Appalachian’s Fleming Scholars honored at pinning ceremony Oct. 6

View larger image — From left, Chancellor Sheri Everts at the Fleming Scholarship pinning ceremony with Fleming scholars DeJon McCoy-Milbourne of Fayetteville, Troy Boyd of Stanley, Jordan Moore of Indian Trail, Ayah Hatcher of Raleigh, Halèa Mitchell of Shelby, Jonathan Winbush of Winston-Salem and Sarah Miner of Charlotte. Dr. Willie Fleming, Appalachian’s chief diversity officer for whom the scholarship is named, is pictured far right. Photo by Troy Tuttle

By Elisabeth Wall

Posted Oct. 10, 2017 at 5:04 p.m.

BOONE, N.C.—Three of the four newest 2017-18 Fleming Scholars were recognized in a traditional pinning ceremony Friday, Oct. 6, on the Appalachian State University campus. The new scholarship recipients are Jonathan Winbush of Winston-Salem, Tamia Gowens of Greensboro, Ayah Hatcher of Raleigh and Jordan Moore of Indian Trail. Gowens was not present at the ceremony.

The scholarships cover full in-state tuition and fees and are renewable if academic requirements are met. Recipients of the Fleming Scholarship demonstrate a desire to promote cultural diversity and are from populations that are underrepresented on campus.

Chancellor Sheri Everts said, “Our university is committed to developing and allocating resources to the fundamental task of creating a diverse campus culture. The percent of the total ethnically diverse students enrolled at Appalachian has increased by more than 52 percent since 2012 – in no small part because of programs like the Fleming Scholarship. We are honored to have these exemplary students as part of our student body.”

Anne Bratcher ’77 of Elon pinned the scholars. She is a member of the African-American Alumni Network and a donor. She was a classmate of Dr. Willie C. Fleming for whom the scholarship is named.

Fleming ’80 ’84 is Appalachian’s chief diversity officer. He received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Appalachian. He served as director of minority affairs, a position which was later renamed director of multicultural student development. He was founder of the Appalachian Gospel Choir and Black Student Association and a founding member of the Black Faculty and Staff Association.

About Appalachian State University

As a premier public institution, 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, cost-effective education. 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.