The Library Advisory Council member MaryCraven Poteat will be honored at the 2024 Awards Gala on Saturday, July 13. The gala will be held at 5 p.m. in the Grandview Ballroom of the North End Zone Facility. Each year, the Appalachian State Alumni Association acknowledges individuals whose exceptional professional, philanthropic or volunteer achievements have impacted society and Appalachian State University.
Poteat has served as a member of the App State Library Advisory Board for eight years, and has been a longtime supporter of multiple scholarships and initiatives at the university, including the Library Student Employee Scholarship.
We are thrilled and delighted for MaryCraven! Please find her bio below:
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MaryCraven Poteat Bio
by Andie Combs
MaryCraven Poteat, born in Forest City, Rutherford County, NC, has had a distinguished career in education and librarianship. She graduated as the Valedictorian of the 1966 class at East Rutherford High School. MaryCraven earned her Bachelor's Degree in Library Science and Social Studies from UNC-Greensboro and East Carolina University while working as the School Librarian at Eastern Elementary in Greenville, NC, in 1970.
While in undergraduate school, she was inducted into several honor societies and organizations. She was inducted to Kappa Omicron Nu at Meredith College. At East Carolina University, MaryCraven was inducted into Gamma Theta Upsilon, a National Professional Geographic Fraternity and served as Vice President, Alpha Beta Alpha, a National Undergraduate Library Science Fraternity and Delta Kappa Gamma Women’s Educators Society-Gamma Iota.
From 1970 to 1975, MaryCraven served as a Librarian at Gardner-Webb College and pursued a Master of Librarianship at Emory University. Following this, she became the Learning Resource Center Director at Montgomery Technical Institute. She then came to Appalachian State University, earning her Master's degree in Higher Education Administration, and joined the North Carolina Department of Community Colleges as Assistant Director for the Learning Resource Center, overseeing 58 community colleges. In 1979, she furthered her studies in the Adult Education Program at North Carolina State University.
MaryCraven dedicated herself to the enrichment of her students from 1980 to 2007. In 2003, she achieved National Board Certification for Early Childhood through Young Adulthood in Library Media. She then served in Wake County public schools as a teacher and librarian, contributing to seven middle schools throughout her career. In her time as an educator, MaryCraven created a haven and sanctuary for her students in both the library and classroom as well as in her role as a club sponsor in various educational institutions.
After retiring from teaching in 2007, it would not be long before MaryCraven returned to the classroom. She continued her education once more at Meredith College to study Food and Nutrition before working as a Nutritionist and Dietitian.
MaryCraven and her husband Dennis have traveled to all 7 continents and numerous countries, two with ASU to Iceland & Portugal. They began their foreign travels as United States Ambassadors serving on the International Friendship Force to Japan, China & Australia. They also traveled as ambassadors through the North Carolina Center for International Understanding with Governor Jim Hunt.
Outside of educational and professional accomplishments, MaryCraven remains involved with the Baptist and United Methodist Church in numerous activities and choirs. Most exceptionally, MaryCraven mastered the balance of a phenomenal career and being a devoted and loving wife, mother, and grandmother.
Through her dedication and love of education, MaryCraven has earned many awards, and today we will add another to the list! These awards include:
NC Zoological Society
Excellence in Teaching Award, International Reading Association
Teaching with Technology Award
Celebrating Innovation Creative Grant
Career Computer Connection-the 3C’s
Technology Connections Institute Award
Student Achievement in Leadership Award-Meredith College
WINGS President & Outstanding Member Award-Meredith College
Battle of the Books-WCPSS Coordinator-Middle Schools
Bulldog Award-Southeast Raleigh Center for Accelerated Studies-WCPSS
SRHS email Queen Award for unprecedented use of technological communication
And now the Outstanding Alumni Award!
An award no one could be more deserving of than MaryCraven Poteat. After completing her Master’s degree in Higher Education Administration, MaryCraven has continued to be an active member of App State and its community. She has served on the Library Advisory Board for eight years and has contributed to scholarships to aid all students being afforded the opportunity of a college education. She has also contributed to many building projects to further the betterment of students' education.
So as a thank you for all you have done and accomplished, MaryCraven has earned this Outstanding Alumni Award.
MaryCraven Poteat 2024 Outstanding Alumni Award winner
