News

For almost a week this month, 29 students and five faculty members in Western Carolina University’s Geosciences and Natural Resources Department went camping and visiting sites across the mountains. It was fun, to be sure, but there was a specific purpose.

To this day, Kerwin Bell remembers vividly the scene in Gainesville, Florida in 1984 when he and his University of Florida teammates returned to campus following a trip to Kentucky after the Gators clinched what was then their first Southeastern Conference championship (a title that was later vacated because of rules violations by coach Charley Pell). Just before landing, the team plane flew over Florida Field where some 40,000 fans gathered to welcome the team home. On the bus ride from the airport to campus, the Gainesville streets were lined with fans.

Those whistles blowing from E.J. Whitmire Stadium/Bob Waters Field last spring were not from football coaches during spring practice. They came from officials as Western Carolina University’s football team actually played a pair of Southern Conference games.

Hello everyone, This is the WCU Japanese program newsletter, Fall 2021. It has been such a challenging year and I am sure that we have all struggled. I really hope this academic year will be better in many ways. Here, I am sharing five video messages in Japanese with English subtitles. They were made by the students from JPN452: Advanced Conversation – Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) prep in spring 21. They talk about themselves regarding studying Japanese language, culture, and MORE. These are their stories. For those who are thinking about starting to study Japanese, those students were there as you are now. For those who have just started Japanese, they struggled a lot as you have. For those who have been studying Japanese for a while, you are heading for the level these students are exemplifying here. They are sharing their stories with you and conveying their messages with care and enthusiasm to encourage you in your studies. I hope you enjoy them. - The Japanese Program

Native plants symbolize investment in Madison and Cullowhee giving societies. Nestled in the hillside between Bird Building Lane and the back of Brown Hall are five newly planted species of native flora, chosen specifically to mark the beginning of an annual tradition to honor new and current members of two Western Carolina University giving societies.

From high school drum major to Duke Energy to owner of his own company and chair of the Western Carolina University Board of Trustees — plus a few stops in between — Bryant Kinney has led a life of sheer leadership, no ifs, ands or buts about it.

We successfully wrapped up one of the most difficult semesters in our university’s history and began a new one with many known and unknown challenges ahead. Our employees and students have worked harder than ever amid the challenging circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic to achieve their goals and to make a positive difference in the world.

A few years back, Western Carolina University’s Division of Information Technology added a project management office. Because IT employee Dawn Brown worked closely with the project office, she thought it might be beneficial to learn more about project management. She enrolled in WCU’s Master of Project Management (MPM) Program. Not only has it proven to be helpful in her IT role, but Brown said she now has a complete understanding of the entire project management process.

Charlene Leontine Francis McCormack married young, worked hard, loved her family and her church, and ultimately laid the groundwork for the success of her three children, especially her oldest, Western Carolina University Chancellor Kelli R. Brown.