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WCU Stories

J-Creek Cloggers

Schedule announced for WCU’s weeklong Mountain Heritage Days celebration

For the past 50 years on the last Saturday of September, Western Carolina University’s Mountain Heritage Day festival has honored the music, stories, and traditions of Appalachia.  

Janet Oppenheimer

Retired PR professional creates endowment to support WCU students

A public relations professional who has served as a mentor in the Department of Communication at Western Carolina University is now providing support to students in a different way by establishing a new endowment fund to enhance access to extracurricular and professional development activities.  

Aerial photo of campus

Western Carolina Power receives Public Power Awards of Excellence

Western Carolina Power, the university-owned electric utility serving parts of Western Carolina University and surrounding customers, has been named one of 23 public power communities across North Carolina to receive a 2024 Public Power Award of Excellence.  

Bethany Davidson, a faculty member in the entrepreneurship program at Western Carolina University, serves as mentor for a group project.

Retired professor creates faculty mentorship endowment in College of Business

A retired professor in Western Carolina University’s College of Business has created an endowment fund that will provide resources for mentorship programs for current faculty members within the college.  

2025 Orientation student staff

Students Kate Taylor, Jay Brown help new students adjust to life at WCU

What does it mean to be a Catamount? It’s not necessarily someone from Cullowhee. It’s not always someone who’s stepped foot on campus. It’s when someone calls Western Carolina University home — and much more.   

Tonya Snider with regional partners

WCU playing role in regional effort to improve broadband access, training in WNC

A faculty member in Western Carolina University’s College of Business is facilitating a yearlong effort to provide increased access to broadband and the training needed to take full advantage of the technological resources to underserved populations of rural Western North Carolina.  

Kara McMullen

A Wild Beginning: Alumna Kara McMullen on a career in Panthertown

When Western Carolina University alumna Kara McMullen stands on the wet stone of Salt Rock Gap, thousands of acres of chirping forest span before her, a sprawling network of trails buried just beneath.  

Luca and Raul in Admissions

From Curitiba to Cullowhee: A Brazilian reunion at WCU

“Impressive how we find Brazilians everywhere, right?”  

Brett Riggs

WCU’s Brett Riggs named honorary member of EBCI

Brett Riggs is heavily involved with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, so when the tribal librarian asked him to come to council to support a resolution for the library, no questions were asked.   

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