BOONE, N.C. — Appalachian State University’s Alumni Association honored three Mountaineers at the 2024 Alumni Awards Gala, held July 13 in the Grandview Ballroom of Kidd Brewer Stadium’s north end zone facility. Ten alumni from the university’s academic colleges, as well as the Honors College, Williams School of Graduate Studies and University Libraries, were also recognized.

The annual event — part of App State’s Alumni Weekend — recognizes graduates who have made a lasting impact on society and the university through their outstanding professional, philanthropic and volunteer accomplishments. College-level awardees are honored for their accomplishments in their respective fields, as well as for their continued service and engagement with the university community.

The university's 2024 honorees:

• Jeff Chesson ’77 received the Distinguished Alumni Award, which recognizes individuals who have attained extraordinary distinction and success in their career field and have demonstrated exceptional and sustained leadership in their community.
• Ralph Hise ’00 also received the Distinguished Alumni Award.
• Steve Wilks ’92 received the Outstanding Service Award, which recognizes individuals for their exceptional service to the university.

“These three alumni have demonstrated exemplary commitment to the success of Appalachian State University students — past, current and future,” said App State Interim Chancellor Heather Norris. “Their dedication and generous contributions of time and resources have expanded opportunities for countless individuals, who, in turn, are continuing their legacy.”

Read on to learn more about this year’s Alumni Awards winners.

Distinguished Alumni Award — Joseph Jeffries ‘Jeff’ Chesson ’77

Chesson graduated from App State in 1977 with a Bachelor of Science in business administration, with a concentration in real estate. In the same year, he earned his North Carolina real estate and insurance licenses and began working in his family’s real estate business, The Chesson Agency, which was established in 1959 in his hometown of Wilson. He is president of the company, having taken over the role from his father in 1978.

In 1982, Chesson earned his Graduate Realtor Institute and Certified Residential Specialist designations in real estate, and he is a two-time winner of the Realtor of the Year Award (1990 and 2015), as well as a winner of the Board of Realtors Pioneer Award (2006).

Chesson’s community involvement includes serving as a member of the charter committee of the Rotary Club of Greater Wilson and the Greenfield School Board of Directors, as well as volunteering for 35 years at Sugar Mountain Ski Patrol.

At App State, Chesson is a member of the Board of Trustees and chair of the board’s Athletics Committee. Previously, he served as chair of the board’s Finance and Operations Committee and was a member of the App State Academy at Elkin Board of Directors.

“Through his leadership and philanthropic devotion to App State, Jeff sets a high bar for all alumni,” said a nominator. “He has been instrumental in securing impactful gifts and talent that benefit current and future generations of App State students.”

Chesson’s wife, Patricia “Pat” Neuhauser Chesson, and their two sons, Adam and Matthew — 2005 and 2007 graduates of App State, respectively — also work for the family business.

Chesson is devoted to his family, and he and Pat love spending time with Adam and his wife, Kiersten, Matthew and his wife, Paige — a 2020 App State graduate, and their four grandchildren.

Distinguished Alumni Award — Ralph Hise ’00

Hise graduated from App State in 2000 with a bachelor’s degree in statistics. A University of North Carolina System success story, he is an alumnus of the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics and earned his master’s degree in higher education administration from North Carolina State University.

Hise is currently serving his seventh term as senator of the 47th District of North Carolina, which includes the counties of Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Caldwell, Haywood, Madison, Mitchell, Watauga, and Yancey. He served as mayor of Spruce Pine for two terms before being elected as a member of the North Carolina Senate. At the opening of the current biennial legislative session, he was sworn in as the Senate’s Deputy President Pro Tempore for a third term.

Hise has been consistently recognized as one of the most effective state senators in the annual rankings of the North Carolina Center for Public Policy Research. In his role, he co-chairs the Appropriations/Base Budget Committee, the Redistricting and Elections Committee and the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Information Technology. As Deputy President Pro Tempore, he is a voting member of all committees in the state’s Senate.

During his legislative tenure, App State has received significant increases in operating funds and capital expenditures. The General Assembly has increased the university’s operating expenses by over $21 million in addition to enrollment funding increases, with $15 million of those funds included on an annual recurring basis. The legislature has also approved over $210 million in capital projects at App State through the 2027–28 fiscal year, including improvements to Peacock Hall, Walker Hall and the Hickory campus.

Hise currently serves as expert-in-residence in the Health Policy Institute at the University of North Carolina Asheville.

Hise, a native of Mitchell County, lives in Spruce Pine with his wife, Linn, and their twin sons, Thomas and Deren.

Outstanding Service Award — Steven ‘Steve’ Wilks ’92

Wilks graduated from App State in 1992 with a bachelor’s degree in communications. He is a native and longtime resident of Charlotte, where he began playing football at the age of 9. He played as a defensive back for the App State Mountaineers from 1987 to 1991 and in the Arena Football League with the Charlotte Rage in 1993.

