BOONE, N.C. — App State celebrated 123 years of history with its fifth annual Founders Day on Sept. 6.

The event commemorates the anniversary of the first day of classes held in 1899 at Watauga Academy — the predecessor of App State — and honors the academy’s founders, B.B. Dougherty, D.D. Dougherty and Lillie Shull Dougherty.

“Today, we celebrate App State’s 123-year legacy of educational leadership,” said App State Chancellor Sheri Everts. “With the help of students, faculty and staff, we are working to tell a fuller history of our university — and of those who helped shape it into the institution it has become.”

The day’s main event, the Founders Day ceremony, took place at App State’s Founders Plaza, starting with an ice cream social and followed by the dedication of the D.D. Dougherty statue — the last of the university’s three co-founders to be represented in bronze. The statue was sculpted by local artist Suzie Hallier, who also produced the Lillie Shull Dougherty statue.

“Today, with the installation of this statue, we celebrate the completion of the final phase of Founders Plaza,” said Everts. “Together, the sculptures of our three founders serve as an inspiring reminder of their vision, and how it has transformed — and will continue to transform — the lives of countless North Carolinians for generations.”

The statues of Lillie Shull and D.D. Dougherty were gifts from the late William H. Brown Jr. — the Doughertys’ great-grandson — and his family.

The ceremony concluded with the traditional ringing of the Founders Bell — marking the decades of App State’s existence — as well as the induction of 12 new members into the Bell Ringers Society. Each inductee had a chance to ring the Founders Bell before receiving a commemorative pin from the chancellor.

The Founders Day celebration included an afternoon full of activities, starting with a historical research exhibition in the Grandfather Ballroom of the Plemmons Student Union. Visitors were able to dive deep into the history of App State and Watauga County through a poster display, curated by students, faculty, staff and community leaders.

In keeping with this year’s theme, “The Year of the Woman,” many exhibits highlighted influential women of App State, such as Lillie Dougherty. Additional presentations focused on Mary Shook, App State’s first student health care provider, and Lucy Brock, the first chairperson of App State’s department of home economics and the preschool laboratory program named in her honor.

The exhibition was followed by the panel discussion “Women Trailblazers at App State,” which also took place in the Grandfather Ballroom and was moderated by Dr. Janice Pope, professor of public relations in App State’s Department of Communication.

Everts, the first female chancellor of App State — and one of the honored trailblazers of the afternoon — made the opening remarks, drawing inspiration from Lillie Dougherty while speaking to the importance of women leadership within the university.

“(Lillie) was astute in her judgments, judicious in her guidance and selfless in her service — and because of her, App State is a better and stronger institution today,” said Everts. “Each of the women trailblazers we are honoring today has, like Lillie Shull Dougherty, built and followed different paths, opening new possibilities for those who have followed them, and I am honored and humbled to be included with them in today’s recognition.”

The panel was then introduced by Dr. Karl Campbell, chair of the App State History Committee, who highlighted the individual accomplishments of each of the 11 women who were recognized for their contributions to the university.

“There are countless women who have been agents of change for our Appalachian State family and community,” said Campbell. “Some of them were recorded in history, and some were not. The women trailblazers we are honoring today represent the contributions of all women to App State’s history.”

Following Campbell’s remarks, panelists took turns telling stories from their time at App State and sharing how the university continues to have a positive impact on their lives. The panel concluded with a brief audience Q&A.

Founders Day came to a close with “Tombstone Tales,” a walking tour of the Boone Cemetery on East Howard Street, led by historian and senior lecturer Trent Margrif. Guests were able to explore the lives and histories of notable community and university women who are buried in the cemetery.

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App State Bell Ringers Society — Class of 2022

App State inducted 12 new members into its Bell Ringers Society during the Founders Day ceremony on Sept. 6. Each inductee had a chance to ring the Founders Bell before receiving a commemorative pin from App State Chancellor Sheri Everts.

