Diana Wilcox ’91 is business and technology applications analyst and customer service supervisor at Appalachian’s New River Light and Power. Photo submitted
BOONE, N.C. — Thirty years ago, Diana Wilcox’s high school guidance counselor suggested seniors interested in attending Appalachian State University should apply for a new scholarship offered by New River Light and Power (NRLP) for Watauga County students. Wilcox applied, was awarded the scholarship and graduated from Appalachian in 1991 with a Bachelor of Science in computer science and minors in mathematics and physics.
Wilcox, a first-generation student from Blowing Rock, is now chair of the NRLP scholarship committee, and recently returned to Appalachian as a graduate student.
“Scholarship interview day is my favorite day of the year in my job,” Wilcox said. “I love meeting the scholarship applicants, talking to them and seeing their optimism and excitement about starting college.”
NRLP General Manager Ed Miller said his company “reaped what we sowed” when Wilcox joined NRLP over 15 years ago.
“NRLP is proud to be part of the academic mission of Appalachian State University by providing scholarships to Watauga County graduates,” Miller said. “With over 300 recipients and over $500,000 in scholarships, NRLP is providing opportunities for students to gain the skills that will make them highly sought after in the workforce. Scholarships are just one way that NRLP is honored to support the community that we have served for over 100 years.”
Receiving the NRLP scholarship in 1988 allowed Wilcox to live on campus instead of at home.
Wilcox said she is a firm believer that the college experience is more than what you learn in a classroom, and that year she lived in the dorm taught her things she would have missed otherwise. It was there she met friends she still stays in touch with, she said. And, Wilcox is still making connections because of the scholarship.
“Because all of the recipients are local, it’s not unusual to have a server at a restaurant be one of the NRLP scholarship recipients,” she said. “It’s fun to see them outside of a school setting and talk to them in a more casual setting.”
The scholarship is partly responsible for Wilcox working at NRLP. According to Wilcox, Don Austin, then-general manager at NRLP, came into Appalachian’s Office of Human Resources — where Wilcox worked — to tell those in the office about a job posting with NRLP. He recognized Wilcox as a former scholarship recipient and encouraged her to apply.
Wilcox’s position at NRLP is business and technology applications analyst and customer service supervisor. Her primary duty is systems integration — making sure all NRLP systems communicate with each other and work together.
Wilcox said her degree from Appalachian helps her more easily communicate with software developers.
“I can translate between users and developers to help facilitate custom programming we need done,” she said. “It also helps when I’m working with system integration to understand what the developers are talking about when they need to tie systems together behind the scenes.”
To help with the implementation of NRLP’s Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) system — a new technologically advanced power control system — Wilcox has returned to Appalachian to pursue a master’s in applied data analytics.
“Data analytics is going to be a big part of my job going forward, so I decided to go back to school to learn to do that,” she said. “I think data analytics is going to be a huge part of the future for most industries, and the master’s program that Appalachian now offers seemed like a great option to learn those new skills.”
Wilcox said the choice to return to Appalachian was an easy one, and explained, “I think Appalachian strives to provide relevant degrees and certifications to keep up with today’s job market needs.”
She continued, “I don’t think there is a more beautiful place to go to school, and the smaller size of Appalachian makes it a great place to live and learn.”
About App State's New River Light and Power
For more than 100 years, Appalachian State University’s New River Light and Power (NRLP) — a nonprofit electric utility operated by the Division of Finance and Operations — has provided power to Western North Carolina residents. Today, NRLP serves nearly 9,000 residential and commercial customers who reside in and near the town of Boone. In January 2022, the utility began purchasing its electricity from Carolina Power Partners — a partnership that opens greater renewable energy opportunities. In partnership with App State’s Office of Sustainability, Facilities Operations and Renewable Energy Initiative, NRLP has assisted with various energy efficiency projects across campus, including installing solar panels and providing funding for the Broyhill Wind Turbine located on Bodenheimer Drive. The utility holds the American Public Power Association’s Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3) designation for providing reliable and safe electric service, and approximately $650,000 of its budget is reserved annually for contributions to App State’s general scholarship fund. Learn more at https://nrlp.appstate.edu.
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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