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Appalachian’s mascot, Yosef, was on hand for Founders Day activities on Sanford Mall. Pictured with him is sophomore psychology major Faith Fleming. Photo by Marie Freeman

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During Founders Day activities on Sanford Mall Sept. 5, sophomore students Roxana Sanchez, a child development major, and Alvaro Guzman, a management major, hold up special T-shirts commemorating the 120th anniversary of the first classes at Watauga Academy, the school that would become Appalachian State University. Photo by Marie Freeman

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Former Chancellor John E. Thomas smiles during a university history panel discussion held in Plemmons Student Union as part of Founders Day Sept. 5. With him are former Provost and Acting Chancellor Harvey R. Durham, foreground, and history professor Dr. Andrea Burns, who moderated the discussion of what Appalachian was like in the 1970s and 1980s. Photo by Marie Freeman

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Listening during the Founders Day Ceremony at Founders Plaza are, from left to right, former Chancellor John E. Thomas, Reba Moretz ’52 ’53, Julia Adams ’56, Doris Stam, Philip Byers ’85 and John Blackburn. All were among the 12 people who rang the Founders Bell as inaugural members of the Bell Ringers Society. Photo by Marie Freeman

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Chancellor Sheri Everts speaks to the crowd during the Founders Day Ceremony Sept. 5. Photo by Marie Freeman

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Former Chancellor John E. Thomas pulls the clapper rope to ring Founders Bell during the Founders Day Ceremony Sept. 5. Photo by Marie Freeman

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Chancellor Sheri Everts fastens a commemorative Bell Ringers Society pin on Student Government Association President DeJon Milbourne before he takes his turn ringing the Founders Bell as a member of the Bell Ringers Society. Photo by Marie Freeman

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Chancellor Sheri Everts shares a laugh with former Chancellor John E. Thomas in the Founders Bell Pavilion during Founders Day Sept. 5. Photo by Chase Reynolds

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Local artist Suzie Hallier, left, and William H. Brown Jr. stand in Founders Plaza before the newly dedicated statute of Lillie Shull Dougherty. Dougherty and husband D.D., along with D.D.'s brother, B.B., were the three pillars in the founding of Watauga Academy. Brown is the great-grandson of D.D. and Lillie Shull Dougherty and donated the artwork created by Hallier. Photo by Chase Reynolds

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Dr. Karl Campbell, associate professor of history and chair of Appalachian’s history committee, speaks before the crowd during the Founders Day Ceremony Sept. 5. Photo by Chase Reynolds

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William H. Brown Jr., great-grandson of D.D. and Lillie Shull Dougherty, foreground, connects with senior art education major Hunter Koch over her Appalachian history research during the Research Showcase held in Plemmons Student Union. Current faculty, staff and students presented a dozen poster sessions sharing history of Appalachian, with topics ranging from educational innovation and the evolution of student services to electricity and local lore. Photo by Marie Freeman

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Chancellor Sheri Everts talks with senior history major Claire Parrish about her research during the Research Showcase held in Plemmons Student Union as part of Founders Day activities Sept. 5. A dozen poster sessions related to Appalachian’s history were shared by faculty, staff and students, with topics ranging from educational innovation and the evolution of student services to electricity and local lore. Photo by Marie Freeman

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Sophomore nursing major Victoria Kelley was among students painting cups during Founders Day activities on Sanford Mall Sept. 5. Photo by Chase Reynolds

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Founders Day festivities Sept. 5 included free food on Sanford Mall. Photo by Marie Freeman

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Dougherty family historian Doris Stam, second from right, stands before the crowd at Appalachian's Founders Day Ceremony Sept. 5. She led the singing of the alma mater and spoke during the ceremony about the life of Lillie Shull Dougherty and her impact as a co-founder of Watauga Academy, the school that would become Appalachian State University. Stam is an inaugural member of the Bell Ringers Society. Photo by Chase Reynolds

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Chancellor Sheri Everts, poised between the statues of two of the three co-founders of the school that would become Appalachian State University: Lillie Shull Dougherty, in foreground, and her brother-in-law, B.B. Dougherty. Photo by Marie Freeman

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App State celebrates its second annual Founders Day

By Elisabeth Wall
Posted Sep. 9, 2019 at 4:23 p.m.

BOONE, N.C. — The campus and local community celebrated Appalachian State University’s 120-year legacy of educational leadership with the second annual Founders Day celebration Sept. 5.

The day included dedication of the Lillie Shull Dougherty statue, the ringing of the Founders Bell, a panel discussion with past leaders, and research by faculty, staff and students. Experience the day through this photo gallery.

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App State celebrates Founders Day and 120 years of education leadership
App State celebrates Founders Day and 120 years of education leadership
Sep. 5, 2019

This year marked the second annual Founders Day celebration. It included dedication of Lillie Shull Dougherty’s statue, ringing of the Founders Bell and more.

Read the story

About Founders Day

Appalachian State University celebrates Founders Day each fall to honor the university’s founders — B.B. Dougherty, D.D. Dougherty and Lillie Shull Dougherty — and the first day of classes at Watauga Academy, held Sept. 5, 1899. App State began this annual tradition in 2018 with the dedication of Founders Plaza, a touchstone to the university’s early days that is located at the campus entrance on Hardin Street.

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.

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

If you cannot find what you're looking for here, please refer to the following sources:

  • Podcasts may be found at Appalachian State University Podcasts
  • Stories and press releases published prior to Jan. 1, 2015 may be found in University Communications Records at the Special Collections Research Center.
  • A university-wide Google Calendar may be found at Events at Appalachian

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Archives

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

If you cannot find what you're looking for here, please refer to the following sources:

  • Podcasts may be found at Appalachian State University Podcasts
  • Stories and press releases published prior to Jan. 1, 2015 may be found in University Communications Records at the Special Collections Research Center.
  • A university-wide Google Calendar may be found at Events at Appalachian
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