James Daugherty '93 '94 and Julia Kay "Kay" Rogers '69 '76 were inducted into the Rhododendron Society on July 21, 2017 at a brunch held on the campus of Appalachian State University.
The brunch was attended by the award recipients and their guests; past winners; Reich College of Education (RCOE) Advancement Board members; and, college and university leadership, including RCOE Dean Melba Spooner and Chancellor Sheri N. Everts.
The RCOE established the Rhododendron Society in 1999, Appalachian's centennial year. It is named for Appalachian's one-time yearbook "The Rhododendron," that captured the university's historic moments, activities and accomplishments.
As the highest honor given by the college, the award honors alumni for their exemplary service to education and to their communities. The society recognizes RCOE graduates whose service as teachers, librarians, human service professionals or administrators has reflected great credit on themselves, the field of education and the university. Daugherty and Rogers joined a distinguished group of 58 Rhododendron Society members.
Society members give back to the RCOE through an annual scholarship, which is awarded to an undergraduate and a graduate student who are outstanding in their course of study.
RCOE encourages Rhododendron Society nominations of Appalachian alumni currently working in the field of education as well as those who have retired. To learn more or view nomination materials, please visit the the Rhododendron Society page.
About James G. Daugherty
James Daugherty (center) is pictured with Chancellor Everts (left) and Dean Spooner (right).
James Daugherty received a prestigious North Carolina Teaching Fellows scholarship and attended Appalachian to study music education. He graduated cum laude in 1993 and stayed on to complete a master’s degree in music education with a concentration in band directing, which he earned in 1994. He later went on to complete an Educational Leadership and School Administration certificate from High Point University in 2010.
After graduation from Appalachian, Daugherty accepted a position as Director of Bands with Central Davidson High School in 1994, a position he held for 21 years. Daugherty received numerous awards during this time. He was named Central Davidson High School Teacher of the Year in 1996 and 2013 as well as Davidson County Schools Teacher of the Year in 1997. He received the 1998 Outstanding Young Educators award from Lexington Jaycees, and one he is particularly proud of, the 2007 Northwest North Carolina Bandmasters Association Award of Excellence for which he was nominated by his peers. Daugherty was also nominated in 2006 for an Appalachian Young Alumnus Award.
In 2015, Daugherty accepted a position as Instructional Program Specialist for Fine Art and Distance Learning for Davidson County Schools, allowing him to provide support and leadership for fine arts education, something for which he advocates both in and out of the classroom.
Daugherty’s legacy also includes a 25+ year commitment to Appalachian’s Cannon Music Camp. He started as a counselor while a student. He served as Dean of Men for 20 years and was named director in 2015. In his new role, Daugherty provides leadership to over 200 students and 60 staff and faculty during the three-week summer camp, annually held on the campus of Appalachian since 1969.
About Kay Rogers
Kay Rogers (center) is pictured with Chancellor Everts (left) and Dean Spooner (right).
Kay Rogers earned two degrees from Appalachian State University: a B.S. in Social Science in June 1969 and a M.A. in Guidance and Counselor Education in August 1976. Roger’s nominators described her as dedicated, hardworking and devoted to the students she served – traits that “epitomize the spirit of an Appalachian education.”
After graduation, Rogers was first employed as a social worker with the Iredell County Department of Social Services. She then became a learning lab coordinator, first for Mitchell Community College in Statesville, NC and then, Trident Technical College in Charleston, SC.
In 1980, Rogers accepted a guidance counselor position with Statesville High School. Her many duties included: college admissions counseling, personal counseling, testing coordination, data compilation and reporting, graduation planning and more. Rogers, who was described as a true asset to all the students and teachers at Statesville High School, retired in 2007.
Rogers’ commitment to children was reflected in all her efforts both in the school and the community. She is a former member of the North Carolina Association for School Counselors. She received training for counseling domestic abuse and rape victims, and she worked with students to raise awareness of the dynamics of abuse. Rogers also served as a volunteer counselor for abuse victims and as a member of a women’s organization committed to combating domestic violence.
Julia Kay Rogers and James G. Daugherty
