Emily Bills, Appalachian State University’s 2025 Management Student of the Year, has left a lasting mark on the Walker College of Business by creating opportunities for others and inspiring future leaders.
As a student, Emily not only earned her real estate license but also co-founded the Appalachian State Real Estate Club. “With no roadmap to follow, I relied on adaptability, initiative, and resourceful problem-solving to bring the club to life,” she said. Today, the club, one of 21 in the Walker College, connects students with industry professionals and opens doors to internships, mentorships, and careers.
Emily Bills, co-founder of App State's Real Estate Club, is pictured, center, with club members in Peacock Hall.
“This experience has been one of the most meaningful parts of my time at Appalachian,” said Emily. “It has strengthened my confidence as a leader, taught me how to build something that serves others, and shaped the way I will approach both my career and my life."
Just as Emily made her mark on the college, Professor Bond Jones is one of those “professors who leave you better than they found you,” Emily explained, sharing that Bond's influence inspires her to lead. “His practical and genuine approach to leadership, and especially his emphasis on inspirational servant leadership, reshaped how I show up in the organizations I’m involved in,” Emily said.
Emily is also a member of Beta Gamma Sigma, the international business honor society. Through her Appalachian Experience, Emily has learned that she is drawn to leadership, not for a title, but rather “for the chance to create opportunities for others and help them grow,” she said.
Emily Bills, right, with Walker College Dean Sandra Vannoy is inducted into Beta Gamma Sigma during the college's Honors Convocation, which is also the forum where she was celebrated as the college's 2025 top management student.
Emily’s favorite quote from Simon Sinek sums up her time in Boone: “The goal is not simply for you to cross the finish line, but to see how many people you can inspire to run with you.”
Emily is earning a BSBA in Management. Looking ahead, she plans to leverage her leadership skills and entrepreneurial spirit to make an impact in the real estate industry and beyond. Emily is one of 399 December 2025 graduates of the Walker College of Business. Read more student stories: business.appstate.edu/news/students.
About Clubs and Student Organizations in the Walker College of Business
Clubs and organizations are an important part of the App State experience. The university's mission is to help students develop skills that will enable them to become good citizens and strong contributors to their current and future communities. Joining a business-oriented club further develops students as professionals and, alongside their major coursework, helps orient them to their fields of choice. Find a list of business student clubs and student organizations at business.appstate.edu/clubs.
Emily Bills stands with a Presidents' Roundtable sign, holding a certificate that says "High Grit Leader"
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