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WCU Stories

Phil and Connie Haire

WCU mourns loss of longtime supporter, former legislator Phil Haire

The Western Carolina University community is mourning the loss of longtime friend, advocate and donor Phil Haire, who died Tuesday, Oct. 8, at the age of 88 after a period of declining health.  

Jamie Wallen (left) works with a chemistry student

Two faculty members receive competitive grants from the National Institutes of Health

Two Western Carolina University faculty members have received coveted R15 grants from the National Institutes of Health, which will significantly enhance research initiatives in the region.  

WCU STEM day

WCU hosts second annual STEM event for WNC students

Western Carolina University recently held its second annual STEM Outreach Day for students from around Western North Carolina.  

WCU homecoming parade in downtown Sylva

WCU to paint downtown Sylva purple, kick off Homecoming weekend Nov. 1

Western Carolina University alumni will paint the town purple Friday, Nov. 1, during a downtown Sylva Catamount takeover to launch Homecoming 2024 weekend.  

Jay and Susan Strum

UNC Board of Governors appoints Susan Strum to WCU Board of Trustees

Western Carolina University alumna Susan Strum has been appointed to WCU’s Board of Trustees.  

Blacksmith Brock Martin demonstration

WCU alumnus and ‘Forged in Fire’ contestant Brock Martin visits campus for blacksmithing demo

“Strike while the iron is hot” is an old saying about taking an opportunity while you have it. Timm Muth, alumnus and professor of practice in Western Carolina University’s College of Engineering and Technology, took that saying literally when he invited master blacksmith Brock Martin, a 2010 graduate of Western Carolina University, to campus to demonstrate blacksmithing to students in his introductory material science course.   

rooted logo

WCU to host 14th annual Rooted in the Mountains Symposium

The 14th annual Rooted in the Mountains Symposium is a two-day event aimed at exposing attendees to the interwoven relationships between climate, health, traditional knowledge and the indigenous worldview.  

old crow

Headliner Sister Sadie and evening performance from Old Crow Medicine Show highlights MHD’s 50th anniversary

This year marks Mountain Heritage Day’s 50th anniversary, which will be held on Saturday, Sept. 28, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.   

catamount school 39

The Catamount School comes home to WCU

The Catamount School is now located in the Cordelia Camp Building, which was built in 1964 and housed the Camp Laboratory School until its closing in 1994.   

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