The Walker College of Business at Appalachian State University hosted its annual scholarship reception on Friday afternoon in the Grandview Ballroom, honoring the generosity of donors and the achievements of student scholarship recipients.
Associate Dean Tracy Reed welcomed attendees and extended a warm welcome to members of the Board of Trustees, Foundation Board, Board of Visitors, and Business Advisory Council, and led applause for both donors and student scholars.
“This event is about celebrating our students and the generosity of our donors,” Reed said. “Your support is an expression of confidence in their ability and potential.”
The reception featured remarks from donor and alumnus Craig Stephenson, who earned his accounting degree from App State and has remained engaged with the university. Stephenson, executive board chair of GenWorks Group, Inc., and his brothers recently established two professorships in honor of their family.
Student speakers Oscar Yarbrough and Daisy Sierra shared personal stories of resilience, discovery, and gratitude. Yarbrough, an economics major and musician, spoke about his transformative study abroad experience in Ghana and how his scholarship enabled him to pursue both academic and artistic passions.
“Your generosity doesn’t just fund an education,” Yarbrough said. “It allows students like me to pursue our passions while building a meaningful future.”
Sierra, a first-generation college student from Sparta, North Carolina, is double-majoring in Computer Information Systems and Cybersecurity. She reflected on her journey navigating college independently and the support she found through campus programs and scholarships.
“Scholarships are more than just help with a bill,” Sierra said. “They open the door to opportunities for students to make their dreams possible.”
The event concluded with special recognition of Craig Stephenson ’82 as the 2025 recipient of the Walker College of Business Scholarship Leader Award, honoring his long-standing support through the Walker College Dean's Club, which funds over $100,000 in scholarships annually.
Kyle Allen, who presented the award, shared his personal experience meeting Stephenson, describing him as “genuine and kind” and praising his impact on students’ lives.
Stephenson was also honored as 2024 Walker College Alumnus.
Related: Craig Stephenson ’82 honored as 2024 Walker College Alumnus, business alumni celebrated
In closing, Reed thanked the many staff and partners who made the event possible, including Scholarship Coordinator Kathy Mann, who plans to retire at the end of this year.
This year, the Walker College of Business awarded $800,000 in scholarships, a number that continues to grow thanks to the commitment of donors and the strength of the App State community.
About the Walker College Dean's Club
Contributions from Dean's Club members provide unrestricted support each year for critical needs in the college such as: student scholarships, travel funds for faculty and students to attend course-related conferences and/or visits to corporations, seed money for new programs or opportunities within the college, and resources to bring guest lecturers, such as leaders in business and government, to the classroom. Learn more about the Dean's Club at business.appstate.edu/give/deans-club.
From left are Tracy Reed, Oscar Yarbrough, Daisy SIerra and Craig Stephenson
Photo by Chase Reynolds