In order to ensure the safety and security of all patrons attending events in The Holmes Center, the following policies have been put into effect starting January 1, 2021.
To help in speeding up the screening and entry process, The Holmes Center asks that all patrons limit the size of purses and secure all other bags at home or in your vehicle before coming to the venue.
The Holmes Center Bag Policy
Saturday, May 11
9 a.m. ceremony
Walker College of Business
1 p.m. ceremony
College of Arts and Sciences
Actuarial Science • Anthropology • Biology • Chemistry and Fermentation Sciences • Computer Science • Geography and Planning • Geological and Environmental Sciences • Government and Justice Studies • Mathematical Sciences • Physics and Astronomy • Veterinary Technology
5 p.m. ceremony
College of Arts and Sciences
Appalachian Studies • English • Gender, Women’s and Sexuality Studies • Global Studies • History • Interdisciplinary Studies • Languages, Literatures and Cultures • Philosophy and Religion • Psychology • Sociology
About Commencement
Tickets are not needed for the commencement ceremonies.
Graduates do not need to register and they may invite an unlimited number of guests.
During each ceremony, graduates will walk across the stage in Holmes Convocation Center, have their names announced and be professionally photographed receiving their diploma covers. App State Chancellor Sheri Everts will confer degrees upon graduates at each ceremony.
See below for information for graduates and faculty participants, as well as information for guests.
Accessibility Information
App State is committed to providing an inclusive experience for individuals with disabilities.
If accommodations are needed in order to fully participate in commencement events on the basis of a disability, contact the Office of Access & Equity: Disability Resources (odr@appstate.edu or 828-262-3056). Remote live captioning will be displayed on the jumbotron during the ceremony. Please make disability accommodation requests at least two weeks prior to the commencement ceremony.
Where is the accessibility seating in the Holmes Center?
The Holmes Center makes every effort to meet the needs of all guests and provides arena accessibility information regarding accessible seating and restroom locations.
Guests should use the accessible SW entrance off of Holmes Drive, which leads to section 9 in the arena. A passenger elevator is also located at section 9 for use on a per-event basis.
Is wheelchair assistance available?
Wheelchair assistance by trained medical personnel to accessible seating is available by request at the First Aid Station in section 9.
App State does not maintain a supply of wheelchairs for personal use. It is recommended that guests with limited mobility work with a medical supply store or pharmacy for short-term wheelchair options/rentals.
Is assistive communication available?
Assistive listening devices are available at the Holmes Center on a first-come, first-served basis at the SW box office located at section 9.
Are service animals allowed?
Only service animals (dog or miniature horse) trained to perform specific tasks to mitigate functional limitations of a disability in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act are permitted in the arena.
Comprehensive information regarding animals on campus can be found in the Animals on Campus Policy.
Parking
Visit App State’s interactive campus map to view available commencement parking, including disability parking.
Where can graduates and guests park?
Free parking for graduates and guests attending commencement ceremonies is available in these lots:
All parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Plan to be parked at least one hour prior to when the commencement ceremony is scheduled to begin. This is to allow sufficient time to navigate from parking lots to the Holmes Center and be seated.
Will shuttles be available?
Courtesy shuttles are available to pick up graduates/guests at Peacock Lot and New River Hall Lot. Graduates/guests are strongly encouraged to arrive early.
- The Peacock Lot shuttle will run a continuous loop from Peacock Lot to the Holmes Center.
- The New River Hall Lot shuttle — for guests parked in New River Hall Lot, Garwood Lot and Blue Ridge Parking Deck (Stadium) — will run a continuous loop from New River Hall Lot to the Holmes Center.
Shuttle times:
- Friday, May 10, and Saturday, May 11: beginning at 7:30 a.m. and running one hour after the conclusion of the final ceremony.
Commencement parking is also available in the Rivers Street Parking Deck; however, shuttle service is not available from this location. The Rivers Street Parking Deck is two blocks from the Holmes Center.
Where can I find disability parking?
The John E. Thomas Visitor and Faculty/Staff Lots across from the Holmes Center and the nearby Hill Street Lot are available on a first-come, first-served basis for graduates/guests with DMV-issued disability placards.
A courtesy shuttle equipped with a wheelchair lift is available to pick up graduates/guests at Hill Street Lot. This shuttle will run a continuous loop from Hill Street Lot to the Holmes Center.
Shuttle times:
- Friday, May 10, and Saturday, May 11: beginning at 7:30 a.m. and running one hour after the conclusion of the final ceremony.
