programs. The inductees are slated for formal recognition on the Kidd Brewer Stadium field during tomorrow's home football game, where the App State Mountaineers will compete against the Charlotte 49ers.
Earlier this morning, municipal leaders, county executives, and App State alumni convened for the annual Local Government Alumni Association conference in Boone. This event celebrated 35 years of partnership, highlighting a dedicated network that supports the region through public service. The association also aids students by providing annual scholarships, mentorship, and essential internship opportunities. Through its accredited Master of Public Administration program, which recently expanded to the Hickory campus, App State has cultivated North Carolina’s largest public administration alumni network, with over 600 MPA graduates serving in local, state, and federal roles. Chancellor Norris expressed gratitude for their work, calling it "the foundation of thriving communities."
Earlier this week, Chancellor Norris traveled to Raleigh for the UNC System Board of Governors meetings, where university leaders from across North Carolina gathered to advance strategic priorities for public higher education. Chancellor Norris shared three key updates from the board’s sessions.
Earlier this month, the Reich College of Education hosted the inaugural “Rooted in Resilience: Appalachian Literacy Summit.” Led by Spangler Distinguished Professor of Early Childhood Literacy Dr. Kindel Turner Nash and supported by the C.D. Spangler Foundation and the Mebane Charitable Foundation, the summit convened 100 preservice and inservice educators, school administrators, librarians, and literacy researchers and specialists from across Western North Carolina. The event delivered evidence-based instructional strategies and collaborative sessions aimed at elevating literacy education across the region.
In the arts, the College of Fine and Applied Arts’ Department of Theatre and Dance is preparing for the launch of FLIGHT: A First Year Performance. This interdisciplinary production brings together incoming first-year and transfer students in both theater and dance to explore physical storytelling and movement. Faculty members Dr. Gina Grandi and Chris Yon, along with upper-level student leaders, are providing mentorship for the production. Performances are scheduled to take place from September 24–26 in I.G. Greer Studio Theatre, offering a showcase of the university’s newest creative talent.
Chancellor Norris concluded by expressing deep gratitude for the dedication of students, faculty, staff, and alumni, who contribute to the extraordinary Mountaineer community, as the institution honors traditions and advances vital work across its campuses.
