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App State’s Fall 2023 Commencement honors more than 1,500 Mountaineer graduates
“On the path to earning your degree, you have demonstrated remarkable grace and perseverance to arrive at this momentous occasion, and we are so very proud of each and every one of you. Thank you for enriching our great academic community. You are our most enduring legacy. You will forever be a part of App State.”
App State Chancellor Sheri Everts
“Your education at Appalachian State University has provided you the knowledge and skills you need to achieve the goals and dreams you set forth, and your futures are beckoning.”
C. Philip Byers, UNC System Board of Governors member
By J. Todd Coates
Posted Dec. 20, 2023 at 1:35 p.m.
BOONE, N.C. — Appalachian State University recognized more than 1,500 Mountaineer graduates during its Fall Commencement ceremonies, held Dec. 15 at the Holmes Convocation Center.
“On the path to earning your degree, you have demonstrated remarkable grace and perseverance to arrive at this momentous occasion, and we are so very proud of each and every one of you. Thank you for enriching our great academic community. You are our most enduring legacy. You will forever be a part of App State.”
App State Chancellor Sheri Everts
During three ceremonies, the university conferred degrees to 1,531 graduates — 1,379 undergraduate students from seven colleges and schools and 152 graduate students from the Williams School of Graduate Studies, including eight doctoral students and three students who earned education specialist degrees.
Chancellor Sheri Everts presided over the ceremonies, and Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Heather Hulburt Norris presented the candidates for graduation. C. Philip Byers, a University of North Carolina System Board of Governors member and a Class of 1985 App State alumnus, shared congratulatory remarks on behalf of both the Board of Governors and App State’s Board of Trustees.
In his remarks to the graduates, Byers said, “Your education at Appalachian State University has provided you the knowledge and skills you need to achieve the goals and dreams you set forth, and your futures are beckoning. You are now ambassadors of this fine institution. Take tremendous pride in how you represent yourselves, your communities and your university. Remember the invaluable education you have received from Appalachian State University.”
“Soon-to-be graduates, you have earned extraordinary academic achievements under historically challenging circumstances,” Everts said in her address to App State’s Class of 2023. “On the path to earning your degree, you have demonstrated remarkable grace and perseverance to arrive at this momentous occasion, and we are so very proud of each and every one of you.
“Thank you for enriching our great academic community. You are our most enduring legacy. You will forever be a part of App State,” she added.
“Dr. Ahmed, we applaud your commitment to your students, their aspirations and their post-graduate success,” Byers said. “You exemplify the heart and soul of Appalachian State University, and today, we thank you for your dedication to all of North Carolina's students.”
In her introductions, Norris recognized Mountaineer alumni, student veterans, military-affiliated students and first-generation college students who were in attendance.
“We are so glad we are able to celebrate your hard work, perseverance and success,” Norris said.
“Your education at Appalachian State University has provided you the knowledge and skills you need to achieve the goals and dreams you set forth, and your futures are beckoning.”
C. Philip Byers, UNC System Board of Governors member
App State’s commencement ceremonies concluded with a special performance of the university’s alma mater, prerecorded by former App State student, seven-time Grammy Award nominee and two-time Country Music Association Entertainer of the Year Luke Combs.
App State's fall Class of 2023 graduates represented 25 different states and 10 different countries and ranged in age from 19 to 65. Of these Mountaineers, 503 were first-generation college graduates and 30 were affiliated with the military. Graduates represented each of the university’s academic colleges as they walked across the commencement stage:
Every commencement and every graduate has a unique and special story. Learn more about three App State graduates who exemplify the Mountaineer spirit of diligence and perseverance.
He shared that his interest in neuroscience began early in his life, as he lost his mother to neurological cancer at a young age.
“Growing up, neuroscience was a field that was constantly in the back of my mind,” he said, adding that he was pleased to discover App State’s Department of Biology is home to faculty with extensive expertise in neuroscience.
