The Alumni Engagement committee of the WCU Alumni Board of Directors will review all
nominations for Alumni Awards and select the recipient. The award will be presented
to the recipient at the Chancellor’s Alumni Awards Ceremony during Homecoming Weekend.
Nomination forms must be renewed or updated every three years to remain in the file
for consideration.
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Alumni Award Nominations
From Left to Right: Stacey Miller (Director of Alumni Engagement), Jonah Slentz ’21 (Young Alumnus Award), Bob Roberts (Distinguished Service Award), Chancellor Kelli R. Brown, Debbie Wright ’77 (Professional Achievement Award), Brenda Gorsuch ’77, M.A. Ed. ’80 (Academic Achievement Award), Jamie Raynor (Vice Chancellor for Advancement), Dr. James Hogan ’03 (Assistant Vice Chancellor for Engagement)
Award Categories
Academic Achievement Award
The Alumni Award for Academic Achievement is given annually to a Western Carolina University alumnus/alumna who has attained extraordinary distinction and success in academe and has demonstrated exceptional leadership. The award recipient should have achieved state, regional or national recognition. Preference will be given to those who, while enrolled at WCU and as a graduate, were/are active participants in the life of the university.
Professional Achievement Award
The Alumni Award for Professional Achievement may be awarded annually to no more than one Western Carolina University alumnus/alumna who has attained extraordinary distinction and success in a career field outside of academe and who has demonstrated exceptional and sustained community leadership. The award recipient should have achieved state, regional, or national recognition. Preference will be given to those who, while enrolled at WCU and as a graduate, were/are active participants in the life of the university.
Young Alumnus/Alumna Award
The Young Alumnus/Alumna Award recognizes established and future leaders among Western Carolina University’s young alumni. The nominee must have graduated within the past fifteen years, be less than 40 years of age, attained a level of distinction in their chosen field of work, demonstrated a commitment to the service of others and shown the potential for future leadership/distinction. Preference will be given to those who, while enrolled at WCU and as a graduate, were/are active participants in the life of the university.
Past Award Winners
Academic Achievement Award - Brenda Gorsuch ’77, M.A. Ed. ’80
Professional Achievement Award - Debbie Wright ’77
Young Alumnus Award - Jonah Slentz ’21
Distinguished Service Award - Bob Roberts
Academic Achievement Award - Dr. James “Allen” Queen ’72, M.Ed. ’73
Professional Achievement Award – Mr. Paul Johnson ’79
Young Alumni Award – Mr. Joey Blake ’12
Distinguished Service Award – Mr. Marty Ramsey ’85
Distinguished Service Award - Mr. Phil Haire and Dr. Connie Haire M.A. Ed. ’84
Academic Achievement Award - Dr. Kathryn Rentz ’75, M.A. ’77, PhD ‘86
Professional Achievement Award - Ms. Laura Leatherwood ’93, MSHR ’96, PhD ‘07
Young Alumni Award - Mr. Aaron Marshall ’14
Distinguished Service Award - Mr. Bryant Kinney ‘82
Academic Achievement Award – Dr. Jason E. Bond – '93
Professional Achievement Award – Dr. Carol Burton – '87, '89
Young Alumni Award – Mr. Jake Robinson – '10
Distinguished Service Award – Mr. Bob Folsom – '66, '68
2010
Dr. Carol Fowler Durham ’76
Sarah L. Lowell ’84, ’89
Dr. Elizabeth D. Wall-Bassett ’00
Chuck Wooten ’73
2011
Dr. Cecil L. Adderley, III ’85
G. Dale Sims ’78
Bobbi Baker James ’01
Dr. Myron L. Coulter
2012
Dr. Ronald "Ron" G. Morrow ’78
Gaither M. Keener, Jr. ’72
Dr. Wade G. Livingston ’04 MEd ’06
Bob Buckner ’67
2013
Dr. Johnny L. Carson ’71
Wesley "Wes" R. Elingburg ’78
Manteo Mitchell ’09 MAEd ’12
Joan MacNeill
2014
Dr. Martha J. Powell ’69
Robert W. "Bob" Thomas ’70
Jarrett Frazier ’12
Robert Edwards ’77
2015
Brandon A. Robinson ’05 MA ’10
Michell Hicks ’87
Dr. Keith M. Ramsey ’73
Teresa Holland Williams
2016
Mitchell Hutchings ’07
Dr. Richard Starnes ’92 MA ‘94
CAPT Alan Parham ’87
Terry Welch
2017
Young Alumni- David Joy ’07, MA ‘09
Professional Achievement- Todd Vasos ‘83
Academic Achievement- Dr. Irene Hamrick ‘91
Distinguished Service- Ed Broadwell
2018
Academic Achievement – Dr. Elizabeth Ransom – 94, B.A.
Professional Achievement – Mr. Kenny Messer – 86, B.S.
Young Alumni – Dr. Mary Beth Fallin Hunzaker – 10, B.A.
Distinguished Service – Mrs. Susan Belcher
2019
Academic Achievement – Mr. Matthew Hickey – 88, B.S.
Professional Achievement – Ms. Danita Johnson – 05, B.S.