Traffic control personnel will be at the intersection of Rivers and Hill streets to direct graduates/guests to the appropriate parking area and accessible routes to the Southwest entrance of the Holmes Center. Graduates/guests are strongly encouraged to arrive early.
- All lots have designated disability parking options. Graduates/guests with limited mobility can also park in Peacock Lot and ride the courtesy shuttle.
In order to ensure the safety and security of all patrons attending events in The Holmes Center, the following policies have been put into effect starting January 1, 2021.
To help in speeding up the screening and entry process, The Holmes Center asks that all patrons limit the size of purses and secure all other bags at home or in your vehicle before coming to the venue.
The Holmes Center Bag Policy
Friday, May 10
9 a.m. ceremony
College of Fine and Applied Arts
1 p.m. ceremony
Hayes School of Music
Reich College of Education
University College
5 p.m. ceremony
Beaver College of Health Sciences
About Commencement
Tickets are not needed for the commencement ceremonies.
Graduates do not need to register and they may invite an unlimited number of guests.
During each ceremony, graduates will walk across the stage in Holmes Convocation Center, have their names announced and be professionally photographed receiving their diploma covers. App State Chancellor Sheri Everts will confer degrees upon graduates at each ceremony.
See below for information for graduates and faculty participants, as well as information for guests.
Accessibility Information
App State is committed to providing an inclusive experience for individuals with disabilities.
If accommodations are needed in order to fully participate in commencement events on the basis of a disability, contact the Office of Access & Equity: Disability Resources (odr@appstate.edu or 828-262-3056). Remote live captioning will be displayed on the jumbotron during the ceremony. Please make disability accommodation requests at least two weeks prior to the commencement ceremony.
Where is the accessibility seating in the Holmes Center?
The Holmes Center makes every effort to meet the needs of all guests and provides arena accessibility information regarding accessible seating and restroom locations.
Guests should use the accessible SW entrance off of Holmes Drive, which leads to section 9 in the arena. A passenger elevator is also located at section 9 for use on a per-event basis.
Is wheelchair assistance available?
Wheelchair assistance by trained medical personnel to accessible seating is available by request at the First Aid Station in section 9.
App State does not maintain a supply of wheelchairs for personal use. It is recommended that guests with limited mobility work with a medical supply store or pharmacy for short-term wheelchair options/rentals.
Is assistive communication available?
Assistive listening devices are available at the Holmes Center on a first-come, first-served basis at the SW box office located at section 9.
Are service animals allowed?
Only service animals (dog or miniature horse) trained to perform specific tasks to mitigate functional limitations of a disability in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act are permitted in the arena.
Comprehensive information regarding animals on campus can be found in the Animals on Campus Policy.
Parking
Visit App State’s interactive campus map to view available commencement parking, including disability parking.
Where can graduates and guests park?
Free parking for graduates and guests attending commencement ceremonies is available in these lots:
All parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Plan to be parked at least one hour prior to when the commencement ceremony is scheduled to begin. This is to allow sufficient time to navigate from parking lots to the Holmes Center and be seated.
Will shuttles be available?
Courtesy shuttles are available to pick up graduates/guests at Peacock Lot and New River Hall Lot. Graduates/guests are strongly encouraged to arrive early.
- The Peacock Lot shuttle will run a continuous loop from Peacock Lot to the Holmes Center.
- The New River Hall Lot shuttle — for guests parked in New River Hall Lot, Garwood Lot and Blue Ridge Parking Deck (Stadium) — will run a continuous loop from New River Hall Lot to the Holmes Center.
Shuttle times:
- Friday, May 10, and Saturday, May 11: beginning at 7:30 a.m. and running one hour after the conclusion of the final ceremony.
Commencement parking is also available in the Rivers Street Parking Deck; however, shuttle service is not available from this location. The Rivers Street Parking Deck is two blocks from the Holmes Center.
Where can I find disability parking?
The John E. Thomas Visitor and Faculty/Staff Lots across from the Holmes Center and the nearby Hill Street Lot are available on a first-come, first-served basis for graduates/guests with DMV-issued disability placards.
A courtesy shuttle equipped with a wheelchair lift is available to pick up graduates/guests at Hill Street Lot. This shuttle will run a continuous loop from Hill Street Lot to the Holmes Center.
Shuttle times:
- Friday, May 10, and Saturday, May 11: beginning at 7:30 a.m. and running one hour after the conclusion of the final ceremony.
