WCU Stories      June 7, 2023

By Julia Duvall

Nominations are being accepted for the annual Mountain Heritage Awards, which recognize contributions of regional artists, nonprofit leaders, and an array of organizations for their commitment to Appalachian culture and for the preservation or interpretation of the history of Southern Appalachia.

Presented by the Mountain Heritage Center, recipients are honored during ceremonies at Mountain Heritage Day which will be held on Saturday, Sept. 30, at Western Carolina University.

Honorees are selected by a committee comprised of community and WCU representatives. The awards recognize an individual and an organization for distinguished service, accomplishments, influence or expertise in maintaining the cultural viability of the region.

Nominations should be five pages or less, with a list of the nominee’s accomplishments, awards and recognition; information about the nominee’s influence in the relevant field of expertise, such as crafts, music or organizational cause; or information about the nominee’s role as a teacher, advocate, leader or curator of mountain culture. Include a website address if applicable; the mailing address of the nominee; the founding date for organizational nominees.

Nominations should be delivered no later than Monday, July 17, to the Mountain Heritage Center, located in Room 240 of WCU’s Hunter Library; mailed to Mountain Heritage Center, 1 University Drive, Cullowhee N.C. 28723; or emailed to mhd@wcu.edu.

Recent award winners include Louise and Butch Goings of Cherokee and Cowee School Arts and Heritage Center in Macon County.

For more information about the history of the festival and the awards, visit mountainheritageday.com.