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WCU Stories

connie and phil haire

Jackson County couple receives award in recognition of service to WCU, mountain region

In recognition of the Haires’ contributions to WCU and to the mountain region, the university has bestowed upon them its Distinguished Service Award, making them one of just a handful of couples ever to receive the honor.   

potatopalooza

Marching band students help provide meals to WNC residents

Residents of five WNC counties dealing with food insecurity issues were able to enjoy nutritious meals last Thanksgiving thanks to the efforts of the Pride of the Mountains Marching Band members and Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning.  

1889 hunter library

Special Collections connects with WNC communities through 1889 Impact Grant-funded project

Hunter Library is providing free exhibitions of historical photographs to communities across Western North Carolina through a project made possible by donations to the Fund for WCU.  

rebecca nagle

Award-winning journalist to deliver WCU’s annual James A. Cooper Memorial Lecture in Cherokee Studies

Rebecca Nagle will deliver the annual lecture at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 16, at WCU’s University Center Theater and again at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 17, at the Museum of the Cherokee Indian in Cherokee.   

step

A STEP in the right direction, WCU partners with Statesville High School for teaching mentorship program

WCU has partnered with Statesville High School to form a program called Students to Teachers Through Educator Pathways.  

caitlin lambert

CEAP alumna wins NC Student Teacher of the Year Award

Caitlin Lambert, a 2021 graduate of WCU, was named North Carolina Student Teacher of the Year.  

campus fall

WCU awarded grant to grow environmental education program

An interdisciplinary team of WCU faculty is working in collaboration with EBCI Natural Resources, Cherokee Central Schools and Swain County High School.  

student life fall

For North Carolina high school students, applying early to WCU can really pay off

A new pilot program at Western Carolina University, called Catamount Commitment, will provide new first-year students from North Carolina with varying levels of annual award money based on their high school GPA.   

Kevin Rumley and Jamie Vaske

Creating courts where no veteran is left behind

Jamie Vaske, a criminal justice professor, helped create Buncombe County Veterans Treatment Court. She will now help lead a study exploring how effective such courts are at helping struggling veterans in the criminal justice system achieve stability.  

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