Appalachian State University chose its inaugural Wilson Scholars in 2014 for their extensive leadership and service experience in high school, as well as their academic success. Lily Shaw, Emma Labovitz, Sarah Aldridge and Juliet Irving said the scholarship program honed their skills in each area, while also allowing them to explore new possibilities and see how diverse academic interests could intersect with leadership and service.

Six commencement ceremonies were held at Appalachian State University over two days. Chancellor Sheri Everts began the ceremonies warmly by telling graduates, “Congratulations on your accomplishments and this achievement. I personally find great hope for our community, state, nation and world in the promise you take forward into a future made all the brighter because of you.”

The Award for Excellence in Teaching was established in 1994 to underscore the importance of teaching and to encourage, identify, recognize, reward and support good teaching within the UNC System. Recipients represent all 17 of North Carolina’s public institutions. Faculty members are nominated each year by special committees based on their home campuses and are then selected by the Board of Governors’ Committee on Personnel and Tenure.