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WCU Stories

Julie Miller Denesha

Julie Miller Denesha joins WCU Advancement to support College of Engineering, Technology

Julie Miller Denesha, former associate director of athletics for development at Western Carolina University, has joined the WCU Division of Advancement as director of development and corporate partnerships for the College of Engineering and Technology.  

Alumni tower

1889 Impact Grants application deadline extended to Nov. 8

Because of the ongoing impacts of Hurricane Helene, Western Carolina University’s Division of Advancement and the WCU Foundation have extended the deadline for applications from faculty and staff interested in obtaining funding for projects through the 1889 Impact Grants Program.  

Jamie Wallen (left) works with a chemistry student

Two faculty members receive competitive grants from the National Institutes of Health

Two Western Carolina University faculty members have received coveted R15 grants from the National Institutes of Health, which will significantly enhance research initiatives in the region.  

Alex Fields and Travis Frazier

Sense of community inspires WCU staff member to establish annual scholarship fund

The sense of community discovered by staff member Alexandra M. Fields upon her arrival at Western Carolina University seven years ago inspired her to establish an annual scholarship fund to help attract future students from her hometown to WCU.  

WCU STEM day

WCU hosts second annual STEM event for WNC students

Western Carolina University recently held its second annual STEM Outreach Day for students from around Western North Carolina.  

WCU homecoming parade in downtown Sylva

WCU to paint downtown Sylva purple, kick off Homecoming weekend Nov. 1

Western Carolina University alumni will paint the town purple Friday, Nov. 1, during a downtown Sylva Catamount takeover to launch Homecoming 2024 weekend.  

Aaron Hoyle-Rivera poses for photo on campus at WCU

Family heritage inspires SGA president Aaron Hoyle-Rivera to dream big, work hard

Western Carolina University student Aaron Hoyle-Rivera, a senior from Shelby studying psychology, criminal justice and criminology, hit the ground running when he came to campus in fall 2022.   

Jay and Susan Strum

UNC Board of Governors appoints Susan Strum to WCU Board of Trustees

Western Carolina University alumna Susan Strum has been appointed to WCU’s Board of Trustees.  

Blacksmith Brock Martin demonstration

WCU alumnus and ‘Forged in Fire’ contestant Brock Martin visits campus for blacksmithing demo

“Strike while the iron is hot” is an old saying about taking an opportunity while you have it. Timm Muth, alumnus and professor of practice in Western Carolina University’s College of Engineering and Technology, took that saying literally when he invited master blacksmith Brock Martin, a 2010 graduate of Western Carolina University, to campus to demonstrate blacksmithing to students in his introductory material science course.   

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