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WCU Stories

Mark Haskett Alumnus of the Month

Mark Haskett Alumnus of the Month

Meet our Alumni of the Month: Jim Beddingfield! He graduated from WCU in Summer 1987 with Bachelor of Science in Mathematics.  

Tyler McKenzie in New York City

Giving Back is a Given for Alumnus and Broadway Performer

If ever there was a Western Carolina University graduate who was living his dream, it would be Tyler McKenzie. McKenzie, a 2013 graduate from WCU's School of Stage and Screen, is traveling across the country, dancing and singing as a member of the ensemble in the second national tour of the Broadway hit "Hamilton."  

J. Alan Goggins in the lab

Alumnus J. Alan Goggins Hurdles His Way to Success

If J. Alan Goggins’ life were a track and field event, it would definitely be the hurdles. And Goggins would be a world-class hurdler. Goggins recently completed his postdoctoral research and has landed a postdoctoral fellowship at Merck Pharmaceuticals, where he will work with the company’s vaccine bioanalytics team. He’s come a long way since flunking out of community college 11 years ago, and he credits his success to WCU.  

Donna Winbon

Donna Winbon: We all have the power to make an impact on the next generation

In 1980, I graduated from Western Carolina University. I was an average student with a modest background and a deep appreciation for the faculty and staff who helped me get through four years of college. I knew even then that my time at WCU had prepared me for a good life, but I had no grand vision of becoming rich or famous.  

John Connet Alumnus of the Month

John Connet Alumnus of the Month

Meet our Alumni of the Month: John Connet! He graduated in 1992 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science with a minor in Geography and Regional Planning.  

Mark Chapman Alumnus of the Month

Mark Chapman Alumnus of the Month

Meet our Alumni of the Month: Mark Chapman! He graduated from WCU in the summer of 1984 with a BSBA in Marketing.   

Soccer Alumni

Soccer lovers keep kickin’ long after game is over

It’s for the love of the game that former members of WCU’s men’s soccer team keep coming back to campus to see former teammates, play a little soccer and raise money for the WCU soccer program.   

Sandi McCracken with scholarship recipient

McCracken endows scholarship to accelerate pathway to change

Sandi McCracken spent her professional life in education as a business teacher and administrator, and as a stock broker. Now she’s continuing her support for students with her Sandra Jayne McCracken Endowed Scholarship to help ease the financial burden for WCU education majors.  

Greek Challenge

Love for Cats keep Greeks coming back

It’s all in the family for Amy Kilby, Samir Hafiz and Jerry Matheny when it comes time to shake the money tree for Western Carolina University’s student-athletes. All three are enthusiastic participants in WCU’s Greek Challenge – now in its fifth season – which rallies members of past and present fraternities and sororities at WCU to pony up big bucks and to join the Catamount Club all in support of athletic scholarships.   

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