Allen VanNoppen, Rotary Distinguished Person of the Year

Allen VanNoppen, Publisher of The Paper and founder of the Western North Carolina Journalism Foundation.

Allen VanNoppen Named Rotary Distinguished Person of the Year by the Morganton Rotary Club

Congratulations to our own Founder, Allen VanNoppen, who as Publisher of Burke County’s only locally-owned all-local news source, The Paper, was awarded the Morganton Rotary Club’s Distinguished Person of the Year award on May 1, 2025.

From the Rotary website: Rotary Club of Morganton has named the 2024 Bob D. Shepherd Distinguished Person of the Year and it is the Club’s very own Allen VanNoppen! In addition to being Past President of the Rotary Club of Morganton, Allen is the founder and Publisher of The Paper, Burke County’s largest and only all-local, locally owned print and digital newspaper. He is also the founder and Chairman of VanNoppen Marketing, a 23-year-old, full service marketing agency in Morganton.

Allen has served on the boards of many local community organizations including the Western Piedmont Community College Foundation, Burke County United Way, Burke Recovery, UNC Blue Ridge Health Care Board of Directors, Blue Ridge Health Care Foundation and Morganton Day School. He worked as a journalist and was a furniture manufacturing sales and marketing executive before founding his companies and prior to that was a physics teacher at Virginia Commonwealth University, his alma mater.

As stated in his nomination for the award, “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”.

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.

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.

Bravo Allen!