Traffic control personnel will be at the intersection of Rivers and Hill streets to direct graduates/guests to the appropriate parking area and accessible routes to the Southwest entrance of the Holmes Center. Graduates/guests are strongly encouraged to arrive early.
- All lots have designated disability parking options. Graduates/guests with limited mobility can also park in Peacock Lot and ride the courtesy shuttle.
Each April, the Apparel Design and Merchandising Program in Appalachian’s Department of Applied Design hosts an open fashion showcase featuring student and faculty creations. The student collections are judged by a panel of industry experts, and family, friends, faculty and the community are invited to attend this capstone event honoring the achievements of graduating seniors.
Fashion Show starts at 4:00pm
Doors open at 3:00pm
Enter at the NW Entrance.
The Holmes Center’s Clear bag Policy will be in effect: https://theholmescenter.com/plan-your-visit/bag-admission-policy/
Buy Tickets!
The 65th event in the Boyles Distinguished Lecture Series will feature Ms. Tammy DeBoer ’91, President of Harris Teeter who will speak on “Cultivating a Thriving Company Culture: Unlocking the Power of People”.
The Boyles Lecture is open to the public with no cost to attend.
Please contact Kim Bock, bockkw@appstate.edu, with questions.
About Tammy DeBoer
Tammy DeBoer, President of Harris Teeter, has more than 30 years of diverse retail experience including operations, merchandising, marketing, brand strategy, mergers and acquisitions. She leads the strategic growth and development of Harris Teeter, a division of Kroger.
Tammy joined Harris Teeter in 2020, leading Operations, Merchandising and Marketing across the company’s 257 stores in seven States and Washington D.C. Tammy also led Finance, Human Resources and Information Systems.
Before joining Harris Teeter, Tammy served as an executive with Family Dollar stores, a wholly owned subsidiary of Dollar Tree, Inc. where she was Executive Vice President and Chief Merchandising Officer. Prior to joining Family Dollar, she spent 19 years with Delhaize where she held various leadership roles and led the company through significant strategic growth and development.
Tammy has been recognized several times as “One of the Most Influential Women in Mass Market Retail” by MMR and by Supermarket News as a top “Executives to Watch.” Progressive Grocer named her a “Top Female Executive in the Supermarket Industry,” the Griffin Report listed her as a “Top Female Executive in the Grocery Industry,” and the Mecklenburg Times recognized her as one of the “50 Most Influential Women in Charlotte.”
Most recently, Frozen & Refrigerated Buyer recognized Tammy among their inaugural class of FoRWARD Award winners, and The Shelby Report of the Southeast named Tammy “Female Executive of the Year” in 2022. In 2023, Tammy was recognized as a “Top Woman in Grocery” by Progressive Grocer.
She has served on multiple boards including Charlotte Family Housing, Communities In Schools, Network of Executive Women and currently serves on the Board of Directors for International Fresh Produce Association and Carolinas Food Industry Council (CFIC). She also serves as an Advisory Board Member for Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina. Tammy holds a bachelor’s degree in Technology from Appalachian State University and completed the Supermarket Business Executive course with Cornell University.
About Harlan Boyles
The college’s Distinguished Lecture Series began in the Spring of 1988. In October 1991 the Series was dedicated to Treasurer Boyles in honor of his service to the State of North Carolina. An endowment fund was established at that time, with the assistance of U.S. Senator James T. Broyhill (1927 – 2023), to permanently endow the series in Boyles’ name.
Harlan E. Boyles (1929 – 2003) devoted his 49-year career to the citizens of the State of North Carolina. A native of Lincoln County, Boyles was elected to six four-year terms as State Treasurer and served under nine governors. His name was associated throughout the state and the nation with fiscal integrity, hard work and honesty.
Harlan Boyles was dedicated to education, and through his involvement with Appalachian State University and the Walker College of Business, he was able to share his experience, advice and wise counsel with hundreds of students and future business leaders. For eleven years, he came to campus to preside over the bi-annual Harlan E. Boyles Distinguished Lecture Series.
Not only did his association with the Walker College make a difference in many on-campus endeavors, but it also had a tremendous effect on the college’s fund-raising efforts. He was honored with three separate endowments in the college — for the lecture series, student scholarships, and faculty support. These endowments will provide an impact on the college for years to come.
Boyles lectures were held each semester through 2016, and beginning in 2017, the lecture became an annual event.
Recent Comments