The concept of "paying it forward" has been around since Ben Franklin originally described it in the eighteenth century, but it has never been more apparent than in the legacy left by Jackson Vogel just a few years ago.
Prior to his untimely death in 2005, Jackson Paul Vogel had received scholarship assistance to study in the Walker College of Business. Today Jackson's spirit lives on as his family and friends have found a gratifying way to return the favor – paying it forward.
Jackson, originally from Fayetteville, N.C., came to Appalachian State University in 2001 and pursued a major in Finance and Banking. Involved in many activities, including the Finance Student Association, the American Marketing Association, Club Soccer and the Emerging Leaders program, he excelled academically and in extracurricular activities.
To reward his academic accomplishments, Jackson was awarded a scholarship funded by Beroth Golf Tournament, sponsored by Winfield Beroth (pictured bottom right, far right) and his family business 4Brothers Food Stores. Tragically, Jackson was killed in a car accident on May 29, 2005. As a special tribute to him, The Jackson Paul Vogel Memorial Scholarship Endowment for Business Majors was created by Jackson's family and friends just weeks after his death.
"Jackson loved Appalachian. His heart was at Appalachian and in the mountains of North Carolina", said Jackson's mother, Lisa Vogel. "This is what he would have wanted; Hans and I are paying Winfield Beroth's generosity forward to generations of Appalachian students to come."
Each fall, Hans and Lisa Vogel have the opportunity to meet the recipient of the Jackson Paul Vogel Memorial Scholarship at the Walker College of Business Fall Scholarship Reception. "It is very gratifying to see the types of students that have benefited from the endowment", said Lisa Vogel. "We know all of their names and are interested in their future success."