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WCU Stories

A photo of a Western Carolina Teachers College ring on a white background

Centenarian Cats Celebrate

Lorene Browning Collins, class of 1942 and Sally Campbell, class of 1937, are celebrating big birthdays this week. Browning Collins is turning 100, while Campbell is turning 104, making her Western Carolina University’s oldest alumna.  

Pat Kaemmerling

Former WCU board chair shares her experience as both a scholarship recipient and donor

Pat Kaemmerling, former chair of Western Carolina University’s Board of Trustees, has experienced life from both sides of higher education’s philanthropy equation – students who benefit from the contributions of strangers, and benefactors who make those contributions out of a desire to help others.  

Nicholas Fasanello

Nicholas Fasanello, Three-Minute Thesis Competition, People's Choice Award Winner

Nicholas Fasanello, current Communication Sciences and Disorders student, was selected by popular vote for the People’s Choice Award in the 2021 Three Minute Thesis Competition. Fasanello’s presentation on “Reviewing a framework for Concealable Stigma in Communication Disorders: Addressing Adverse Outcomes and Promoting Inclusion” highlights research on the various impacts of stigmatization that people with communication disorders experience  

Wide shot of the scholarship luncheon

COVID’s challenges do not deter WCU’s benefactors from their support of student scholarships

While much of the world came to a screeching halt over the past year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, benefactors of Western Carolina University did not allow a global health crisis to stand in the way of their ongoing philanthropic support of students in pursuit of higher education.  

Students

Exploration Leads to Career Connections

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.   

Apodaca Science Building Stairs

A New Era Begins

Former state senator and Western Carolina University alum Tom Apodaca ’80 broke ground with other university and state officials for construction of a new $110.5 million science building. During the ceremony, Apodaca commented that his dream was to attend the future grand opening of the new state-of-the-art facility with his then-infant grandson, River. He also hoped River would one day follow the family tradition of attending WCU and taking classes in the building named in his honor.  

Wolf

Coping with Covid-19

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, college life as WCU students knew it changed drastically. Here's a look at how they had to adapt to a new way of living and learning.  

Justin Gray

Playing to Win

Justin Gray brings winning attitude to men’s basketball team. The art of winning is something that Western Carolina University head basketball coach Justin Gray learned as a child from an unsuspecting source — his grandmother.  

Students working in the Rapid Center

Total Gain

As the westernmost institution of the University of North Carolina System, Western Carolina University holds many distinctions, not the least of which is anchor for the respective surrounding communities and a regional driver for the local economy, community service and workforce development.  

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