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Wanda Herren works with high school students on computers at SMHS

Retired Jackson County educator endows scholarship for ĢƵmath education students

Public school students in Western North Carolina’s eighth educational district who plan to major in mathematics education at ĢƵ soon will be eligible for scholarship assistance thanks to a financial commitment from longtime math educator Wanda Stephens Herren of Cullowhee.  

Mekeila Santiago

Student spotlight: ĢƵsenior Mekeila Santiago stays involved through time on campus

Mekeila Santiago remembers her mom hounding her to get involved before she even stepped foot inside a classroom at ĢƵ.  

Keendy and Hardin with potable energy model

Electrical engineering students create a portable energy model for Duke Energy

Ben Griffith and Hardin Kennedy, two seniors majoring in electrical engineering at ĢƵ, have created a portable educational model for Duke Energy.   

Diane Styers

Restoring through research: professors navigate floodwaters post-Helene

As Hurricane Helene slowed and sat over Western North Carolina, dumping record amounts of rain, flooding began to devastate the region. In Asheville, the French Broad River rose nearly 25 feet higher than its normal water levels. The water carried cars downstream, leveled buildings, and picked up debris that mixed and churned in the river. This once-in-a-thousand-year weather event has now become the third-deadliest hurricane in U.S. history.  

Coach Wike with ĢƵmen's golf team in 2002

Wike Scholarship to aid ĢƵfootball players, golfers seeking careers in education

A scholarship fund honoring the memories of a longtime ĢƵ coach and his spouse, also a lifelong educator, will soon provide financial assistance to Catamount student-athletes on the football and men’s and women’s golf teams.  

Dennis and Kelli Brown

ĢƵchancellor, ‘first dude’ back the ‘Fill the Western Sky’ campaign with a $4 million estate gift

When ĢƵ Chancellor Kelli R. Brown unveiled plans for a comprehensive fundraising campaign shortly after her arrival in 2019, she prioritized seeking philanthropic support for enhancements to the overall student experience, including academics, athletics, and community and global engagement.  

Aaron Speyer

Young alumni spotlight: Speyer reaching for the stars as systems engineer

ĢƵ alumnus Aaron Speyer doesn’t remember much about his trip to the NASA Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia when he was six years old — but he remembers that initial fascination with space.  

Gretchen Dietz working with engineering students

ĢƵlaunches engineering discovery program with new director Gretchen Dietz

Upbeat music plays as students walk into an introductory engineering class with ĢƵ faculty member Gretchen Dietz, who smiles as she checks in with students: “How’s everyone doing? Any fun facts to share? Today, we are 3D CAD modeling. Does anyone already know how? Let’s use this knowledge to help your classmates and learn from each other!”  

Current cat eyes design

The hills have eyes

A fresh set of eyes finds a new generation of Catamounts. More than 30 years after Paws’ billboard debut, designers at ĢƵ continue to update the much beloved symbol off U.S. 23.