from The Paper
Allen VanNoppen, publisher of The Paper, has been named Distinguished Person of the Year for 2024 by the Morganton Rotary Club.
Announcement of the high honor was made by Club President Kim Van Sickler.
Van Sickler noted that each year the club collects nominations for and selects one person who has contributed significantly to the betterment of the community.
“It is a special honor that transcends politics and personalities, and it is reserved for those individuals whose leadership and service extend far beyond the range of the average citizen, exemplifying the Rotary motto of ‘Service Above Self,’” said Van Sickler of VanNoppen’s selection.
“It’s an honor to be included on the roster of Morganton’s leaders who have been named Rotary Club of Morganton’s Man of the Year and Distinguished Person of the Year, an impressive list that goes back to 1948,” said VanNoppen of his selection.
The date and location of the ceremony at which VanNoppen will officially receive the award will be announced at a later date.
After years of preparation, VanNoppen began gathering a staff for a new weekly newspaper dedicated to covering the news of Burke County in the autumn of 2022.
The Paper hit the streets for the first time on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023, and is now in its third year of operation.
VanNoppen is also the founder and chairman of VanNoppen Marketing, a 23-year-old, full-service marketing agency in Morganton.
He worked as a journalist and was a furniture manufacturing sales and marketing executive before founding his companies. Beforehand, he was a physics teacher at Virginia Commonwealth University, his alma mater.
Long active in the community, VanNoppen is a past president of the Morganton Rotary Club and has served on the boards of other community organizations including Western Piedmont Community College Foundation, Burke County United Way, Burke Recovery, UNC Blue Ridge Health Care Board of Directors, Blue Ridge HealthCare Foundation, and Morganton Day School.
He is married to Jean Collett VanNoppen. They have four children and two grandchildren.
Many of the award winners have been honored for a lifetime of community service, while others have been chosen primarily for spearheading a single, extraordinary project, said Van Sickler.
“Their spheres of influence are as wide and diverse as the community itself: education, commerce, athletics, religion and charitable endeavors, to name a few,” she said.
In his nomination form, it was noted that, “Allen VanNoppen exemplifies the Rotary Club’s motto of ‘Service Above Self’ through his unwavering dedication to the betterment of Morganton. His contributions go far beyond his professional work, as he consistently places the needs of the community ahead of his own, using his skills, resources, and time to uplift others.”
The nomination went on to say:
“Beyond his work in media and marketing, Allen has been instrumental in supporting nonprofits, the arts, and economic development efforts. His involvement with local organizations showcases his dedication to strengthening the community. Additionally, he has invested in mentoring young professionals and fostering a spirit of collaboration, always working to bring people together for the greater good.”
The nomination concluded by saying:
“Through his leadership, generosity, and commitment to service, Allen VanNoppen has made a profound and lasting impact on Morganton. His passion for the community and selfless contributions make him a truly deserving recipient of the Rotary Club’s Distinguished Person of the Year award.”
