Skip to main content

Appalachian Today

News and events at Appalachian State University
  • For the media
  • Contact
  • Events
  • Webcams
  • Podcasts
  • In the News
  • Research & Creative Works
  • Speakers
  • All News
  • Topics
  • Accolades
  • Alumni
  • Arts and Humanities
  • Athletics
  • Awards and Honors
  • Community Engagement
  • Diversity
  • Events
  • Faculty and Staff
  • Gifts and Grants
  • Global
  • Health and Wellness
  • Publications
  • Research
  • Safety
  • Scholarships
  • Students
  • Sustainability
☰ Menu
  • Events
  • Webcams
  • Podcasts
  • In the News
  • Research & Creative Works
  • Speakers
  • All News
  • Topics
  • For the media
  • Contact
View larger image

Food Services Supervisor John Welborn in Sanford Commons at Appalachian State University.

John C. Welborn – Appalachian’s Food Services Supervisor

“It’s important to me that what we do relates to this generation. They like variety and fresh ideas. They want to have fun.”

Food Services Supervisor John Welborn, grandson of the namesake of Appalachian’s old Welborn cafeteria

By Elisabeth Wall
Posted Dec. 14, 2016 at 3:51 p.m.

One evening at Appalachian State University, students wandering into Sanford Commons for dinner saw an electronic sign for an entree: Chicky Chicky Parm Parm, the lexicon for chicken parmesan used by Aziz Anzari in the popular sitcom “Parks and Recreation.” They loved it – snapchatting and posting on social media while they lined up for what is actually a cafeteria staple.

“It’s important to me that what we do relates to this generation. They like variety and fresh ideas. They want to have fun.”

Food Services Supervisor John Welborn, grandson of the namesake of Appalachian’s old Welborn cafeteria

The idea was John Welborn’s, who has worked as supervisor for Appalachian Food Services at Sanford Commons since 2015.

“It’s important to me that what we do relates to this generation. I want to connect with them on as many levels as possible,” he explained. “They like variety and fresh ideas. They want to have fun. I want to help make Sanford Commons the dining destination on campus.”

Welborn has a lifelong connection to Appalachian Food Services. He is the grandson of John and Vivian Welborn for whom Welborn Hall, Appalachian’s original dining hall, was named. John Washington Welborn was manager of the cafeteria and Food Services from 1939 until 1973. His wife, Vivian, taught in the Home Economics Department from 1944 until 1974, and served as a dietician from 1948 to 1963. Welborn Hall was demolished in 2009 to allow construction of Central Dining Hall, renamed Roess Dining Hall in 2014.

Reluctant to come so far to attend college in Boone, Welborn graduated from East Carolina University in his hometown of Greenville. However, he spent a good bit of his boyhood visiting his grandparents in Boone.

Welborn recalls eating with them at Welborn Hall as a boy. “It was different food back then,” he said. “Very institutionalized. Everything was individually wrapped. Salads were pre-dressed. It was a very sterile environment, lots of stainless steel... and the employees wore white uniforms and those little white paper hats.”

Welborn said he inherited his grandfather’s compulsion for order, hard work and attention to detail. “My OCD kicks in. I like everything in its place, including chairs and tables in a straight line and the salt and pepper shakers centered.”

John supervises the evening shift – 2:30 to 11:30 p.m. – and that attracts student workers. “It’s all about teamwork,” he said, “and they know I have their backs. If they need flex time, they get it. They are students first. But I expect effort and honesty. And, a desire to achieve makes for excellence. We have more than 100 students working for the venue and I can call every one of them by name.”

Since he was a teenager, Welborn has worked in every possible type of food service – from burger flipper to clubhouse manager at high-end country clubs to banquet manager supervising 20 banquet halls at the highly respected five-star Jefferson Hotel in Richmond, Virginia. But he’s exactly where he wants to be today.

“I feel like I’ve come home,” he said. “My bosses are always supportive and positive. They let me do my job and help me when I need it. Y’all are stuck with Johnny Christian Welborn,” he exclaimed. “I’m here for the long haul!”

What do you think?

Share your feedback on this story.

