Last Updated on June 20, 2025 7:27 pm
Friday, June 20, 2025
With today’s sunshine also comes an annual celebration of some of App State’s legendary athletics alumni at tonight’s “Forever a Mountaineer” Legends Gala.
We’re looking forward to celebrating:
- Author, podcaster and public speaker Shelly Laney Henderson ’87, who will be the event's keynote speaker. Shelly played golf for the Mountaineers from 1983 to 1987 while earning her Bachelor of Science in elementary education. She now co-owns a real estate company, at which her sons also work, and volunteers for organizations across the state and nation.
- App State Athletics Hall of Famer Johnny Jennings ’91, a three-year starter and All-Southern Conference linebacker who earned a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2010. Johnny serves as the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Chief of Police.
- Two-time Mountaineer graduate Madi Story Medlin ’19 ’21, who is a member of the Mountaineers’ 1,000-point club in women’s basketball. Madi earned a Bachelor of Science in communication sciences and disorders and a Master of Science in speech-language pathology, while earning success on the court. She’s also a second-generation Mountaineer — her mother, Mitzi, also played basketball at App State from 1988 to 1992.
- App State Athletics Hall of Famer Larry Nance ’62 ’63, is also a two-time Mountaineer graduate who earned his Bachelor of Science in physical education and master’s degree in health and physical education. Larry earned a conference championship in tennis and played basketball for the Mountaineers from 1962 to 1963. He served as Appalachian State University’s director of human resources for more than 30 years. Larry and his wife, alumna Nanci Tolbert Nance ’73, are well known and respected fixtures in the High Country community. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1993.
- Perhaps known by more former student-athletes than any other former staff member, two-time Mountaineer graduate Jean Roberts ’82 ’92, who holds a master’s degree in educational media, a Graduate Teaching Certificate and an Education Specialist degree in counselor education from App State. She served for 14 years as executive director of the university’s learning assistance program, through which she counseled and mentored hundreds of student-athletes. During her tenure, our student-athletes achieved a cumulative grade-point average of 3.0, which has been maintained for the last 26 consecutive semesters — 13 academic years and counting!
- Richie Williams ’05 was the quarterback who led App State Football to the first of three consecutive national championships in 2005. While earning a Bachelor of Science in graphic arts and imaging technology, Richie’s additional accomplishments included being a two-time Walter Payton Award finalist and 2005 Southern Conference Player of the Year.
Congratulations to each of these acclaimed Mountaineers! I’m looking forward to spending some time with these remarkable individuals — and their loved ones and fans — this evening.
Earlier this week, the Appalachian State University Board of Trustees met for a two-day summer retreat. This was an informational meeting, and an excellent opportunity for the board to hear general university updates from and spend time with my leadership team in a more relaxed environment. I thank them for dedicating their time and attention to the university, and for their leadership and wholehearted commitment to the success of our university as we prepare for the upcoming 2025–26 academic year.
Yesterday, at Jefferson Landing, I had the opportunity to join some dear friends of the university and share some information and points of pride. We have incredible opportunities to lead with innovation and research — and make a direct and lasting positive impact on our local communities — while advancing App State’s mission to serve our region and the people of North Carolina.
I was so pleased to share the many ways an App State education continues to be a pathway to a better life for North Carolinians, paving the way for higher wages and greater opportunities.
- App State ranks as No. 4 for lowest average student debt among all of North Carolina’s four-year, public and private higher education institutions. Per borrower, our students’ average federal student loan debt is 22% and 20% below state and national averages, respectively.
- Across the UNC System, bachelor’s degree graduates earn over $570,000 more in their lifetimes than those without four-year degrees, and when subtracting the cost of earning an undergraduate degree, the median overall return on investment (ROI) is $500,000 for UNC System undergraduates who complete degrees — compared to North Carolinians without undergraduate degrees.
- For those who earn graduate degrees, the median lifetime earnings are about $1 million more than for those who hold a bachelor’s degree only. The median lifetime ROI is more than $930,000 for those who complete UNC System graduate degrees — compared to North Carolinians without graduate degrees.
The path from our simple founding as a teacher’s college to our current status as an R2 research institution has been guided by a singular purpose: Preparing students to make meaningful impacts in service to their communities. Thank you for joining us in this noble endeavor.
Heather Norris
Chancellor
