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WCU Stories

Alumna Elise Holbrook

Alum of the Month: Elise Holbrook

A May 2019 graduate, she has a B.S. in Communication with a concentration in Public Relations. My fondest memories are any classes I had with Dr. Betty Farmer! She was such an incredible influence on me in so many ways. I genuinely loved going to her class every day, and there was never a day I didn’t learn something new. I particularly loved her Gender Communication class.  

Ed and Andrea Cody Alumni of the Month

Ed and Andrea Cody Alumni of the Month

Meet our Alumni of the Month: Ed and Andrea Cody! They graduated in 1979 and 1980 with degrees in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting and Home Economic with a concentration in consumer-resource management respectively.  

Jacob Lewallen

Graduate Profile: Jacob Lewallen

A job as a manufacturing engineer is waiting for Jacob Lewallen after graduation, but he’ll have some time before he starts ― at least a couple of weeks. The College of Engineering and Technology graduate from Siler City lined up future employment by attending a WCU job fair earlier in the semester.   

Dwight Ryland

Colorado couple endows scholarship in effort to save environment through education

Dwight Ryland has seen some glorious views in his day, having climbed all 54 of Colorado’s 14,000-foot mountains — some of them more than once—and skied his native state’s majestic slopes. But a dark cloud on the horizon has redirected his gaze and nudged the 77-year-old Ryland to put his money where his heart is: saving the environment through education.  

Terry Price Alumnus of the Month

Terry Price Alumnus of the Month

Meet our Alumni of the Month: Terry Price! He graduated from WCU in 1967 with a B.A. in Social Science with a concentration in Political Science. He also had taken several business courses and returned in the summer of 1971 to take additional business courses.  

Keith Elliott Alumnus of the Month

Keith Elliott Alumnus of the Month

Meet our Alumni of the Month: Keith Elliott! He graduated from WCU twice once in June 1969, with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, General Management and again in June 1973, with a Master of Business Administration in General Management.  

Keion Crossen

A Coaches' Determination Helps Define a Student's Story

“My decision to come to Western Carolina was solely based on him [Coach Mark Speir],” Crossen said. “He was a great guy when he came to talk to me in Garysburg. He drove down there in the snow. That speaks volumes. I really appreciate what he’s done for me and the chance he gave me to play at the Division I level at Western. Now, I guess I’m helping the program a little with recruiting."  

Alumna Danita Johnson

WNBA’s Sparks turn to alumna as team’s next president and COO

When Danita Johnson left the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks to become the director of business development and later the director of business operations for the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers in 2017, she had no idea it would be a temporary move. Little did the 2005 Western Carolina University graduate know at the time that she soon would return to the Sparks as the team’s president and chief operating officer, a move that was made official Jan. 7.  

Kevin Rumley

Alumni and Veteran Finds Peace After 'Journey of a Million Steps'

Graduating veteran finds peace after 'journey of a million steps' | Graduated, enlisted, blown up, hospitalized, released, addicted, homeless, hopeless, rescued, enrolled, graduated, employed, enrolled, graduated, honored, redeemed. Read between those lines a minute, and listen...  

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