Get to know this year’s Convocation speaker, Ally Murphy

Ally Murphy ’10, founder of Ally’s Bar and Lees-McRae Athletics hall of fame inductee, will be this year’s Convocation speaker, giving a speech titled “Dream Big”, during the annual college-wide event on Thursday, Sept. 14 at 4:00 p.m. in Hayes Auditorium.

Before starting her cycling career at Lees-McRae in 2008, Murphy–then Ally Stacher–was a student-athlete on the women’s wrestling team at Lassen College in Susanville, California.

Murphy quickly found a home on the bicycle, moving up the ranks in the world of women’s cycling. She joined the U.S. National team in 2009 and accelerated through the sport, becoming a member of one of the top teams in the world by 2011 for four years. During those four years, Murphy was a part of many victories individually and with a team across the globe.

During her time at Lees-McRae, Murphy was honored with the “Carla Swart Sportsmanship Award,” which was presented to the female rider who sacrificed their own chances at victory for the good of their team.

In 2015, she was inducted in to the Fred I. Dickerson Hall of Fame for her impressive accomplishments both during her time on the Lees-McRae Cycling Team and in the elite and professional cycling ranks.

Murphy recently found success in her creation of Ally’s Bar, a whole-ingredient energy bar for cyclists and athletes alike.

With a shift in careers, Murphy is channeling all her efforts in creating a nationally recognized snack brand.