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Impact Stories

Our alumni, community, faculty, staff, and partners are dedicated to supporting the success of current and future Catamounts. Western Carolina University is committed to sustaining and improving individual lives through education and by enhancing the economic and community development of our region. Discover the philanthropy and the people who make this happen...

Lead the Way Reveal

‘Lead the Way’ fundraising campaign total surpasses $60 million goal

David Belcher would be proud. Thanks to more than 12,000 donors — nearly half of those first-time donors — the Western Carolina University family helped the beloved late chancellor meet his pledge of raising millions of dollars in scholarship support to help WCU students pay for their education.   

Lead the Way

‘Lead the Way’ total to be announced May 2 with campus celebration

It’s been more than a year in the making, this fundraising challenge to reach $60 million for the Lead the Way campaign in support of late Chancellor David Belcher’s pledge for more student scholarships. Did we make it? Find out May 2 during the ‘big reveal’ at a community celebration in the Ramsey Center.  

WCU Campus

WCU feels the love during February fundraiser, with increase in donations and participation

By all accounts, the third annual “I Love WCU” month was a huge success, with more than 1,400 people making financial contributions or pledges to Western Carolina University between Feb. 1 and Feb. 28.  

Jack and Judy Brinson

Highlands residents pledge $2 million for Honors College, undergraduate research

Thanks to the ongoing generosity of a husband and wife who divide their time between Highlands in the Western North Carolina mountains and Hilton Head Island in the South Carolina Lowcountry, Western Carolina University is one step closer toward its goal of being able to provide scholarship assistance to every Honors College student with financial need. Make that 1 million steps closer.  

Lauren Bryson

Scholarship recipient revels in advanced technology, new surroundings

It took a childhood spent in the outdoors for former competitive wakeboarder Lauren Bryson to appreciate the world of technology as a Western Carolina University student, and as a result, become the first recipient of the Hopkins and Ray Engineering and Technology Scholarship.  

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