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Year-end giving pushes 'Lead the Way' fundraising campaign past $58 million mark

Among the recent contributions to the campaign is an anonymous estate gift of $1 million to go toward student scholarships.  

Aerial image of campus in the snow

Year-end giving pushes WCU's 'Lead the Way' fundraising campaign past $58 million mark

Western Carolina University’s “Lead the Way” comprehensive fundraising campaign climbed ever closer to hitting its goal of $60 million as a surge of year-end giving pushed the total raised to date to $58.7 million. Among the recent contributions to the campaign is an anonymous estate gift of $1 million to go toward student scholarships, which is the top priority of “Lead the Way: A Campaign Inspired by the Belcher Years.” The campaign is scheduled to come to a close this spring.  

WCU College of Business Faculty Hollye Moss

Moss fund supports teaching excellence, honors colleague

With a new doctorate under her belt and her dream job at Western Carolina University in hand, Hollye Moss jumped right in – and promptly started to sink. No longer distracted by a dissertation, Moss realized something was lacking: her teaching skills.   

Marcy Sammons

NC Promise "was definitely the yes" for transfer student

As a senior at Forest View High School in Gastonia, Marcy Sammons had her eye on Western Carolina University. She'd heard good things about WCU's College of Business, but perhaps even more importantly, WCU had the best Marching Band in the state and one of the best in the nation. Sammons led the Color Guard at Forest View, and she'd heard stories about WCU's 2014 trip to march in the Macy's Day Parade. She was a high school junior at the time. But when senior year rolled around, the cost of a four-year university simply wasn't an option for Sammons or her family. She was going to need to borrow the money she would need to attend school, and the thought of finishing a marketing degree with significant college debt was overwhelming.  

Gabriel Pope

Raleigh transfer student hopes NC Promise leads to political career

As Gabriel Pope was looking at schools to transfer to from Wake Technical Community College in Raleigh, he learned of an upcoming program the state of North Carolina was implementing called NC Promise. At first, Pope was a little skeptical over whether the state would follow through with offering $500 per semester tuition. But once he was convinced, Pope knew he wanted to go to Western Carolina University. “I was a little concerned with how the education would be with the school bringing in less money, but the more I learned about it, and researched it, the more I knew (WCU) was going to be a great school to go to,” Pope said. “I’m really thankful for (NC Promise) because it really helps me financially to be able to get my education.”  

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Services held Jan. 6 for Barbara Coulter, former WCU first lady

Barbara Helen Bolinger Coulter, 89, of Waynesville, North Carolina, passed away Saturday, Dec. 29, 2018, in Haywood County.  

Class of 2019

The Year Ahead

Long after holiday decorations are back in their boxes and most New Year’s resolutions have been abandoned, the momentum from an eventful 2018 will carry WCU forward through the new year. In 2019 the rumbling of the big construction machines will continue and the tick-tick-tick of the Pride of the Mountains’ metronome will return amid the sounds of spring birds and young voices across campus. And our campus and community will continue to thrive and grow.   

Aerial Winter Shot

Happy Holidays from WCU

Sending you warm winter wishes from your friends at Western Carolina University. May you find yourself wrapped in the charm and the wonder of the holidays. Season’s greetings – from our Catamount family to yours!  

WCU Campus

‘Presentation Skills for Women’ workshop scheduled in Asheville

Betty Farmer, award-winning WCU professor of communication and owner of Farmer Communications, will serve as workshop instructor.  

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