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App State Interim Chancellor Heather Norris gives opening remarks at the university’s 2024 Veterans Day Ceremony, held Nov. 11 in the B.B. Dougherty Administration Building on the Boone campus. The annual event honors the service and sacrifices of App State veterans and their families. Photo by Chase Reynolds

App State holds annual ceremony to honor service and sacrifices of veterans, military families

“While this day has been set aside — nationally — to recognize veterans and their families, please know that at Appalachian State University, you have our respect and our thanks every day.”

App State Interim Chancellor Heather Norris

By J. Todd Coates
Posted Nov. 14, 2024 at 1:35 p.m.

BOONE, N.C. — Appalachian State University Interim Chancellor Heather Norris and U.S. Army Sgt. Maj. George Sankey honored veterans and military families during the university’s annual Veterans Day Ceremony, held Nov. 11 in the B.B. Dougherty Administration Building on the Boone campus.

“While this day has been set aside — nationally — to recognize veterans and their families, please know that at Appalachian State University, you have our respect and our thanks every day.”

App State Interim Chancellor Heather Norris

App State Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps Cadet Anna Hoffman — a senior management major from Statesville who serves in the North Carolina National Guard — welcomed a crowd of veterans, faculty, staff, students and guests before turning the ceremony over to Norris.

View larger image

App State Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps Cadet Anna Hoffman, a senior management major from Statesville and a member of the North Carolina National Guard, left, emceed App State’s 2024 Veterans Day Ceremony, held Nov. 11 on the Boone campus. The ceremony included remarks from App State Interim Chancellor Heather Norris, right, and U.S. Army Sgt. Maj. George Sankey, center. Photo by Chase Reynolds

“Being a veteran is a great honor, but it means more when folks like you come together, recognize the importance of our society and be a part of a bigger cause for American values and the things that we believe in.”

U.S. Army Sgt. Maj. George Sankey

“Our tradition of commemorating this day ensures we honor those who have served and recognize their valor and their sacrifices,” said Norris, whose parents and extended family members served in the military. “While this day has been set aside — nationally — to recognize veterans and their families, please know that at Appalachian State University, you have our respect and our thanks every day.”

Norris continued, “From a young age, I admired the ideal of ‘serving something greater than oneself’ and cherished the values of loyalty, commitment, sacrifice and honor — these are values that I continue to hold today.”

She then thanked and recognized App State ROTC members and veterans who exemplified these values during recent recovery efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which devastated much of the High Country. Many of them volunteered to provide support to their neighbors and friends while managing the impacts the storm had in their own lives.

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Willson Hooks, a junior music performance major from Raleigh, performed the national anthem on the trumpet for the crowd of veterans, students, faculty and staff at App State’s annual Veterans Day Ceremony, held Nov. 11 on the Boone campus. Photo by Kyla Willoughby

Sankey, whose career enabled him to serve in the 75th Ranger Regiment and the U.S. Army Special Operations Command during multiple deployments to the Middle East, spoke at the event, with a message focused on the importance of celebrating veterans, recognizing their value in society and learning from them.

“We live in an incredible nation,” Sankey said. “Being a veteran is a great honor, but it means more when folks like you come together, recognize the importance of our society and be a part of a bigger cause for American values and the things that we believe in.”

2024 Veterans Day Ceremony at App State

This video provides a glimpse of App State’s 2024 Veterans Day Ceremony, during which Interim App State Chancellor Heather Norris and U.S. Army Sgt. Maj. George Sankey bring greetings and a message honoring those who have served our nation.

App State’s ROTC opened the ceremony by presenting the colors as Willson Hooks, a junior music performance major from Raleigh, performed the national anthem on the trumpet.