Food Services
Food Services

Appalachian Food Services has been self-operated since 1925 and is committed to serving the Appalachian community using sustainable practices, creative and intentional menu planning, and constantly engaging in the ever-chaning dialogue surrounding food.

Learn more

About Campus Dining

Campus Dining is owned and operated by Appalachian State University and offers dining services tailored to the campus community’s specific needs. With three dining facilities and daily catering events, Campus Dining provides opportunities for nourishment and also building and fostering relationships over shared meals and experiences. Campus Dining is committed to serving the Appalachian Community using sustainable practices such as local sourcing and contributing to campus composting and a constantly evolving partnership with the Office of Sustainability. Learn more at https://dining.appstate.edu.

About Appalachian State University

As the premier public undergraduate institution in the Southeast, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, affordable education for all. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.

Share

Topics

  • Arts and Humanities
  • Faculty and Staff
  • Sustainability

What do you think?

Share your feedback on this story.

Archives

Appalachian Today is an online publication of Appalachian State University. This website consolidates university news, feature stories, events, photo galleries, videos and podcasts.

The migration of materials from other sites is still incomplete, so if you cannot find what you're looking for here, please refer to the following sources:

  • Additional feature stories may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • Podcasts may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • Photo galleries and videos published prior to Jan. 1, 2015 may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • A university-wide Google Calendar may be found at Events at Appalachian

Share

Topics

  • Arts and Humanities
  • Faculty and Staff
  • Sustainability

Other Recent Posts

  • App State awarded $481,378 grant to improve vaccination rates among older adults
    App State awarded $481,378 grant to improve vaccination rates among older adults
  • 10 first-year App State students named Chancellor’s Scholars for 2023–24
    10 first-year App State students named Chancellor’s Scholars for 2023–24
  • Campus emergency siren test to be conducted Oct. 4
    Campus emergency siren test to be conducted Oct. 4
  • App State’s Police Development Program celebrates its 6th academy class
    App State’s Police Development Program celebrates its 6th academy class
  • From App State to Asheboro, Geobago brings hands-on education to K–12 students across North Carolina
    From App State to Asheboro, Geobago brings hands-on education to K–12 students across North Carolina
  • App State places among national publications’ ‘best’ and ‘top’ lists for academics, value, innovation and more
    App State places among national publications’ ‘best’ and ‘top’ lists for academics, value, innovation and more
  • App State celebrates 124 years of history with Founders Day festivities
    App State celebrates 124 years of history with Founders Day festivities
  • 3 award-winning authors to visit App State for fall 2023 Hughlene Bostian Frank Visiting Writers Series
    3 award-winning authors to visit App State for fall 2023 Hughlene Bostian Frank Visiting Writers Series
  • 21,253 Mountaineers enroll at App State for fall 2023 — largest enrollment in school history
    21,253 Mountaineers enroll at App State for fall 2023 — largest enrollment in school history
  • Health, Wellness and Safety Week connects App State students with campus, community resources
    Health, Wellness and Safety Week connects App State students with campus, community resources
  • Recover Smarter. Run Stronger [faculty featured]
    Recover Smarter. Run Stronger [faculty featured]
    Runner’s World
  • Campus Safety Awareness Month: App State spotlights AppState-ALERT
    Campus Safety Awareness Month: App State spotlights AppState-ALERT

Archives

Appalachian Today is an online publication of Appalachian State University. This website consolidates university news, feature stories, events, photo galleries, videos and podcasts.

The migration of materials from other sites is still incomplete, so if you cannot find what you're looking for here, please refer to the following sources:

  • Additional feature stories may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • Podcasts may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • Photo galleries and videos published prior to Jan. 1, 2015 may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • A university-wide Google Calendar may be found at Events at Appalachian
  • Events
  • Videos
  • Galleries
  • In the News
  • Research & Creative Works
  • Speakers
  • All News
  • Topics
  • For the media
  • COVID updates
  • Contact

App State

Copyright 2023 Appalachian State University. All rights reserved.

University Communications
ASU Box 32153
Boone, NC 28608
828-262-6156
ucomm@appstate.edu

Abouts

Disclaimer | EO Policy | Accessibility | Website manager: montaldipa (beltmr) .. | Website Feedback

Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram LinkedIn Snapchat