App State awards degrees to over 4,200 graduates ready to shape the future

BOONE, N.C. — Appalachian State University celebrated the resilience and achievements of more than 4,200 graduates during its Spring 2025 Commencement, with six ceremonies held May 9–10 at Holmes Convocation Center. The graduates — whose educational journeys were impacted by such challenges as a global pandemic and a historic natural disaster — crossed the commencement stage prepared to begin new chapters and make meaningful contributions across North Carolina and beyond.

Approximately 4,206 students applied to graduate this spring, including 3,585 undergraduate students from seven colleges and schools and 621 graduate students from the Williams School of Graduate Studies — including 29 doctoral candidates, seven of whom are inaugural graduates of the university’s Doctor of Psychology program. Recordings of the six commencement ceremonies are available on App State’s commencement website.

Chancellor Heather Norris presided over the ceremonies, and Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Neva J. Specht presented the candidates for graduation. App State alumnus C. Philip Byers ’85, a University of North Carolina System Board of Governors member, and alumnus Mark E. Ricks ’89, chair of App State’s Board of Trustees, shared congratulatory remarks on behalf of the two boards. And special guest North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein delivered remarks at the 5 p.m. College of Arts and Sciences ceremony on May 9, congratulating graduates on their accomplishments for persevering through historic challenges — the global pandemic and last fall’s Hurricane Helene — to achieve their degrees.

“The problems to be solved today and in the future demand innovative solutions, unwavering resilience and compassionate leadership — all of which are characteristics of a Mountaineer,” Norris said. “I know you will embrace new challenges ahead, seize your opportunities and make your mark on this world.”

Byers brought greetings from the UNC Board of Governors and the UNC System Office.

“As graduates of this institution, you wield something even more powerful than the diploma you will receive — and that is the power of your example,” Byers said. “Take tremendous pride in how you represent yourselves, your communities and your university.”

Ricks addressed the graduates on behalf of the App State Board of Trustees.

“Don’t be afraid to fail; all the great ones have. If you really want to maximize your accomplishments and live up to your potential, don’t be afraid to take chances,” Ricks advised graduates. “You have earned your degree at Appalachian State University, and when times get tough, look in the mirror and remember this day — the day you accomplished something that most people never do.”

To open the ceremonies, Specht recognized and thanked the App State alumni, veterans and active-duty military members and first-generation college students in attendance — as well as university and college leaders taking part in the commencement ceremonies.

NC Gov. Josh Stein commends App State grads for ‘impressive and inspiring’ resilience

“The resilience you all have demonstrated through your years of college — especially this year — is impressive and inspiring,” Stein said in his address to Class of 2025 App State graduates, commending them for overcoming both a pandemic and one of the most devastating storms to hit Western North Carolina in generations.

“You are going to encounter many more obstacles in your life,” Stein added, “but you can think back to this moment, this accomplishment, and be confident in your ability to overcome them.”

He also encouraged graduates, as they take their next steps, to seek ways to help uplift others.

“No matter what you do with your career or your free time, each of us, in our own way, has a responsibility to do our part to help improve the lives of others. And there are so many ways to do that,” Stein said. “You will achieve many more great things one step at a time, never alone, and bringing others along with you.”

The spring Class of 2025 graduates represented 93 North Carolina counties, 32 states and 48 countries and ranged in age from 19 to 65. The class included 1,160 first-generation graduates, 72 military-affiliated graduates, 108 student-athlete graduates and 46 App State Hickory campus graduates. Mountaineer graduates represented each of the university’s academic colleges as they walked across the commencement stage:

• Beaver College of Health Sciences
• College of Arts and Sciences
• College of Fine and Applied Arts
• Hayes School of Music
• Reich College of Education
• University College
• Walker College of Business