Wilks transitioned from player to coach in his football career in 1995 and coached at the collegiate level for over 11 years. His continued success as a sports leader brought him to the National Football League, where he started as a defensive backs coach for the Chicago Bears in 2006. Wilks would go on to coach for the San Diego Chargers, Carolina Panthers, Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers. He was part of three National Football Conference Championship teams and coached athletes in three Super Bowls.

Wilks has earned similar success as a leader off the football field in his local community, most notably as the driving force behind the 3T Foundation to support and increase positive outcomes for youth.

“Steve is the epitome of not only a great leader but an overall great man,” said one of his nominators. “He’s a man who constantly gives back to the university and community with his profound mentorship and positive influence.”

Wilks and his wife, Marcia “Marci” Wilks, have three children, Marissa, Melanni and Steven James.

Alumni honorees — academic colleges

Dr. Leslie Alexander ’11 ’18
Williams School of Graduate Studies

Alexander earned an education specialist degree from App State in 2011 and a doctorate in educational leadership in 2018. She currently serves as superintendent of Watauga County Schools.

Previously, she served Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools in multiple roles, including chief human resource officer, area superintendent of leadership development and principal at R. J. Reynolds High School and J. F. Kennedy High School. She has also held positions as a literacy specialist, media coordinator and teacher, through which she has been instrumental in implementing innovative programs, building community relations and ensuring academic excellence.

She maintains numerous professional memberships and has been recognized for her work in education with multiple awards, including the Signature School Award, Magnet School Principal of the Year, WS/FCS District Principal of the Year, and the Winston-Salem Outstanding Women Leaders Award.

Alexander serves on the board of App State’s Women in Educational Leadership Symposium, as well as on the Advancement Board of the Reich College of Education.

James Daugherty ’93 ’94
Hayes School of Music

Daugherty earned a bachelor’s degree in 1993 and a master’s degree in 1994 from App State, both in music education. He currently serves as the Arts Education and Digital Learning Specialist for Davidson County Schools — completing 30 years in education this year — and is director of the Cannon Music Camp in App State’s Hayes School of Music.

Prior to his current position, Daugherty was band director and instructor of music theory at Central Davidson High School in Lexington for 21 years. Under his direction, the band consistently earned excellent and superior ratings at regional, state and national music festivals. He was named Central Davidson’s Teacher of the Year in 1996 and 2013, and in 1997 he was honored as Davidson County Schools’ Teacher of the Year. He is a member of numerous professional organizations and music fraternities and served as president of the North Carolina Music Educators Association from 2015 to 2017.

He was featured in Teaching Music, in an article titled “Accentuate the Positive,” and was also listed as one of “50 Directors Who Make A Difference” in School Band and Orchestra Plus Magazine. In 2019 he was inducted into the Reich College of Education’s Rhododendron Society.

Stephen ‘Steve’ Fleming ’90
Beaver College of Health Sciences

Fleming earned a bachelor’s degree in public health before coming to App State to earn his Master of Business Administration. Fleming is currently co-president and chief executive officer of The Well-Spring Group, a multi-modal aging services provider based in Greensboro.

He has served in numerous industry-related leadership roles, including past chair of the North Carolina State Board of Examiners for Nursing Home Administrators, past chair of the state’s trade association, LeadingAge North Carolina, and most recently, past chair of the national trade association, LeadingAge.

Fleming is a longtime and generous supporter of the Beaver College of Health Sciences and App State Athletics, as well as other areas of the university. He has previously served as chair of the Beaver College of Health Sciences Advisory Board and the college’s Health Care Management Board.

Richard ‘Tommy’ Guy ’07
College of Arts and Sciences

Guy graduated summa cum laude from the College of Arts and Sciences in 2007, having pursued a double major in mathematics and philosophy and religion. Guy was also a member of the Honors College.

He is currently a principal architect and data scientist at Microsoft, where he leads efforts in big data analytics and artificial intelligence. Over the course of his academic and professional career, he has published 16 articles on a range of topics in mathematics, data science and computation genetics. He has led workshops on data science best practices for graduate students at a dozen schools in four countries, in addition to teaching a graduate course on data science and literacy at the University of Washington.

Guy has established numerous scholarships for students at App State in several departments, including the Computer Science Alumni Scholarship. He has also worked with the Department of Computer Science to stage mock interviews for students and is interested in developing opportunities to facilitate networking relationships and mentorship between alumni and students.

Guy currently serves as a member of the College of Arts and Sciences Advancement Council.

Roger Hyatt ’71 ’74
Reich College of Education

Hyatt earned a bachelor’s degree in 1971 and a master’s degree in 1974 from App State, both in science education. After teaching for several years in Davie County, he returned to App State to earn his principal certification.

