WCU Stories      August 26, 2024

By Bill Studenc

The Office of Undergraduate Admissions at Western Carolina University has expanded its team of recruiters by more than 60 additional members thanks to the newly formed Cat Eyes Club.

The club consists of WCU alumni and friends who share a passion for the university and who seek to share that passion with others by helping recruit future Catamounts, said Heather Hill, associate director of undergraduate admissions.

“The mission of the Cat Eyes Club is to empower Western Carolina University alumni and friends to passionately advocate for our institution, recruit future students and champion our institution’s academic offerings in the picturesque mountainous setting, fostering outdoor adventure and academic excellence,” Hill said.

Club members will identify and engage with potential students; provide them with information about WCU, admission procedures and the NC Promise tuition program; and facilitate contact with a representative of the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

They also will share deadlines for applications for enrollment, financial aid and scholarships; submit the names of prospective students through a Cat Eyes Club membership portal; and share their own personal experiences about WCU.

Current club members range from 55 of North Carolina’s 100 counties and from Indiana, Ohio, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee and Virginia.

Alumni who have already joined the Cat Eyes Club say that the initiative offers a way to stay engaged with their alma mater and to support the university in its efforts to recruit new students.

For Indiana resident Kendall Harris, a 2022 graduate of WCU with a degree in communication, the program represents a “full-circle moment” after serving as a tour guide in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions during her time as a student.

“I worked as an Entourage tour guide for three-and-a-half years, and graduation did not stop me from expressing my love for WCU. When I first learned about the Cat Eyes Club, I found this as the perfect opportunity to still remain connected with WCU while living so far away,” said Harris, admissions counselor and digital engagement strategist at the Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics and Humanities, where she also is an adjunct faculty member.

“I had such a positive experience working with the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, and I was excited to have another chance to work with that office. Getting to recruit future Catamounts is a privilege and an honor. I could write 10-plus pages on why I think every student in the world should attend WCU. Living so far from Western makes it hard to feel connected to this place I love so much. I’m so thankful to have this opportunity to feel connected again.”

Harris said that she toured six colleges when she was trying to decide where to go to school, and staff at only two of the institutions seemed genuinely excited about the prospective students who were visiting.

“At WCU, you are wanted. I’ll never forget coming for the February 2018 Open House and how welcome the admissions staff made me feel,” she said. “I could talk all day about WCU’s incredible programs, faculty and residence life; however, the most notable thing about Western from my personal perspective is that this is a university full of people who genuinely love this school and want others to love it too. It’s obvious that Western Carolina University is a place filled with so much love.”

Fuquay-Varina resident Nicholas Milo, a 2015 graduate of WCU with a bachelor’s degree in marketing, said that he joined the Cat Eyes Club to be able to share his college experiences with prospective students while also staying up-to-date on all the changes and new initiatives at his alma mater.

“There have been many times where I’ve met prospective students in public who see me wearing a WCU sweatshirt or hat and tell me they are considering attending WCU. Now I have the ability and knowledge of the admissions process to share with them and better help them make an informed decision about where they want to attend school,” said Milo, a senior operations analyst for a global financial technology firm.

“Attending WCU took me out of my comfort zone by moving to an entirely different environment during my four years here. Growing up in the big city most of my life, I never got to experience the outdoors like I did at WCU. You truly learn to appreciate all the beauty that Western North Carolina has to offer. While in high school, I toured quite a few colleges; however, the moment I stepped foot on WCU’s campus, I knew immediately this is where I wanted to attend.”

Milo said he would be sharing his thoughts with prospective students on why they should enroll at WCU, starting with its location in the scenic mountains of WNC.

“While WCU isn’t a small school by any means, it is still able to provide a small community feel with small class sizes and building relationships with your professors on a personal level. At WCU, you’re not just a number to your professors. They truly care about your academic progress and want to see you succeed in your time here,” he said.

Alumni also participated in “new student send-off events” held throughout July at various locations across North Carolina as well as in Atlanta. The events, typically hosted by alumni or WCU leadership volunteers at their homes or places of business, are designed to celebrate members of the incoming freshmen class and their families and to welcome them into the Catamount community.

Alumni in attendance share their perspectives on what it means to be a Catamount and memories of their time at WCU. Incoming students learn the “WCU Alma Mater” and “Catamount Fight Song” and receive an athletics rally towel and “Alum from Day 1” sticker.

This year’s send-offs were held in Asheville, Winston-Salem, Raleigh, Charlotte, Atlanta and on campus in Cullowhee. A total of approximately 400 people attended the events.

The Office of Undergraduate Admissions is seeking additional members of the Cat Eyes Club and will host online interest meetings from noon until 1 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month through December 2024.

For additional information or answers to questions, contact Heather Hill at hchill@wcu.edu.