Ronald and Katherine Harper, co-founders of Harper Corporation in Charlotte, NC, USA, have each received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Appalachian State University (ASU), in Boone, NC, for their contributions to society, success in business and longtime support of education, including Appalachian.

The honorary degrees were presented October 4 by Appalachian’s chancellor, Kenneth E. Peacock, during the Phoenix Challenge Foundation luncheon at the Double Tree Hotel Charlotte Airport. Peacock was the keynote speaker at the event.

The Harpers co-founded Harper Corporation of America in the 1970s for the manufacture of anilox rolls, serving the corrugated, wide web, narrow web, and newspaper flexographic printing markets. For years they have championed flexo education, starting programs in high schools and colleges and donating large sums of money to support the growth of flexography through education and training.

“Ron and Katherine Harper demonstrate every day the characteristics we strive to instill in our graduates: a love of life-long learning, dedication to providing service to others and a commitment to excellence in their professional and personal lives,” Peacock said. “It is with great pleasure and pride that Appalachian State University and its Board of Trustees present an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree to both Ron and Katherine.”