A handful of Risk Management & Insurance (RMI) majors braved 47 degree air temperatures and 39 degree water to participate in the annual “Polar Plunge” into the Appalachian Duck Pond Thursday. The annual event is a fundraiser for the Watauga County Special Olympics.

The Walker College “Polar Plungers” paired off in teams of three with Gamma Iota Sigma (G-I-S) on their shirts. Gamma Iota Sigma is the international Risk Management and Insurance fraternity, which Appalachian has been a member of since 1979.

The RMI "Secret Agent" plungers (pictured) included Ryne Herring, Cameron Annas, Alan Clarke, David Morgan, Allyson Lunsford, Jessica Teague, Scott Banks and Alex Robertson. 

Lead by GIS campus chapter President Ryne Herring, the officers fulfilled their pledge to jump into the Duck Pond if they reached their student membership drive goal for the semester. They surpassed the membership goal just hours before the event, forcing Brantley Center Assistant Director Greg Langdon to participate with the students.