Dr. Ava Udvadia, professor in and chair of the biology department, invited Noblitt to join her research lab, where he assisted Udvadia with research focused on optic nerve regeneration. The ultimate goal of this research is to aid in developing therapeutics that could restore vision in those with blindness due to optic nerve damage. Noblitt earned an Undergraduate Research Assistantship to conduct research with Udvadia in summer 2023.
Since he was a sophomore, Noblitt has worked part time at UNC Health Appalachian’s Watauga Medical Center in Boone, serving in a variety of areas through the center’s staff ready program — including patient observation specialist, emergency department admissions and patient transport.
While pursuing his degree, Noblitt was involved in several extracurricular activities at App State, including the American Red Cross Club, Neurobiology Club and Appalachian Popular Program Society. As a member of the Biology Peer Mentors Program, he offered academic advising to first-year and second-year students and helped build community among biology majors. He was also a teacher’s assistant in the photography program in App State’s Department of Art.
Noblitt is applying for Ph.D. programs in the areas of genetics, neuroscience and biochemistry and has long-term goals for a career in biomedicine. He will begin his graduate studies this fall.
“I feel confident App State has prepared me for a further career in neuroscience, especially in cellular and molecular biology,” he said.
In this video, App State graduate Davis Noblitt talks about how App State faculty helped him find his passion for research and prepare him for post-graduate studies to continue working toward a doctoral degree in neuroscience. Video by App State University Communications
Rabideau came to App State as a transfer student in the 2021–22 academic year. Two weeks before she was to begin classes at Michigan State University, she visited her aunt and uncle in Waynesville and took a day trip to Boone, where she was able to join a tour of the App State campus.
“The scenery and the atmosphere immediately drew me in,” she said of her time in Boone, adding, “I found that the App State faculty and staff were so accessible and friendly.”
The next day, Rabideau contacted App State Admissions, whose team helped her enroll at App State and register for classes — within an hour, she was a Mountaineer.
While at App State, Rabideau served as executive vice president of the university’s Collegiate Sales Society chapter and earned an Outstanding Marketing Scholar Award from Walker College. She was also the inaugural recipient of the Sophia Walsh Memorial Scholarship; established by the family of the late App State alumna and Walker College student Sophia Leigh Walsh, the scholarship provides support to students pursuing the field of sales.
Rabideau shared that she plans to travel abroad before beginning her new sales role at DIGI America in Raleigh — a supplier of cutting-edge products and solutions for the food industry. She will assume her new role this spring, with a sales territory concentrated in the eastern regions of Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina.
In this video, transfer student and App State graduate Rachel Rabideau discusses how she found App State and how its faculty and staff made her feel comfortable from the very beginning. She also talks about how her App State Experience has helped prepare her for a future career in sales. “Being a Mountaineer is about community,” she shared. “It’s great to be a Mountaineer!” Video by App State University Communications
Christian Rodriguez
Rodriguez, a first-generation college student and first-generation American citizen from Siler City, graduated from App State with a Bachelor of Science in exercise science. Being a first-generation student was a gratifying, yet stressful experience for Rodriguez, he said, as “everything was undiscovered for me.”
“It was actually pretty nerve racking because I didn’t want to mess up the opportunity, and I’ve got a younger brother whom I wanted to show that this is possible,” Rodriguez shared. “At first, I felt like I was figuring out how to do everything by myself, but I learned to open up, use the resources available to me and enjoy my college experience.”
Rodriguez said his scholarship allowed him to switch majors late in his college career, which he felt called to do during a difficult period in his life.
"I had my struggles, and I was down about that, but I knew I needed a change and that’s when I made the switch to exercise science,” he said.
Rodriguez didn’t officially switch majors until his last year at App State, but with a strong work ethic, a lot of determination and support from faculty and advisers, he managed to graduate with only one extra semester under his belt.