Young Alumni – Mr. Tyler McKenzie – 13, B.A.
Distinguished Service – Mrs. Pat Kaemmerling – 71, B.S.
2000
Dr. James Breece '67
David Dingler '69
Eric Powell '91
Berry Mauney '68 & Betty Allen '68
2001
G. Gordon Greenwood '69
Harold Dean Crisp '85
Brad Hoover '00
O'Brien Brooks, Jr. '67
2002
Dr. Thomas Meigs '90
Gerald Kiser '69
Kimberley Patrizio '92
2003
Dr. Gerald D. Austin '64 & '69
K. Ray Bailey '70
Brian S. Edlin '97
Joe Crocker '74
2004
Loretta Pate Dodgen '72
Wanda Nelson Fowler '80
Tracy K. Bridges '98
Curtis L. Wellmon '58
2005
Dr. Jim Causby '68
William R. Stallings '61
Emily M. Spangler '02
Phillip D. Walker '71
2006
Dr. Frances Owl Smith '83
Kenneth M. Hughes '74
Jeanne L. Jolly '01
Katherine Abbott-Beam '67
2007
Dr. Tony Johnson '70
Dr. David B. Morgan '92
Kevin R. Vasquez '79
Andrew P. Dunn '97
Steve Warren '80
2008
Dr. H. Lee Cheek, Jr. '83
W. Barry Smith '67
Amy C. Clifton '98
Brank '42 and Juanita '39 Proffitt
2009
Dr. Jeffrey G. Ryan '83
James W. Lanning '80
Errol W. Kilgore '99
Genevieve W. Burda
1990
Harvey L. Haynes '55
Stephen W. Woody
1991
Arnold Isaacs '59
Sue Ellen Bridgers '76
1992
R. Mitchell Hull '72
Jesse T. Flake '52
1993
Tony L. White '69
Dr. Wilma Cosper
1994
The Honorable James A. Beaty, Jr. '71
1995
The Honorable Mark Martin '85
Jimmy Cooper
1996
Chief Joyce Dugan '74
Doug Reed
1997
Nora Lynn Finch '70
William Mc Donald '63
Irene Mace Hamrick '91
George Weekley
1998
Dr. Gurney E. Chambers '61
Mable Carlyle
Dr. Matthew Hickey '88
Orville Coward '46
1999
Dr. Floyd H. Chilton '80
William McIntyre '76
Dr. Kefyn M. Catley '91
Jim Moore
1980
Lt. Col. Harry Joe Rhinehart '71
E. J. Whitmire
1981
Dr. Ernest Fitzgerald '47
Lillian Hirt '39
1982
Dr. Robert M. Failing '51
Dr. Walter J. Durr
1983
Dr. Paul R. Burton '54
W. C. Hennessee
1984
Lt. Col. William J. Brooks, III '66
Reg Moody '59
1985
William W. Peek '40
Clinton F. Dodson
1986
Dr. Guy Burchfiel '50
Dr. Taft Botner
1987
Wayne Tolleson '78
James B. Childress
1988
Dr. Marvin M. Cole '58
Dr. Mary Smallwood Wayte
1989
Dr. Homer C. Jamison '42
1970
Dr. Brank Proffitt '42
Jack L. McCracken '50
1971
L. D. Hyde '63
Genella Barton Allison '38
1972
Dr. Wallace Hyde '49
Dr. Howard Aldmon '53
1973
Dr. William Britt '57
Keith R. Hundley '58
1974
Dr. Garrett A. Smathers '55
Raymond K. Rhodes '43
1975
Charles L. West '51
Hugh Battle, Jr. 48
Dr. Henry L. Cox '10
1976
Raymond H. Fentriss, Jr. '56
Linda Israel Rader '58
1977
Dr. Ben Battle '47
1978
C. Edwin Allman '49
James H. Glenn
1979
Dr. Robert Wykle '63
Liston B. Ramsey
1960
Dr. Lawrence H. Stewart '43
Lt. Col. Ray S. McClung attended 1938-39
1961
Dr. Charles R. Holloman, Sr. '39
Conrad Hooper '48
1962
T. Ray Gibbs '26
Walter Carringer attended '47, '50
1963
Mary Cordell Nesbitt '36
Thomas Lane Mallonee '41
1964
Arnold J. Hyde '38
Dr. Adelio J. Montanari '55
1965
Dr. James Gerald Eller '43
Bob Terrell '51
1966
Herbert L. Hyde '51
Dr. Pauline Pressley Collins '42
1967
James David Bristol '59
Thomas L. Lewis '57
1968
James F. Gudger '48
George E. Gibbs '33
1969
Grady Galloway '41
Hugh Tomberlin '38
1937
Felix Eugene Alley 1896
1938
W. E. Bird '15
Dr. Katharine Cox '17
1939
Dr. Harold Stevens Clark '15
1948
E. H. Stillwell 1899
1949
Jonathan H. Woody '14
1956
John Worth McDevitt '38
T. C. Roberson '24
1957
David H. Brown, Jr. '34
James Orville Terrell '32
1958
Dr. Mary Dare Haithcock '32
Dr. Helen Ammon Moore
Selection Process
Alumni Spotlights
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