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.
- Community & Alumni Engagement
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- Alumni Award Nominations
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
2019 Chancellors Alumni Awards Brunch: L-R Ed Holland '75 WCU Alumni President, Pat Kaemmerling '71 Distinguished Service Award, Matthew Hickey '88 Academic Achievement Award, Chancellor Kelli R. Brown, Danita Johnson '05 Professional Achievement Award, Tyler McKenzie '13 Young Alumni Award, Marty Ramsey '85 Director WCU Alumni Engagement
Academic Achievement Award – Mr. Matthew Hickey – 88, B.S.
Professional Achievement Award – Ms. Danita Johnson – 05, B.S.
Young Alumni Award – Mr. Tyler McKenzie – 13, B.A.
Distinguished Service Award – Mrs. Pat Kaemmerling – 71, B.S.
Academic Achievement Award – Dr. Elizabeth Ransom – 94, B.A.
Professional Achievement Award – Mr. Kenny Messer – 86, B.S.
Young Alumni Award – Dr. Mary Beth Fallin Hunzaker – 10, B.A.
Distinguished Service Award – Mrs. Susan Belcher
Young Alumni- David Joy ’07, MA ‘09
Professional Achievement- Todd Vasos ‘83
Academic Achievement- Dr. Irene Hamrick ‘91
Distinguished Service- Ed Broadwell
Mitchell Hutchings ’07
Dr. Richard Starnes ’92 MA ‘94
CAPT Alan Parham ’87
Terry Welch
Brandon A. Robinson ’05 MA ’10
Michell Hicks ’87
Dr. Keith M. Ramsey ’73
Teresa Holland Williams
Dr. Martha J. Powell ’69
Robert W. "Bob" Thomas ’70
Jarrett Frazier ’12
Robert Edwards ’77
Four WCU alumni honored during Homecoming ceremony
Dr. Johnny L. Carson ’71
Wesley "Wes" R. Elingburg ’78
Manteo Mitchell ’09 MAEd ’12
Joan MacNeill
Three alumni, former trustee honored at ceremony
Dr. Ronald "Ron" G. Morrow ’78
Gaither M. Keener, Jr. ’72
Dr. Wade G. Livingston ’04 MEd ’06
Bob Buckner ’67
Alumni honored with achievement, service awards
Dr. Cecil L. Adderley, III ’85
G. Dale Sims ’78
Bobbi Baker James ’01
Dr. Myron L. Coulter
WCU presents 2011 alumni, service awards
Selection Process
Alumni Spotlights
Meet some of your fellow alumni, see where their lives have taken them and discover what they love about Western Carolina University.
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