SKILLMAN, N.J. – Steve Appleton (Boise State University (BSU) ‘82), Micron Technology, Inc.’s chairman, CEO and president, is the winner of the 2005 Intercollegiate Tennis Association Achievement (ITA) Award, presented by Montblanc. It will be presented to him in New York in September during Tennis Week’s U.S. Open party.
The ITA Achievement Award, presented by Montblanc, was created in 1994 to pay tribute to past participants in the world of collegiate tennis who have achieved excellence in their chosen careers. The distinguished person is honored for both their professional successes and their contributions to society. The ITA Achievement Award candidates are nominated by their past tennis coaches or by the current coaches of their alma mater’s tennis programs. From these nominees, finalists are selected by the ITA, which serves as the coaches’ association governing body of collegiate tennis. The winner is then determined by the ITA Achievement Awards Selection Panel: David A Benjamin, ITA Executive Director; Dr. Henry S. Bienen, President of Northwestern University; former Senator John Breaux, 1995 ITA Achievement Award recipient; Chris Evert, former tennis champion and President of Chris Evert Enterprises; Gene L. Scott, Founder, Publisher and Editor-In-Chief of Tennis Week; Alan Schwartz, Immediate Past President of the U.S. Tennis Association; Stan Smith, former tennis champion; and Mark Stenning, Executive Director of International Tennis Hall of Fame.
Appleton embodies the American dream, working his way up from night shift production operator to CEO of Micron Technology, Inc, a Fortune 500 company. His career began in the early eighties and he continued to achieve greater levels of responsibility during the next decade. He became Vice President of Operations in 1989, President and COO in 1992 and Chairman, CEO and President in 1994. At the age of 34, he was the third-youngest CEO in the Fortune 500. Under Appleton’s leadership, the company has become the No. 2 global supplier of memory chips and the number one supplier of CMOS imager sensors (a new technology used for cameras in a variety of applications, including medical, consumer electronics and automobiles).
Appleton has contributed both time and money to a variety of worthy causes and programs around the globe. In 1999, he established the Micron Foundation. As its Chairman, he ensures that this $100 million fund benefits agencies and organizations focused on schools, teachers, students, and communities. More than 1,200 groups have been supported since the foundation’s inception. He has personally given millions of dollars to a variety of programs — ranging from university engineering initiatives to sports facilities. The BSU tennis teams play home matches at Appleton Tennis Center, a result of his 2002 donation.
Appleton attended BSU from 1978-82 on a tennis scholarship and graduated with honors. He served as captain during his senior year and won the Big Sky doubles championship.
“The lessons learned on the court over a period of four years are a vital companion to the academic lessons of higher education,” said David A Benjamin, ITA Executive Director. “The winner of the ITA Achievement Award is an individual who benefited from the experience of intercollegiate competition, went on to greater accomplishments, and made significant contributions to his community.”
At Tennis Week’s U.S. Open party, tennis legend Stan Smith will present Appleton with a special gift. Appleton and his guest will also receive box seats for a session at this year’s U.S. Open. ITA will also award the BSU men’s tennis program with $1,000.
