Underneath a thank you message, Yosef flashes the #1 in front of University of North Carolina Board of Governors member C. Philip Byers, Chancellor Sheri Everts, Mark Ricks ’89, and close to 300 university supporters, student-athletes and coaches representing every university athletics program. Photo by Marie Freeman
BOONE, N.C.—At a ceremony in Holmes Convocation Center, Appalachian State University announced a commitment of $10 million to support the university’s A Mountaineer Impact initiative. Chancellor Sheri Everts and Director of Athletics Doug Gillin announced the commitment from Mark Ricks, a 1989 alumnus of the university. The commitment represents the university's largest outright gift to date.
Appalachian’s A Mountaineer Impact initiative provides essential resources for Appalachian Athletics.
“Our student-athletes are among the most academically successful in the nation,” Everts said. “This generous gift will ensure the continued excellence of a program that will attract sought-after student-athletes and provide them with resources and opportunities so they can make a difference at our university and beyond.”
Appalachian alumnus Mark Ricks, a 1989 graduate of the criminal justice program in the College of Arts and Sciences, announced a commitment of $10 million to support the university’s A Mountaineer Impact initiative. The commitment represents the university's largest outright gift to date. Photo by Marie Freeman
The announcement was made Thursday, Nov. 9, at an event attended by nearly 300, including student-athletes representing every university athletics program.
“Appalachian State University means the world to me, and I’m so pleased to be able to accelerate the progress of App State Athletics,” Ricks said. “The trajectory of the program under Doug Gillin and the entire department is worth our investment, and I’m blessed to be able to make an impact to carry that momentum forward. I encourage other Mountaineer supporters who can give to please step up. Our time is now. Together we can help grow Appalachian Athletics and support the success of the coaches and student-athletes of our great university.”
Ricks is an Appalachian graduate who holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the university’s College of Arts and Sciences. He is the owner of Double Wood Farm, an equestrian sanctuary for retired show horses, in Bluemont, Virginia. He was director of global protective operations at Mars Inc. in the Washington, D.C. metro area from 2005-2017.
Chancellor Sheri Everts and Director of Athletics Doug Gillin announced a $10 million commitment from Mark Ricks (center), a 1989 alumnus of the university. The commitment represents the university's largest outright gift to date, and will benefit the university’s A Mountaineer Impact initiative. Photo by Marie Freeman
(L-R) Head Football Coach Scott Satterfield with Chancellor Sheri Everts, Mark Ricks ’89 and Director of Athletics Doug Gillin. Photo by Marie Freeman
A Mountaineer Impact, the initiative for which the gift is designated, was launched in February, after Gillin completed a comprehensive review and evaluation of the university’s athletics programs. The project goal is to provide a solid financial foundation for the university’s athletics programs by raising, over a five-year period, commitments of $60 million in private support. Funds will be used to establish and endow scholarships, construct and enhance facilities and underwrite program needs to increase opportunities for comprehensive excellence for all student-athletes.
Comprehensive in nature, the initiative is designed to impact every Mountaineer student-athlete and sports program.
“We are so pleased to announce this historic commitment to Appalachian State University,” Gillin said. “We can't thank Mark Ricks enough for his generosity to his alma mater and our athletics program. This is a tremendous leadership gift toward our overall goal for A Mountaineer Impact.”
(L-R) Head Football Coach Scott Satterfield, Appalachian Board of Trustees Chair James M. Barnes, Appalachian Board of Trustees member Robert C. Hatley, Faculty Senate Chair Dr. Barbara Howard, University of North Carolina Board of Governors member C. Philip Byers, Chancellor Sheri Everts, Mark Ricks ’89, Director of Athletics Doug Gillin, Appalachian Board of Trustees member Carole P. Wilson and Appalachian Board of Trustees Vice-chair John M. Blackburn. Photo by Marie Freeman
(L-R) Senior Associate Athletics Director Brian Tracy, Vice Chancellor and Chief of Staff Hank Foreman, Appalachian Board of Trustees Chair James M. Barnes, Appalachian Board of Trustees member Robert C. Hatley, Faculty Senate Chair Dr. Barbara Howard, University of North Carolina Board of Governors member C. Philip Byers, Chancellor Sheri Everts, Mark Ricks ’89, Director of Athletics Doug Gillin, Appalachian Board of Trustees member Carole P. Wilson, Appalachian’s Board of Trustees Vice-chair John M. Blackburn, Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Darrell P. Kruger, and Vice Chancellor for University Advancement Randy Edwards. Photo by Marie Freeman
With this gift, the university has now raised $27 million toward the $60 million goal.
“Private support creates opportunities for our student-athletes to compete at the highest level with all the tools necessary for success in the classroom, on the playing field and in the community,” Gillin added. “We have aspirations to be successful at the highest levels of intercollegiate athletics, and this serves as a substantial commitment toward that effort. The Mountaineer family continues to provide tremendous support as we build upon the rich tradition of excellence on the mountain, and we look forward to our continued growth locally, regionally and nationally.”
About Mountaineer Athletics
More than 400 student-athletes compete in 17 NCAA Division I varsity sports at Appalachian State University. App State’s nationally ranked football team has enjoyed unprecedented success at the highest level of Division I (Football Bowl Subdivision), with six bowl wins in its first six years at the FBS level and four Sun Belt Conference championships. The Mountaineers were a dominant force in the Southern Conference for more than 40 years before moving up to the Sun Belt Conference in 2014. App State student-athletes in all sports pursue daily comprehensive excellence in academics, competition and community involvement. All varsity teams compete in the Sun Belt Conference, except for field hockey (MAC) and wrestling (SoCon). Learn more at https://appstatesports.com.
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, 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.
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