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WCU Stories

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Giving Tuesday 2020

Thank you for making GivingTuesday a success this year in support of the Center for Service Learning and Community Engagement and the Whee Are One Fund! We are so proud of our community. When we come together, we can truly make a difference.  

Chancellor commencement

COVID-19 spikes force WCU to shift from in-person to virtual commencements for December

WCU is canceling the modified in-person commencement ceremonies scheduled for Dec. 10-13 and shifting to a series of virtual ceremonies.  

Bill Student

WCU legend in promoting the institution is retiring

WCU’s chief communications officer, Bill Studenc, will retire in January after more than 32 years of employment at the university.  

Forsyth Building

Alumni from Business Administration and Law Program elected as district judges across state

When the job description includes the words “your honor,” you know the role is one of importance. That certainly is the case for three alumni elected to state district court seats in the recent 2020 election.   

a screen shot from the play featuring a set with a bed

A Ghost of Christmas Past

WCU's School of Stage and Screen presents "A Ghost of Christmas Past," a radio drama experience. Co-creators and assistant professors Ashlee Wasmund and Kristen Hedberg describe this version as “a festive ghost story and cautionary tale, features original lyrics and compositions with a resilient femme touch”.   

Rewalk technology

Walk This Way

Thanks to a robotic-assisted physical therapy method underway at a clinic housed in the Health and Human Sciences Building at Western Carolina University, a local man is getting back on his feet - literally. The innovative device is one in a series of products by ReWalk, a medical device company that designs and develops mobility products for individuals with lower limb disabilities. While there are other manufacturers and systems, WCU is one of only two ReWalk training facilities in North Carolina.  

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Restoring the Roan

How Red Spruce Responds to Forest Canopy Openings at Roan Mountain, NC. Thomas Hennessey, a current Master of Science in Biology student, was awarded first place in the 2020 Three Minute Thesis Competition for his presentation.   

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Social and Emotional Learning Built into Morning Meetings

Amy Childers, a current student in the Specialist in School Psychology program research "Social and Emotional Learning Built into an Elementary School Morning Meeting,” modified social and emotional learning lessons to fit in the morning meeting time in order to provide more consistent instruction in these areas. The goal is that this regular time of social and emotional learning instruction will lead to higher academic achievement, fewer behavioral issues, and an increase in classroom community and cohesion.   

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Optimizing Interprofessional Education in Health Care

Morgan Pillsbury, a current Doctor of Physical Therapy student, showcases research on "Optimizing Interprofessional Education in Health Care Professions” which highlights the importance of an educational session’s impact on interprofessional learning between Doctor of Physical Therapy and Physical Therapy Assistant students in Western NC.  

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