Founders Day 2026
A fall tradition to honor Appalachian State University’s founders and the first day of classes held in 1899.
10 – 11 a.m.
Founders Plaza
(Rain location: BB Dougherty lobby)
2 – 2:45 p.m.
Sanford Mall
(Rain location: Cascades Cafe)
Previous Founders Days
7 new members inducted into App State’s Bell Ringers Society
With the Founders Bell ringing, 9 new members were inducted into App State’s Bell Ringers Society
Statue of D.D. Dougherty dedicated at Founders Plaza
About the Bell Ringers Society
The ringing of the Founders Bell, an iconic symbol of Appalachian State University’s history, has been a time-honored tradition. App State students ring the bell when they arrive on campus to start their higher education journey — and then again following commencement.
Beginning on Sept. 5, 2019, in recognition of the university’s 120th anniversary, the Bell Ringers Society was established during the second annual Founders Day ceremony. This new society began with the selection of 12 members of the App State Community 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. Each year, new members are inducted into the society and ring the bell on Founders Day.
Learn more about Appalachian State University, its foundation of support to the High Country and its leaders through the years by exploring the university’s history website.
Bell Ringers Society Members
2025 Inductees
- Dr. Leslie Alexander ’11 ’18
- David Jackson ’00
- Nicole Tran ’26
- Pam Walker ’89
- Dr. Anthony Wilson ’97 ’06
- Brad Wilson ’75
- Carole Wilson ’75
2024 Inductees
- Dr. Bettie Bond
- Hank Foreman '95
- Len Hagaman '78 '82
- Kaaren Hayes '96
- Kathryn Long ’25
- Ellen Otterbourg
- Rosanne Peacock
- Dr. Melba Spooner
- Tommy Sofield '76
2023 Inductees
- Dr. Harvey Durham
- Judge Rebecca Eggers-Gryder ’83
- Bruce Guy
- Linda Guy
- Juan Pablo “J.P.” Neri ’25
- Bob Snead ’55 ’57
2022 Inductees
- Deanna Ballard
- Sean Gaillard
- Dr. Brandy Hadley ’09 ’11
- Emma Hatfield-Sidden ’08 ’19 ’25
- Oval Jaynes ’62
- Larry Nance ’62 ’63
- Anna Boyce Phillips ’58
- MaKaylia Ray ’23
- Denise Ringler
- Nancy Schaffel
- Neil Schaffel
- Kim Shepherd ’97
2021 Inductees
- Sam Cheatham ’22
- Bo Henderson ’79
- Roberta Jackson ’91
- Maxine McCall ’60 ’65
- Lynn Patterson ’89
- Mike Steinback
- Jim Whittington ’52
2020 Inductees
- Dr. Karl Campbell
- Dr. Baker Perry ’98
2019 Inductees
- Dr. John E. Thomas
- Julia Adams ’56
- John Blackburn
- Penn Broyhill
- C. Philip Byers ’85
- Dr. Sheri Everts
- Dejon Milbourne ’20
- Jerry Moore
- Reba Moretz ’52 ’53
- Dr. Rennie Brantz
- Sammy Hartley ’72 ’73
- Doris Stam
- Jeannine Underdown Collins ’79 ’81
About Appalachian State University
As the premier public undergraduate institution in the Southeast, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives as global citizens who understand and engage their responsibilities in creating a sustainable future for all. The App State Experience promotes a spirit of inclusion that brings people together in inspiring ways to acquire and create knowledge, to grow holistically, to act with passion and determination, and to embrace diversity and difference. One of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, App State enrolls more than 20,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate majors and 80 graduate programs through its Boone and Hickory campuses and App State Online.
Copyright 2026 Appalachian State University. All rights reserved.
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Boone, NC 28608
828-262-6156
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