He said his favorite things about attending App State were experiencing the magnitude of Mountaineers football games with his friends and living through the unpredictable weather that Boone has to offer.
In this video, App State graduate and Beaver Scholar Christian Rodriguez describes how he overcame challenges with the help of family, friends, faculty and staff to become a first-generation college graduate. “It’s not just me graduating; it’s my family graduating with me,” he said. “We did it!” Video by App State University Communications
Fall 2023 macebearers
The mace is carried by a senior faculty member and precedes the chancellor, both upon entering and leaving a ceremony. The mace serves as a symbol of authority just as it did during the Middle Ages, when a macebearer accompanied an official taking office or opening court. The App State mace symbolizes the university’s mountain heritage, the rustic location and the sophistication of an emerging, national leader in higher education.
The following individuals served as macebearers during App State’s Fall 2023 Commencement ceremonies:
Dr. Mary Ann Hofmann
Walker College of Business
Hofmann is retiring after 17 years of service in the Department of Accounting. She served as co-director of the Master of Science in accounting program, has been a generous supporter of student scholarships and was actively engaged with the community through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. Hofmann received the Walker College of Business Sywassink Excellence in Teaching Award in 2021.
Dr. Priscilla Porterfield
Hayes School of Music
Porterfield began her career at App State in 1990. She teaches vocal diction and applied voice and directs the Treble Choir. Porterfield is the recipient of many awards and fellowships — she was a national finalist in the Music Teachers National Association Collegiate Artist Awards, the winner of the Toledo Opera Young Artists Competition and a two-time winner in the District Metropolitan Opera Auditions.
Dr. Rahman Tashakkori
College of Arts and Sciences
Tashakkori serves as the Lowe’s Distinguished Professor of Computer Science in the Department of Computer Science, and he served as department chair from 2017 to 2023. Tashakkori is a leader in establishing and directing externally funded STEM scholarship and research programs. He recently received a UNC System Research Opportunities Initiative grant for the App State Multipurpose Apiary Informatics System (AppMAIS) project.
The following individuals carried the university banner during App State’s Fall 2023 Commencement ceremonies:
Dr. Jeffrey Kaleta, assistant professor of computer information systems, Walker College of Business.
Dr. Donna Lillian, associate professor and interim associate dean, College of Arts and Sciences.
Dr. Stephen McCreery, associate professor of electronic media/broadcasting, College of Fine and Applied Arts.
The following individuals carried the college banners during App State’s Fall 2023 Commencement ceremonies:
Dr. Denise Levy, associate dean of academic affairs, Beaver College of Health Sciences.
Dr. Mike Madritch, interim dean, College of Arts and Sciences.
Dr. Ashley Han, associate professor of public relations, College of Fine and Applied Arts.
Dr. James Douthit, dean, Hayes School of Music.
Dr. Melba Spooner, dean, Reich College of Education.
Dr. Mark Ginn, vice provost of undergraduate education, University College.
Dr. Sandra Vannoy, dean, Walker College of Business.
Dr. Ashley Walker Colquitt, dean, Williams School of Graduate Studies.
Dr. Vicky Klima, interim dean, Honors College.
Dr. Sue Polanka, dean, University Libraries.
Ken Johnson, associate professor and coordinator of access and public service, University Libraries.
Fall 2023 Commencement name readers
The following individuals read the names of graduates — assisted by Senior Associate Registrar Kathy Scott — during App State’s Fall 2023 Commencement ceremonies:
Dr. Mark Bradbury, professor of public administration and associate dean, College of Arts and Sciences.
Dr. Jeffrey Kaleta, assistant professor of computer information systems, Walker College of Business.
Dr. Andrew Koricich, associate professor of higher education, Reich College of Education.
Dr. Stephen McCreery, associate professor of electronic media/broadcasting, College of Fine and Applied Arts.
Commencement is the ultimate celebration of one of the most significant accomplishments of our students' lifetimes. We are proud to honor their achievement.
