Appalachian State University alumni Preston Powell and Adam Scherer, both class of 2001, have used their ownership of Mountaineer Mania to support the university community in several ways. Since acquiring the Boone-based store in late 2023, they have donated T-shirts to first-year students and contributed to disaster recovery efforts following Hurricane Helene.
Their combined contributions, including proceeds from Mountain Strong apparel sales and a gift to the App State Disaster Relief Fund, amount to about $130,000. Will Sears, vice chancellor of university advancement at App State, said, “Preston and Adam are an inspiring example of the way our Mountaineer alumni go above and beyond to give back to the university. The scale and scope of their generosity have impacted the entire App State Community, and we are deeply grateful for their significant, ongoing investment in both App State and Boone.”
After Hurricane Helene caused damage that destroyed nearly two-thirds of Mountaineer Mania’s interior space due to burst pipes from municipal water system stress, Powell and Scherer shifted focus from repairs to supporting broader community needs. The university developed Mountain Strong-branded apparel in response to increased demand after Chancellor Heather Norris and other officials were seen wearing it. Powell reported that interest grew rapidly following this exposure.
Powell and Scherer collaborated with the university on production and sales of Mountain Strong apparel. They covered production costs themselves and donated all proceeds to the Appalachian Fund—a practice Powell says will continue indefinitely. “The faculty, staff and students at App State deserve support every day,” said Powell. “We hope to inspire other alumni to think about how they can help contribute to the App State Community year-round.”
Mountaineer Mania has since reopened on King Street with continued offerings of Mountain Strong apparel. J.J. Brown, chief operating officer and executive vice chancellor at App State said: “We were thrilled to work with Preston and Adam to create this special welcome gift for our first-year students. Their knowledge and connections made it possible to bring back a Mountaineer tradition that many of our alumni will remember fondly, and we deeply appreciate their contributions to the student experience.”
Powell hopes giving free shirts helps new students feel connected when they arrive at App State.
Both business partners met as students in Walker College of Business where they participated in leadership roles—Powell as student body vice president and football team member; Scherer as a fraternity leader—and joined programs like Walker College’s Holland International Impact Exchange Program focused on applied business experience abroad.
After graduation they remained engaged with App State while founding Yukon Outfitters, a national outdoor gear brand. Their eventual acquisition of Mountaineer Mania was motivated by a desire both for business opportunity aligned with retail product development backgrounds—and for preserving an institution familiar from their student days.
Powell credits former Chancellor Kenneth E. Peacock as influential in shaping his philanthropic perspective: “Where much is given, much is expected. Don’t wait for somebody to ask for help.”
Appalachian State University’s Division of University Advancement connects alumni through events and outreach programs designed to secure resources for enhancing learning environments (http://give.appstate.edu). As part of the University of North Carolina System—with more than 21,000 enrolled students—Appalachian offers over 150 undergraduate majors across its campuses (https://www.appstate.edu).
