Three alumni and a friend of Appalachian State University were honored by the university’s Alumni Association during the annual Alumni Awards Gala June 9, 2012.
Michael A. Steinback of Asheville received the Honorary Alumni Award. Scott K. Lampe of Charlotte received the Young Alumni Award. Stephen J. Dubner of New York received the Distinguished Alumni Award, and Wayne L. Sumner of Boone received the Outstanding Service Award.
The awards gala was the finale to the 2012 Alumni Reunion Weekend, which included the 50th reunion for the Class of 1962, a Black & Gold Society induction for 1962 and prior classes, an Appalachian Family BBQ and tours of campus and facilities.
Outstanding Service Award: Wayne L. Sumner
Sumner, a 1975 graduate of the Walker College of Business, is president of Jackson Sumner & Associates, an excess and specialty lines managing general agent in Boone.
He has been a partner with Walker College of Business faculty for more than 25 years supporting insurance risk management students. Through the Department of Communication Professional Advisory Board, Sumner has been an advocate for the move of the College of Fine and Applied Arts’ radio and television programs to the George G. Beasley Media Broadcasting Complex. To recognize his longtime support of the broadcasting program, the Board of Trustees approved in spring 2008 naming WASU’s broadcast studio in the news complex the Wayne L. Sumner Studio.
Honorary Alumni Award: Michael A. Steinback
Steinback is a partner with Asheville-based Stonebridge Partners, an operations-oriented private equity firm focused on acquiring and successfully growing middle-market manufacturing businesses. Steinback first became engaged with the university through the Walker College of Business’ Business Advisory Council, and later as a member of Appalachian’s Board of Trustees. He has been a member of the Board of Trustees since 2002 and currently is vice chair of the board.
Steinback’s initial funding supported creation of the Student Leadership Center in the Walker College of Business, and helped leverage a $1 million commitment from BB&T for the center. He also has supported the Appalachian ACCESS Scholarship Fund, Athletics Facilities Campaign, Emergency Loan Fund Program for University Employees, the Solar Homestead, Honors College and the Marching Band Travel Fund, among other university programs.
Young Alumni Award: Scott K. Lampe
Lampe is a 1994 graduate of the Walker College of Business. He is vice president and chief financial officer for Hendrick Motorsports, overseeing the aviation, information technology, facilities and human resources departments.
Lampe has been a member of the Walker College of Business Advisory Board since 2008 and chairs the board’s Student Development Committee. He is a member of the Walker College of Business Dean’s Club, Yosef Club and supports the Athletics Facilities Campaign and several academic scholarships. He and his wife also established the Scott and Deanna Lampe Endowment to support the university.
Lampe has participated in the Walker College Executive Mentoring Program, hosted and been a speaker at the Martha Guy Summer Institute, and participated in the Walker College of Business Alumni Day. Lampe also has supported alumni events hosted by the Charlotte Alumni Chapter.
Distinguished Alumni Award: Stephen J. Dubner
Dubner is a 1984 graduate of the College of Fine and Applied Arts. He is co-author of the best-selling “Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything.” More than four million copies of the book have been sold and it has been translated into 35 languages. The book received a Quill Award in 2005, a BookSense Book of the Year Award, and a Visionary Award from the National Council on Economic Education. It was also named a Notable Book by the New York Times.
The success of “Freaknomics” spawned a follow up, “SuperFreaknomics,” published in 2009, as well as an award-winning blog, a documentary and a public radio program hosted by Dubner. He also has been a regular contributor to ABC News and the NFL Network.
Dubner also wrote the national best-seller “Turbulent Souls: A Catholic Son’s Return to His Jewish Family,” which was named a Notable Book by the New York Times and a finalist for the Koret National Jewish Book Award.
