- Community & Alumni Engagement
- Alumni Association
- Get Involved
- Alumni Award Nominations
Alumni Award Nominations
From left, Jamie Van Pelt; Stacey Miller, director of alumni engagement; Chancellor Kelli R. Brown; Brad Bradshaw; and Heather Smith. Back, left to right, Mike Crawford; John Connet, president of the WCU alumni association board of directors; and Ben Pendry, vice chancellor for advancement
2025 Nominations Are Now Open!
Academic Achievement Award
The Alumni Award for Academic Achievement is given annually to a Western Carolina University alumnus/alumna who has attained extraordinary distinction and success in academe and has demonstrated exceptional leadership. The award recipient should have achieved state, regional or national recognition. Preference will be given to those who, while enrolled at WCU and as a graduate, were/are active participants in the life of the university.
Professional Achievement Award
The Alumni Award for Professional Achievement may be awarded annually to no more than one 泫圖弝けapp alumnus/alumna who has attained extraordinary distinction and success in a career field outside of academe and who has demonstrated exceptional and sustained community leadership. The award recipient should have achieved state, regional, or national recognition. Preference will be given to those who, while enrolled at WCU and as a graduate, were/are active participants in the life of the university.
The Catamount 10 Award
The Catamount 10 recognizes established and emerging leaders among Western Carolina Universitys young alumni. Up to ten alumni may be selected annually for this honor. A candidate must have completed his or her degree between 2014 and 2024. Nominees must be less than 40 years of age, attained a level of distinction in their chosen field of work, demonstrated a commitment to the service of others, and shown continued engagement with the university. Preference will be given to those who, while enrolled at WCU and as graduates, were and are active participants in the life of the university.
Past Award Winners
Academic Achievement Award - Heather Smith 15
Professional Achievement Award - Mike Crawford 87
Young Alumnus Award - Jamie Van Pelt 12, MPA 14
Distinguished Service Award - Brad Bradshaw 76
Academic Achievement Award - Brenda Gorsuch 77, M.A. Ed. 80
Professional Achievement Award - Debbie Wright 77
Young Alumnus Award - Jonah Slentz 21
Distinguished Service Award - Bob Roberts
Academic Achievement Award - Dr. James Allen Queen 72, M.Ed. 73
Professional Achievement Award Mr. Paul Johnson 79
Young Alumni Award Mr. Joey Blake 12
Distinguished Service Award Mr. Marty Ramsey 85
Distinguished Service Award - Mr. Phil Haire and Dr. Connie Haire M.A. Ed. 84
Academic Achievement Award - Dr. Kathryn Rentz 75, M.A. 77, PhD 86
Professional Achievement Award - Ms. Laura Leatherwood 93, MSHR 96, PhD 07
Young Alumni Award - Mr. Aaron Marshall 14
Distinguished Service Award - Mr. Bryant Kinney 82
Academic Achievement Award Dr. Jason E. Bond '93
Professional Achievement Award Dr. Carol Burton '87, '89
Young Alumni Award Mr. Jake Robinson '10
Distinguished Service Award Mr. Bob Folsom '66, '68
2010
Dr. Carol Fowler Durham 76
Sarah L. Lowell 84, 89
Dr. Elizabeth D. Wall-Bassett 00
Chuck Wooten 73
2011
Dr. Cecil L. Adderley, III 85
G. Dale Sims 78
Bobbi Baker James 01
Dr. Myron L. Coulter
2012
Dr. Ronald "Ron" G. Morrow 78
Gaither M. Keener, Jr. 72
Dr. Wade G. Livingston 04 MEd 06
Bob Buckner 67
2013
Dr. Johnny L. Carson 71
Wesley "Wes" R. Elingburg 78
Manteo Mitchell 09 MAEd 12
Joan MacNeill
2014
Dr. Martha J. Powell 69
Robert W. "Bob" Thomas 70
Jarrett Frazier 12
Robert Edwards 77
2015
Brandon A. Robinson 05 MA 10
Michell Hicks 87
Dr. Keith M. Ramsey 73
Teresa Holland Williams
2016
Mitchell Hutchings 07
Dr. Richard Starnes 92 MA 94
CAPT Alan Parham 87
Terry Welch
2017
Young Alumni- David Joy 07, MA 09
Professional Achievement- Todd Vasos 83
Academic Achievement- Dr. Irene Hamrick 91
Distinguished Service- Ed Broadwell
2018
Academic Achievement Dr. Elizabeth Ransom 94, B.A.
Professional Achievement Mr. Kenny Messer 86, B.S.
Young Alumni Dr. Mary Beth Fallin Hunzaker 10, B.A.
Distinguished Service Mrs. Susan Belcher
2019
Academic Achievement Mr. Matthew Hickey 88, B.S.
Professional Achievement Ms. Danita Johnson 05, B.S.
Young Alumni Mr. Tyler McKenzie 13, B.A.
Distinguished Service Mrs. Pat Kaemmerling 71, B.S.