Appalachian State University conferred degrees to over 3,600 students during its 2023 Spring Commencement ceremonies, held May 12 and 13 at the Holmes Convocation Center.
U.S. News ranks App State as No. 1 Most Innovative School and No. 2 Top Public School in the South
Sep. 22, 2023
Several national publications, including U.S. News & World Report, The Princeton Review and Forbes magazine, have named App State among the best schools in the nation — and the Southeast — for 2023–24, recognizing the university for its academics, innovation, value and more.
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.
“On the path to earning your degree, you have demonstrated remarkable grace and perseverance to arrive at this momentous occasion, and we are so very proud of each and every one of you. Thank you for enriching our great academic community. You are our most enduring legacy. You will forever be a part of App State.”
App State Chancellor Sheri Everts
“Your education at Appalachian State University has provided you the knowledge and skills you need to achieve the goals and dreams you set forth, and your futures are beckoning.”
C. Philip Byers, UNC System Board of Governors member
University and college banner carriers
The following individuals carried the university banner during App State’s Fall 2023 Commencement ceremonies:
Dr. Jeffrey Kaleta, assistant professor of computer information systems, Walker College of Business.
Dr. Donna Lillian, associate professor and interim associate dean, College of Arts and Sciences.
Dr. Stephen McCreery, associate professor of electronic media/broadcasting, College of Fine and Applied Arts.
The following individuals carried the college banners during App State’s Fall 2023 Commencement ceremonies:
Dr. Denise Levy, associate dean of academic affairs, Beaver College of Health Sciences.
Dr. Mike Madritch, interim dean, College of Arts and Sciences.
Dr. Ashley Han, associate professor of public relations, College of Fine and Applied Arts.
Dr. James Douthit, dean, Hayes School of Music.
Dr. Melba Spooner, dean, Reich College of Education.
Dr. Mark Ginn, vice provost of undergraduate education, University College.
Dr. Sandra Vannoy, dean, Walker College of Business.
Dr. Ashley Walker Colquitt, dean, Williams School of Graduate Studies.
Dr. Vicky Klima, interim dean, Honors College.
Dr. Sue Polanka, dean, University Libraries.
Ken Johnson, associate professor and coordinator of access and public service, University Libraries.
Fall 2023 Commencement name readers
The following individuals read the names of graduates — assisted by Senior Associate Registrar Kathy Scott — during App State’s Fall 2023 Commencement ceremonies:
Dr. Mark Bradbury, professor of public administration and associate dean, College of Arts and Sciences.
Dr. Jeffrey Kaleta, assistant professor of computer information systems, Walker College of Business.
Dr. Andrew Koricich, associate professor of higher education, Reich College of Education.
Dr. Stephen McCreery, associate professor of electronic media/broadcasting, College of Fine and Applied Arts.
Commencement is the ultimate celebration of one of the most significant accomplishments of our students' lifetimes. We are proud to honor their achievement.
Appalachian State University conferred degrees to over 3,600 students during its 2023 Spring Commencement ceremonies, held May 12 and 13 at the Holmes Convocation Center.
U.S. News ranks App State as No. 1 Most Innovative School and No. 2 Top Public School in the South
Sep. 22, 2023
Several national publications, including U.S. News & World Report, The Princeton Review and Forbes magazine, have named App State among the best schools in the nation — and the Southeast — for 2023–24, recognizing the university for its academics, innovation, value and more.
Appalachian Today is an online publication of Appalachian State University. This website consolidates university news, feature stories, events, photo galleries, videos and podcasts.
The migration of materials from other sites is still incomplete, so if you cannot find what you're looking for here, please refer to the following sources:
Appalachian Today is an online publication of Appalachian State University. This website consolidates university news, feature stories, events, photo galleries, videos and podcasts.
The migration of materials from other sites is still incomplete, so if you cannot find what you're looking for here, please refer to the following sources: