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WCU Stories

Bora Karayaka and students

WCU’s Karayaka, Yu receive $45K grant for research

Western Carolina University College of Engineering and Technology professor Bora Karayaka knew it was a shot in the dark — but that shot ended up paying off.  

Project Discovery students during a workshop

Project Discovery earns $175K grant to help expand resources

Project Discovery director JennieV. Sorrells has seen her program impact the lives of tons of students. The project, hosted by Western Carolina University, has given secondary students the opportunity to explore careers and colleges and partake in adventure-based learning.  

Fans help fill the truck for Helene relief

Donors provide emergency support to WCU students, faculty, staff affected by Helene

Although the Western Carolina University campus in Cullowhee avoided any significant damage from the fury of Hurricane Helene as it tore through Western North Carolina in late September, that does not mean that all students, faculty and staff emerged unscathed.  

AWE graduates

Project AWE graduates six from first cohort

Randa Gardner wrapped her arms around Beth Harmer, an assistant professor of social work inside the College of Health and Human Sciences at Western Carolina University, with emotions flowing out. All day, she was nervous, and all her life, she hadn’t graduated from anything.   

WCU soccer

GivingTuesday ’24 to focus on increasing Catamount Club membership, athletics facilities

Western Carolina University will be ramping up support for the Catamount athletics program during this year’s edition of GivingTuesday, with a series of challenge gifts designed to help expand membership in the Catamount Club and increase funding for athletics facilities.  

Isaac Jennings with SVA members

WCU nursing student, veteran Isaac Jennings shares his higher education journey

Looking back on his time before coming to Western Carolina University, nursing student Isaac Jennings, a sophomore from Franklin, was always told the most important thing was contacting his chosen college’s military services director.  

Cole Johnson demonstrating glass blowing

WCU professor, alumnus bring glass blowing demo to campus

Timm Muth, an assistant professor of practice in the College of Engineering and Technology at Western Carolina University, looks at glass differently than most. Glass is more than just the material that makes windows.  

WCU alumni award winners

Alumni return to WCU for annual homecoming celebration

Jamie Van Pelt’s drive from Florida to Western Carolina University isn’t the most riveting one. It’s several hours of rural highways, twists and turns and infamous Atlanta traffic, but when Van Pelt crests the hill south of Clayton, Georgia, he smiles.   

Alumni award winners

WCU honors four prominent alumni at Homecoming 2024

Western Carolina University paused Saturday, Nov. 2, to honor four prominent alumni – a former automotive industry executive who has supported Catamount athletics for decades, an accounting professional with extensive family ties to WCU, an award-winning educator and an up-and-coming public relations practitioner.   

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