WCU Stories      December 10, 2024

By Bill Studenc

While thousands of Western Carolina University students benefit annually from the generosity of those who make philanthropic gifts to the institution, a small group is actively working to help increase donations to WCU by providing a student face for friends and alumni.

The recently established Catamount Philanthropy Council is designed to help strengthen the relationship between current students and WCU’s alumni and supporters, said Tenisea Higgins, assistant director of annual giving for student and young alumni engagement.

“The CPC is a diverse group of select WCU students who possess strong leadership, public speaking and interpersonal skills,” said Higgins, adviser to the group. “These students work together to spread enthusiasm and energy and to help uphold traditions of WCU. The CPC serves as the student voice of the university to a variety of external and internal constituents.”

CPC members volunteer for numerous initiatives sponsored by WCU’s Division of Advancement throughout the academic year, including staffing information tables, participating at Homecoming, assisting at annual events for GivingTuesday and “I Love WCU Month,” attending alumni and donor events, and sharing information with their peers about the importance of philanthropy at WCU.

Members of the group walked alongside recipients of WCU Alumni Association awards during the Homecoming parade in Sylva in November. The CPC also created a banner for a campus Homecoming contest, winning third place for its entry focused on WCU’s “Fill the Western Sky” comprehensive fundraising campaign, entering its public phase in early 2025.

Other CPC activities this fall have included participating in recognition days for faculty, staff and student donors; Open House hosted by the Office of Admissions; a fish fry tailgate at Homecoming; and “Lemonade on the Lawn” and “Gingerbread and Gratitude” events for students. The group also hosted “Hot Cocoa with Catamount Philanthropy Council,” a student event Tuesday, Dec. 3, as part of GivingTuesday.

The council began in 2023 with 13 members and has nearly doubled in its second year of existence, with 23 members for 2024-2025, Higgins said.

Grady Jones, a junior majoring in business administration and law, said that he applied to be a member of CPC to be able to connect with fellow Catamounts and give back to his community.

“As a member of the Catamount Philanthropy Council, some of my favorite experiences have been the opportunities to hear from campus officials and tabling events like the ‘Gingerbread and Gratitude’ where we got to interact with students and see the direct impact of everyone’s efforts,” Jones said.

Jones said that participating in the CPC has changed his opinions about philanthropy and its impact on institutions such as WCU.

“Philanthropy is vital for any institution. However, I find it especially important for our community. I see philanthropy as one of the central values of our campus community because of the overwhelming desire to support each other from current and past members,” he said. “In the past, my perspective was that philanthropy was more focused on begging for money. Through the Catamount Philanthropy Council, my perspective has shifted to believe that philanthropy is more about supporting others and giving back to your community, as opposed to a price tag.”

Abagail Howerton, a senior majoring in communication who joined the CPC this academic year, agreed.

“Philanthropy is so important, especially for schools like Western Carolina University, because many of our on-campus programs and organizations rely on donors for financial support. Without financial support, so many things on our campus wouldn’t exist, and the enrichment on campus would be nonexistent. Without philanthropy, our campus wouldn’t thrive like it does today, and I think that proves just how important it is,” Howerton said.

“Being a CPC member has changed my views about philanthropy in so many ways,” she said. “Being able to donate to different causes that speak to you is an incredible way to give back to your community and enrich it with so many things. Knowing how much it helps people in different ways makes me appreciate philanthropic choices.”

For Zach Eanes, a senior majoring in computer science and mathematics, serving on the CPC has allowed him to represent WCU in unique ways, including participating in a podcast for last year’s One Day for Western effort and taking part in an advertisement campaign for the initiative.

“Both of these opportunities allowed me to be a face to what Western stands for, and I wouldn't have been asked to represent in these without the CPC,” said Eanes.

As is the case with his fellow members, joining the organization has had an impact how he thinks about philanthropy.

“It's completely opened my eyes to its importance, as beforehand I would've personally not considered how crucial philanthropy is. I now see how crucial it is to give time, skills, talents or monetary donations to ensure an institution such as Western is able to both function and excel at providing for its students. Before the CPC, I was clueless to how large of an impact philanthropy has,” he said.

“Philanthropy acts as the backbone for our institution, and that's been made widely apparent to me through the CPC. I think philanthropy is responsible for making a student's experience memorable, whether it be for funding fun events around campus or providing a student with a life-changing scholarship to pursue an education,” Eanes said.

Other members of the CPC for the 2024-2025 year are: Caroline Blowe, a junior majoring in integrated health sciences; David Borders, a senior majoring in engineering technology; Jay Brown, a junior majoring in health and physical education; DaShawna Corbett, a sophomore majoring in psychology; Ben Howard, a sophomore majoring in entertainment design and technology; Aaron Hoyle-Rivera, a senior majoring in criminal justice; Lauren Kerker, a junior majoring in criminal justice; Erica Larkins, a junior majoring in communication; Samm Matteson, a senior majoring in hospitality and tourism management; and Indigo Mendoza-Garcia, a junior majoring in hospitality and tourism management.

Also, Sion Moultrie, a sophomore majoring in communication sciences and disorders; Nicole Ng, a senior majoring in psychology; Landon Orr, a sophomore majoring in political science; Caroline Parris, a graduate student in the master’s degree program in higher education student affairs; Julia Reed, a senior majoring in parks and recreation management; Madison Sawyer, a senior majoring in communications; Lillianna Sirmon, a senior majoring in communication sciences and disorders; Emmy Mae Speakman, a senior majoring in English literature; Eros Trujillo, a sophomore majoring in music education; and Ezri Villiard, a graduate student in the master’s degree program in clinical psychology.

WCU is seeking additional members for the CPC as it approaches the public launch of its “Fill the Western Sky” campaign, an effort to raise support for the university’s academic, student engagement and athletics programs. For more information or to make a contribution, visit WesternSky.wcu.edu, call 828-227-7124 or email advancement@wcu.edu.

For more information about the Catamount Philanthropy Council, visit the CPC website or call Higgins at 828-227-3343.