BOONE, N.C. — Mountaineers welcomed fall with a flurry of activities from Sept. 17–19 — highlighted by the fourth annual Founders Day celebration, during which a crowd gathered at Founders Plaza on App State’s campus Sept. 17 to honor the university’s founders, history and traditions.
Founders Day commemorates the anniversary of the first day of classes held in 1899 at Watauga Academy — the educational institution founded by B.B. Dougherty, D.D. Dougherty and Lillie Shull Dougherty that evolved to become Appalachian State University in 1967.
“Reflecting on our past emphasizes our longstanding, institutional commitment to increasing access to education for all,” said App State Chancellor Sheri Everts. “This commitment to access — which was set forth by our founders — has guided us to be the forward-thinking university we are today.”
During the challenges of the past 18 months, as the university confronted the COVID-19 pandemic, Everts said the Appalachian Community rallied to find every opportunity to create positive experiences for students and move the university forward. “Through two World Wars, the Great Depression and the first global pandemic, Mountaineer spirit continues to prevail,” she said.
The history and future of App State are intrinsically interwoven with that of the High Country. As a guest speaker at the ceremony, App State alumnus David Jackson ’00, president and CEO of the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce and former staff member at the university, expressed his appreciation for the partnership between the town and the university.
He said, “There’s no secret that all of us understand what it means to have the black and gold spirit inside us.”
Bell Ringers Society chimes in 7 new members
The tradition of ringing the Founders Bell, an iconic symbol of App State’s history, was established in 2019, as the university celebrated its second annual Founders Day.
Each inductee of App State’s Bell Ringers Society rings the bell and receives a commemorative pin from the chancellor.
Dr. Karl Campbell, associate professor in App State’s Department of History and chair of the university’s History Committee, introduced the 2021 class of the Bell Ringers Society — with members representing “the App State that was, the App State that is and the App State that is to come,” he said.
In his remarks, the historian asked Founders Day attendees to consider how the actions of today’s Appalachian Community will affect Mountaineers of tomorrow: “How will history look back on us from 100 years in the future? Will it be said that we emerged from our present situations with flying colors? Will our actions be remembered with pride?”
He continued, “A century ago, our community exemplified the power of resilience and unity. Let’s work together to make our own positive contribution to the historical legacy of Appalachian State University.”
Appalachian State University inducted the 2021 class of its Bell Ringers Society during the 2021 Founders Day celebration, held Sept. 17. Chancellor Sheri Everts, center in second row, is pictured with the new bell ringers. Shown in the back row, from left to right: Lynn Patterson ’89, university program specialist in App State’s Belk Library and Information Commons; Bo Henderson ’79, one of the eponyms of App State’s Henderson Springs LGBT Center; and Sam Cheatham, a senior marketing-sales and management double major from Mills River and co-business director of App State’s Team Sunergy. Shown in the front row, from left to right: Jim Whittington ’52, a former App State student-athlete; Roberta Jackson ’91, a retired App State staff member and founding member of the Junaluska Heritage Association; Maxine McCall ’60 ’65, a published author and leader in the North Carolina Society of Historians; and Mike Steinback, a former App State Board of Trustees chairman. Photo by Chase Reynolds
Lynn Patterson ’89, university program specialist in Appalachian State University’s Belk Library and Information Commons, rings the Founders Bell during Founders Day 2021 as Chancellor Sheri Everts looks on. Later in the day, during a Founders Day tour of the Boone Cemetery on App State’s campus, Patterson shared with the crowd the work of the Junaluska Heritage Association and university partners to identify unmarked graves of Black persons in a section of the cemetery. Photo by Chase Reynolds
Bo Henderson ’79, one of the eponyms of Appalachian State University’s Henderson Springs LGBT Center, rings App State's Founders Bell during the 2021 Founders Day ceremony. Henderson is one of seven new members inducted into App State's Bell Ringers Society. Photo by Chase Reynolds