App State has 261 student veterans enrolled and employs 118 staff and faculty veterans. Additionally, 1,029 military dependents and spouses attend the university, along with 113 active-duty service members. App State is recognized by veteran organizations and news publications for its efforts to support the military community:

  • For 15 consecutive years, App State has earned Military Friendly® School designations in recognition of the university’s efforts to help military-affiliated students thrive on campus and in the surrounding community.
  • Over the last four years, U.S. News & World Report has ranked App State as the No. 2 Best College for Veterans among Southern universities.
  • App State was ranked in Military Times’ 2024 “Best for Vets: Colleges” list, recognized for its services and programs specific to military students — for the seventh consecutive year.
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The App State Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps color guard moves into place for the playing of the national anthem at the university’s 2024 Veterans Day Ceremony, held Nov. 11 on the Boone campus. Cadet Chloe Lemos, a junior criminal justice major from Charlotte, center, led the team for the presentation of the colors during the ceremony. Photo by Chase Reynolds

The Major General Edward M. Reeder Jr. Student Veteran Resource Center, which opened on Veterans Day in 2016, is one of the ways App State supports its military students and community. The center provides mentoring, tutoring, personalized career counseling and other programs and services for the university’s military-affiliated students.

Veterans Day concluded App State’s Heroes Week, hosted by Student Veteran Services, which began Friday, Nov. 1.

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Student Veteran Services
Student Veteran Services

Student Veteran Services at Appalachian State University is dedicated to helping the university’s military-affiliated students thrive on campus and in the Boone community. The unit does so by connecting student veterans and military-affiliated students with services and resources that are commensurate with their needs, capabilities and contributions. These resources and services include the Major General Edward M. Reeder Jr. Student Veteran Resource Center, priority registration, scholarship opportunities, a Student Veteran Association and others.

Learn more
Military Times ranks App State among the nation’s best schools for military service members, veterans for 2024
Military Times ranks App State among the nation’s best schools for military service members, veterans for 2024
Nov. 8, 2024

App State has been recognized among the nation’s top higher education institutions for military service members and veterans, placing among the top 13% of schools named to Military Times’ 2024 “Best for Vets: Colleges” rankings list.

Read the story
App State earns 15th consecutive Military Friendly School designation, ranked a top 10 school for 2024–25
App State earns 15th consecutive Military Friendly School designation, ranked a top 10 school for 2024–25

The university also received a top 10 Military Spouse Friendly School designation

March 27, 2024

Appalachian State University has been designated a 2024–25 Military Friendly® School by VIQTORY, marking the 15th consecutive year the university has received the honor. App State once again received a top 10 ranking from the organization.

Read the story

About Appalachian’s Student Veteran Services

Student Veteran Services at Appalachian State University is dedicated to helping the university’s military-affiliated students thrive on campus and in the Boone community. The unit does so by connecting student veterans and military-affiliated students with services and resources that are commensurate with their needs, capabilities and contributions. These resources and services include the Major General Edward M. Reeder Jr. Student Veteran Resource Center, priority registration, scholarship opportunities, a Student Veteran Association and others. Learn more at https://militarystudents.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, 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.

“While this day has been set aside — nationally — to recognize veterans and their families, please know that at Appalachian State University, you have our respect and our thanks every day.”

App State Interim Chancellor Heather Norris

“Being a veteran is a great honor, but it means more when folks like you come together, recognize the importance of our society and be a part of a bigger cause for American values and the things that we believe in.”

U.S. Army Sgt. Maj. George Sankey

Student Veteran Services
Student Veteran Services

Student Veteran Services at Appalachian State University is dedicated to helping the university’s military-affiliated students thrive on campus and in the Boone community. The unit does so by connecting student veterans and military-affiliated students with services and resources that are commensurate with their needs, capabilities and contributions. These resources and services include the Major General Edward M. Reeder Jr. Student Veteran Resource Center, priority registration, scholarship opportunities, a Student Veteran Association and others.

Learn more
Military Times ranks App State among the nation’s best schools for military service members, veterans for 2024
Military Times ranks App State among the nation’s best schools for military service members, veterans for 2024
Nov. 8, 2024

App State has been recognized among the nation’s top higher education institutions for military service members and veterans, placing among the top 13% of schools named to Military Times’ 2024 “Best for Vets: Colleges” rankings list.

Read the story
App State earns 15th consecutive Military Friendly School designation, ranked a top 10 school for 2024–25
App State earns 15th consecutive Military Friendly School designation, ranked a top 10 school for 2024–25

The university also received a top 10 Military Spouse Friendly School designation

March 27, 2024

Appalachian State University has been designated a 2024–25 Military Friendly® School by VIQTORY, marking the 15th consecutive year the university has received the honor. App State once again received a top 10 ranking from the organization.

Read the story

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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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