Walker College professor Unal Boya and Anna Gaugert '10 area featured in one of the many videos promoting the Campaign for Appalachian

There is no greater way to influence Appalachian State University in its entirety than by making a gift to the Appalachian Fund. Every aspect of what makes Appalachian special has been touched by this unrestricted fund: scholarship supplements, faculty development, study abroad, student interest groups, athletics initiatives, arts programs, and each of our nine colleges. In fact, it currently supports more than 70 different areas on campus, putting dollars directly to areas of need.

Over the past five years, the Appalachian Fund has supplied more than $1.9 million in funding to Academic Affairs alone. These funds have impacted students through international studies, study abroad scholarships, and scholarship subsidy funding when investments underperform. The Appalachian Fund has aided Appalachian’s faculty and staff by helping to fund Council of Chairs, faculty relocation funds, Faculty Senate, faculty teaching awards, faculty travel grants, and Information Technology Services. This fund has directly supported our colleges through technological improvements in classrooms and offices, including specialized programs and unplanned equipment replacement; furniture for common areas, recognition and training events for faculty and staff, and funding for student group activities. Not only is it critical that the Appalachian Fund supports each of the areas, as well as dozens of others on campus, but it’s also important to note that with increased funding it could be doing so much more.

Less than 7 percent of Appalachian alumni and less than 4 percent of faculty and staff currently provide annual financial support to this critical fund. This is likely because we haven’t asked and explained that your support is significant and will make the difference in the lives of our students. We need every Mountaineer to answer this call, as every gift is important – no matter the size. Gifts to the Appalachian Fund have the power to make an immediate and transformational difference in the lives of our students, faculty and staff. With greater support to the Appalachian Fund, imagine what we could accomplish together. Please click here to make your gift today.