• Deanna Ballard — North Carolina senator, representing the governmental support from the state of North Carolina.
• Sean Gaillard — principal of the App State Academy at Middle Fork, representing App State’s first lab school, and the shared commitment of the state of North Carolina and App State to provide access to education. Principal Gaillard was accompanied by Academy at Middle Fork students Aden Peay and Autumn Vernon while ringing the Founders Bell.
• Dr. Brandy Hadley — a first-generation college graduate who, as an associate professor at App State, inspires her students and demonstrates the power education has to change lives.
• Emma Hatfield-Sidden — principal of the App State Academy at Elkin, representing the second lab school at App State, carrying forward the mission of the state of North Carolina, the University of North Carolina Board of Governors and App State, which is the first UNC System institution to operate two lab schools. Principal Hatfield-Sidden was accompanied by Academy at Elkin student Eleanor Hall while ringing the Founders Bell.
• Oval Jaynes — representing the history of athletics at App State, the dedication of App State’s student-athletes to excellence in the classroom and their sports, and the contribution of athletics to the growth of the university and the economic development of the region.
• Larry Nance — representing the generations of staff members who have been dedicated to the success of App State and the university’s long-standing commitment to supporting its employees throughout their careers.
• Anna Boyce Phillips — representing the partnership between App State and the surrounding community since its founding, and the long-standing history of mutual support and growth.
• MaKaylia Ray — an App State student, and first-generation college student, representing App State students and their important role in building and fostering communities, and the impact scholarships have on the future they are building.
• Denise Ringler — representing App State’s dedication to enriching the cultural landscape of the region and making the arts accessible to all, and recognizing the arts as an important contributor to the economic development of the area.
• Nancy Schaffel — representing the founders of An Appalachian Summer Festival and its commitment to artistic excellence, innovative programming, and the promotion and support of young American artists.
• Neil Schaffel — representing the importance of vision, guidance and support for students and young artists to begin and sustain their professional music and arts careers.
• Kim Shepherd — representing the App State Board of Trustees and their leadership and support for students, faculty, staff and the university’s mission of teaching, research and service, and the significance of female role models for leaders in business and service.

Women Trailblazers at App State

App State recognized 11 women trailblazers for their contributions to the university during a panel discussion as part of the Founders Day 2022 celebration.

• Dr. Sheri Everts — the first female chancellor of App State, and the chancellor who has led the university to become the premier public undergraduate institution in the Southeast.
• Provost Heather Hulburt Norris — App State’s chief academic officer and the second woman to hold this position at App State after becoming the first woman dean of the Walker College of Business in 2016.
• Carol Almond — the first woman to earn an athletic scholarship at App State and the first woman to have her jersey retired at App State.
• Dr. Carolyn Anderson — the first African American to earn a mathematics degree from App State, who would later become the first full-time African American faculty member at App State.
• Karolyn Martin ’22 — a 2022 magna cum laude graduate of App State and an alumna of the university’s Honors College, who was a respected student leader at App State and is the current Miss North Carolina.
• Dr. Maggie McFadden — who helped to establish a women’s studies program at App State, in what is now the second oldest program in gender studies in the state, as well as the first interdisciplinary minor in women’s studies, not only at App State, but in the state of North Carolina.
• Dr. B. Dawn Medlin — a graduate of App State, faculty member in the Department of Computer Information Systems in the Walker College of Business and founder of the Women of Walker leadership program for first-generation women college students.
• Mary Moretz — an App State alumna, a retired Watauga High School educator who taught social studies and English for 37 years, a former Watauga County Commissioner, a mentor for young women and a steadfast supporter of the Reich College of Education.
• Kay Norwood — a respected business leader, the first woman to chair the Appalachian State University Foundation Board and the 1998 recipient of the App State Alumni Association’s Distinguished Alumni Award.
• Dr. Travis Triplett — an App State graduate, a professor and a program director for the bachelor’s in exercise science program at App State, champion for diversity and leadership, and the first woman to serve as president of the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
• Dr. Jan Watson — who taught at App State, in addition to coaching field hockey. She was the first woman coach of the first women’s varsity team at both App State and Division I women’s athletics in the state of North Carolina.

History and tradition — App State’s 4th annual Founders Day celebration

Oct. 8, 2021

App State celebrated its history and traditions during the fourth annual Founders Day, Sept. 17. The day’s events included a Bell Ringers Society ceremony and a lecture and tour of the historic Boone Cemetery, along with AppalFest on Sanford Mall.

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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 the Bell Ringers Society

A new tradition at Appalachian State University — the ringing of the Founders Bell, an iconic symbol of App State’s history — was established Sept. 5, 2019, as the university celebrated its second annual Founders Day. Twelve members of the App State Community were selected to ring the bell 10 times each to signify the university’s 120th anniversary as an innovator and leader in higher education. These 12 bell ringers are the inaugural members of App State’s Bell Ringers Society. New members are inducted into the society each year to ring the bell on Founders Day.

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.