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The event, which was held on Jan. 28, featured a luncheon during which the high school students discussed project topics ranging from financial literacy to reducing the incidence of diabetes with WCU student mentors; Michael Dougherty, dean of the College of Education and Allied Professions; Linda Stanford, dean of the College of Health and Human Sciences; and other university faculty and staff.
Students also toured Western Carolina’s campus and attended sessions about scholarships and careers in teaching, business and health sciences. Presenters included Scott Cook, assistant director of teacher education recruitment; Gregg Massenburg, assistant director of undergraduate admission; Dan Grube, interim associate dean of the College of Education and Allied Professions; Ronald A. Johnson, dean of the College of Business; and Phillip Kneller, director of the School of Health Sciences.
Teachers from the participating high schools said the College Access event was a great opportunity for their students. Jamie Lightfoot-Underwood, an English teacher at Cherokee High School, said mentors are a very valuable resource for young adults. Alice Marie Pendergast, senior project coordinator for Smoky Mountain High School, said the interaction with WCU faculty and students allowed participating high school students to explore new ideas and topics for their senior projects, which are required for graduation. Kim Bryson, an English teacher at Smoky Mountain High School, said the initiative was a great opportunity for community partnerships between the university and the high schools.
The College Access mini-conference was supported in part by a portion of a grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission awarded to the Office for Rural Education and Teacher Recruitment to promote college access and teacher education among high school students. Planning committee members included Janice Holt, director of the Center for the Support of Beginning Teacher; Dee Greene, social research associate for the Institute for the Economy and the Future; and Laura Phillips, administrative support associate, and Kim Elliott, director, both of the Office for Rural Education and Teacher Recruitment.
For more information, contact Elliott at (828) 227-3298.
Maintained by the Office of Public Relations
Last Modified: Friday, Feb. 6, 2009