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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...

Joan Humphries

Grateful Student Pays Homage to Dedicated Teacher Through Career, Establishment of Scholarship

Lena Dula Mayberry Engstrom had a passion for teaching that changed the trajectory of Joan Davis Humphries’ life. To honor her former high school teacher and mentor, Humphries established an endowed scholarship in Engstrom’s name.  

Harold and Henrietta Saltz Anderson

Saltz Anderson endowed scholarship honors family of educators

They traded Western North Carolina for central Washington, where he farmed and she taught school. When it came time to settle their affairs and with no children of their own, Harold and Henrietta Saltz Anderson looked homeward, to North Carolina.  

Members of the board of directors of Entegra Bank participate in a signing ceremony marking the creation of the Entegra Bank Endowed Scholarship Fund.

Entegra Bank announces $250,000 contribution for scholarship effort

In recognition that more than 20% of Entegra Bank's workforce in Western North Carolina graduated from WCU, the financial institution's board of directors announced a $250,000 contribution to provide scholarship assistance to students from the region who want to study in WCU's College of Business.  

Burton during WCU's Dec. 2017 commencement.

Campus fixture Carol Burton creates scholarship to aid international graduate students

Through cash gifts, pledges and an estate gift totaling $50,000, Acting Provost Carol Burton has established a scholarship fund designed to help international students, especially those from Jamaica, earn graduate degrees at WCU.  

Chancellor David O. Belcher pledging his gift to WCU.

WCU Launches 'Lead the Way' Campaign

WCU launched the public phase of its comprehensive fundraising campaign March 1, by announcing a minimum goal of $60 million and celebrating a $5 million pledge.   

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