2000
Dr. James Breece '67
David Dingler '69
Eric Powell '91
Berry Mauney '68 & Betty Allen '68
2001
G. Gordon Greenwood '69
Harold Dean Crisp '85
Brad Hoover '00
O'Brien Brooks, Jr. '67
2002
Dr. Thomas Meigs '90
Gerald Kiser '69
Kimberley Patrizio '92
2003
Dr. Gerald D. Austin '64 & '69
K. Ray Bailey '70
Brian S. Edlin '97
Joe Crocker '74
2004
Loretta Pate Dodgen '72
Wanda Nelson Fowler '80
Tracy K. Bridges '98
Curtis L. Wellmon '58
2005
Dr. Jim Causby '68
William R. Stallings '61
Emily M. Spangler '02
Phillip D. Walker '71
2006
Dr. Frances Owl Smith '83
Kenneth M. Hughes '74
Jeanne L. Jolly '01
Katherine Abbott-Beam '67
2007
Dr. Tony Johnson '70
Dr. David B. Morgan '92
Kevin R. Vasquez '79
Andrew P. Dunn '97
Steve Warren '80
2008
Dr. H. Lee Cheek, Jr. '83
W. Barry Smith '67
Amy C. Clifton '98
Brank '42 and Juanita '39 Proffitt
2009
Dr. Jeffrey G. Ryan '83
James W. Lanning '80
Errol W. Kilgore '99
Genevieve W. Burda
1990
Harvey L. Haynes '55
Stephen W. Woody
1991
Arnold Isaacs '59
Sue Ellen Bridgers '76
1992
R. Mitchell Hull '72
Jesse T. Flake '52
1993
Tony L. White '69
Dr. Wilma Cosper
1994
The Honorable James A. Beaty, Jr. '71
1995
The Honorable Mark Martin '85
Jimmy Cooper
1996
Chief Joyce Dugan '74
Doug Reed
1997
Nora Lynn Finch '70
William Mc Donald '63
Irene Mace Hamrick '91
George Weekley
1998
Dr. Gurney E. Chambers '61
Mable Carlyle
Dr. Matthew Hickey '88
Orville Coward '46
1999
Dr. Floyd H. Chilton '80
William McIntyre '76
Dr. Kefyn M. Catley '91
Jim Moore
1980
Lt. Col. Harry Joe Rhinehart '71
E. J. Whitmire
1981
Dr. Ernest Fitzgerald '47
Lillian Hirt '39
1982
Dr. Robert M. Failing '51
Dr. Walter J. Durr
1983
Dr. Paul R. Burton '54
W. C. Hennessee
1984
Lt. Col. William J. Brooks, III '66
Reg Moody '59
1985
William W. Peek '40
Clinton F. Dodson
1986
Dr. Guy Burchfiel '50
Dr. Taft Botner
1987
Wayne Tolleson '78
James B. Childress
1988
Dr. Marvin M. Cole '58
Dr. Mary Smallwood Wayte
1989
Dr. Homer C. Jamison '42
1970
Dr. Brank Proffitt '42
Jack L. McCracken '50
1971
L. D. Hyde '63
Genella Barton Allison '38
1972
Dr. Wallace Hyde '49
Dr. Howard Aldmon '53
1973
Dr. William Britt '57
Keith R. Hundley '58
1974
Dr. Garrett A. Smathers '55
Raymond K. Rhodes '43
1975
Charles L. West '51
Hugh Battle, Jr. 48
Dr. Henry L. Cox '10
1976
Raymond H. Fentriss, Jr. '56
Linda Israel Rader '58
1977
Dr. Ben Battle '47
1978
C. Edwin Allman '49
James H. Glenn
1979
Dr. Robert Wykle '63
Liston B. Ramsey
1960
Dr. Lawrence H. Stewart '43
Lt. Col. Ray S. McClung attended 1938-39
1961
Dr. Charles R. Holloman, Sr. '39
Conrad Hooper '48
1962
T. Ray Gibbs '26
Walter Carringer attended '47, '50
1963
Mary Cordell Nesbitt '36
Thomas Lane Mallonee '41
1964
Arnold J. Hyde '38
Dr. Adelio J. Montanari '55
1965
Dr. James Gerald Eller '43
Bob Terrell '51
1966
Herbert L. Hyde '51
Dr. Pauline Pressley Collins '42
1967
James David Bristol '59
Thomas L. Lewis '57
1968
James F. Gudger '48
George E. Gibbs '33
1969
Grady Galloway '41
Hugh Tomberlin '38
1937
Felix Eugene Alley 1896
1938
W. E. Bird '15
Dr. Katharine Cox '17
1939
Dr. Harold Stevens Clark '15
1948
E. H. Stillwell 1899
1949
Jonathan H. Woody '14
1956
John Worth McDevitt '38
T. C. Roberson '24
1957
David H. Brown, Jr. '34
James Orville Terrell '32
1958
Dr. Mary Dare Haithcock '32
Dr. Helen Ammon Moore
Selection Process
The Alumni Engagement committee of the WCU Alumni Board of Directors will review all
nominations for Alumni Awards and select the recipient. The award will be presented
to the recipient during Homecoming Weekend on November 8th.
Nomination forms must be renewed or updated every five years to remain in the file
for consideration.
Alumni Spotlights
Meet some of your fellow alumni, see where their lives have taken them and discover what they love about 泫圖弝けapp.
Read the Blog