Appalachian State University alumna Maxine McCall ’60 ’65, a published author and leader in the North Carolina Society of Historians, rings App State's Founders Bell during the 2021 Founders Day ceremony. McCall is one of seven new members inducted into App State's Bell Ringers Society. Photo by Chase Reynolds
Jim Whittington ’52, a former Appalachian State University student-athlete, rings App State's Founders Bell during the 2021 Founders Day ceremony. Whittington is one of seven new members inducted into App State's Bell Ringers Society. Photo by Chase Reynolds
Roberta Jackson ’91, a retired Appalachian State University staff member and founding member of the Junaluska Heritage Association, rings App State's Founders Bell during the 2021 Founders Day ceremony. Jackson is one of seven new members inducted into App State's Bell Ringers Society. Photo by Chase Reynolds
Mike Steinback, a former Appalachian State University Board of Trustees chairman, rings App State's Founders Bell during the 2021 Founders Day ceremony. Steinback is one of seven new members inducted into App State's Bell Ringers Society. Photo by Chase Reynolds
Appalachian State University's Sam Cheatham, a senior marketing-sales and management double major from Mills River and the co-business director of App State’s solar vehicle team, rings App State's Founders Bell during the 2021 Founders Day ceremony. Cheatham is one of seven new members inducted into App State's Bell Ringers Society. Photo by Chase Reynolds
Appalachian State University alumnus David Jackson ’00, president and CEO of the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce and former staff member at the university, highlighted the interdependency of the town and university in his address to the crowd gathered for Founders Day 2021. Photo by Chase Reynolds
Trent Margrif, senior lecturer in Appalachian State University’s General Education Program, far left, conducts a tour of the Boone Cemetery, located on Howard Street, as part the university’s Founders Day 2021 celebration. Several historic figures, including university founders B.B. Dougherty, D.D. Dougherty and Lillie Shull Dougherty, are buried in the cemetery. Photo by Beth Davison
The historic Boone Cemetery, located along Howard Street, behind Cone Hall on Appalachian State University’s campus, is the burial site of several notable figures from the town and university. Pictured in the foreground are flags — placed by App State anthropology students — indicating the unmarked graves of Black individuals. Photo by Beth Davison
Dr. Alice Wright, pictured second from right, instructs a group of students in placing flags to indicate unmarked graves in the historic Boone Cemetery on Appalachian State University’s campus. Wright is an associate professor in App State’s Department of Anthropology. Photo by Troy Tuttle
Students pick up some souvenirs and display their Mountaineer spirit during AppalFest on Sanford Mall, celebrating Appalachian State University’s Founders Day 2021 and the kickoff to Family Weekend. Photo by Troy Tuttle
Students enjoy a sweet treat on Sanford Mall during AppalFest — part of the Founders Day 2021 festivities at Appalachian State University. Photo by Troy Tuttle
History in the cemetery
Earlier in the day, Founders Day attendees had the opportunity to learn more about App State’s history through a presentation about the historic cemetery located on campus, given by senior lecturer Trent Margrif. Known as the Boone Cemetery, the site is home to some historic figures from the town and university who are buried there.
After the Founders Day ceremony on Founders Plaza, Margrif led a tour of the cemetery, highlighting gravesites of notable town and university members, as well as a number of graves of Black individuals that are unmarked. The latter graves were flagged for the Founders Day tour by Department of Anthropology students, to showcase ongoing work for a preservation project by the Junaluska Heritage Association.
AppalFest on Sanford Mall
Free food, music, crafts and fun. What was not to love about the Founders Day finale on Sanford Mall? Students flocked to AppalFest to listen to music by a DJ, feast on hot dogs and cotton candy, frolic on inflatable slides and rev up their school spirit for the Mountaineers’ first home football game of the 2021 season, which took place Sept. 18.
With this year’s Founders Day coinciding with the kickoff of App State’s Family Weekend, the event on Sanford Mall provided the opportunity for students to celebrate campus life and Mountaineer history with their families.
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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.