Over the course of a 50-year career in education, Hyatt held positions as a classroom teacher, assistant principal and principal, and was recognized as North Carolina Region 7 Principal of the Year in 1987 — all while working in the central office at the Mooresville Graded School District (MGSD). He later served on MGSD’s school board for 16 years — acting as chairman for six years — and has worked with numerous accreditation teams in North Carolina elementary and secondary schools.

Earlier this year, Hyatt received the state’s highest honor, the Order of the Long Leaf Pine award, in recognition of his many years of service to schools and communities in North Carolina.

Hyatt is serving a second term on the Advancement Board of the Reich College of Education at App State. He and his wife, Debbie, are also longtime members of the Yosef Club and have been football season ticket holders for more than 20 years.

MaryCraven Poteat ’77
University Libraries

Poteat earned a master’s degree in higher education administration from App State in 1977. Following the completion of her degree, Poteat joined the North Carolina Community Colleges System as assistant director for the learning resource centers, overseeing 58 community colleges. In 2003, she achieved National Board Certification for Early Childhood through Young Adulthood in Library Media while holding positions as a teacher and a librarian in the Wake County Public School System, serving seven middle and high schools throughout her career.

Poteat has been the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including the Excellence in Teaching Award from the International Reading Association, the Teaching with Technology Award and a Celebrating Innovation Creative Grant.

Poteat has served as a member of App State’s University Library Advisory Board for eight years and has been a longtime supporter of multiple scholarships and initiatives at the university, including the Library Student Employee Scholarship. She has also funded the creation of study spaces for students in Belk Library and Information Commons and in Sanford Hall.

John Michael Rhem ’13
College of Fine and Applied Arts

Rhem earned a bachelor’s degree in interior design from App State in 2013, graduating cum laude. As a student, Rhem served as an Appalachian Student Ambassador and as a student representative on the Alumni Council.

After graduation, Rhem earned a North Carolina real estate license and joined Premier Sotheby’s International Realty, employing his knowledge of architecture and design to specialize in the high-end residential markets of Banner Elk, Blowing Rock and Boone. Currently, Rhem holds a position with Turchin Companies based in Miami Beach, Florida, overseeing the development and expansion of businesses across diverse market sectors — including retail, self-storage, hospitality and new construction opportunities — while also maintaining an active license with Sotheby’s.

In addition to his professional endeavors, Rhem is deeply committed to community service, volunteering with organizations such as the National LGBTQ Task Force and advocating for the work of The Trevor Project. He also recently established The John Michael Rhem Endowment for Interior Design in the College of Fine and Applied Arts.

Steven Rubin ’04 and Anna Rubin ’05
Honors College

Steven Rubin graduated summa cum laude from App State in 2004 with a degree in finance and banking through the Walker College of Business as well as general honors. He currently serves as the chief operating officer and an LPL Financial Advisor at Hege Financial Group. He plays a key part in the decision-making process for the firm’s marketing, communications and overall practice management.

Anna Rubin graduated summa cum laude from App State in 2005 with a degree in economics and a minor in social work. She began her career in Winston-Salem with the Department of Social Services. In the years since, her work has included positions with Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools and with World Relief, a nonprofit organization that assists refugees with resettlement.

While at App State, Steven and Anna were both recipients of the Chancellor’s Scholarship — the university’s top academic scholarship — and they met while attending a Chancellor’s Scholars event.

Craig Stephenson ’82
Walker College of Business

Stephenson earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from App State in 1982. Currently, he is president and chief executive officer of COC Properties Inc. He also serves as a board member for Southeastern Freight Lines and the Chalmers Center Board for Economic Development at Covenant College in Lookout Mountain, Georgia. The Chalmers Center works to help alleviate poverty across the world.

Stephenson was previously an elder in the Presbyterian Church of America and on the board of the Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. He holds a National Association of Corporate Directors Certified Director License and a certificate in nonprofit board education.

Stephenson served on App State’s Board of Visitors from 2015 to 2021 and on the Alumni Leadership Committee in 1995, and he is a longtime supporter of the Walker College of Business Dean’s Club. Additionally, he and his family have established two Walker College professorships.

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Alumni Awards

Each year, the Appalachian State Alumni Association acknowledges individuals whose exceptional professional, philanthropic or volunteer achievements have impacted society and Appalachian State University. The recipients of the 2024 Alumni Awards will be honored at the Alumni Awards Gala on Saturday, July 13.

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App State honored three university alumni at its 2023 Alumni Awards Gala on July 15. C. Philip Byers received the Distinguished Alumni Award, Brian “Scotty” McCullough received the Outstanding Service Award and Stacy Roberson Reedy received the Young Alumni Award.

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About the Office of Alumni Engagement

Appalachian State University’s Office of Alumni Engagement creates and fosters communities of App State alumni. Its programs provide all App State alumni populations with meaningful engagement opportunities to network — connecting Mountaineers with each other and their alma mater. The university’s Alumni Association consists of more than 150,000 living alumni. Membership is free and automatic for all App State graduates. Learn more at www.alumni.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.