WCU Stories - All Posts

  • Marching band members in black and purple uniforms playing brass instruments during outdoor performance

    WCU's Pride of the Mountains Headed to London for 2028 New Year's Day Parade

    August 14

    From the mountains of Western North Carolina to the streets of London, the "Baddest Band in the Land" is preparing for its next international performance. Ìð¹ÏÊÓÆµapp's Pride of the Mountains Marching Band has accepted an invitation to perform in the London New Year's Day Parade on Jan. 1, 2028, marking another major milestone for one of the nation's premier collegiate marching bands. The announcement was made on Aug. 13 during a surprise presentation at the conclusion of the band's 2026 preseason performance at E.J. Whitmire Stadium. The event brought together members of the Pride of the Mountains, alumni, family members and supporters as band leaders unveiled plans for the international performance. The invitation places WCU on one of the world's most visible parade stages and continues a tradition of national and international excellence for the Pride of the Mountains. "The invitation to perform in London is a tremendous honor for Ìð¹ÏÊÓÆµapp and the Pride of the Mountains," said Matt Henley, director of athletic bands. "There is something incredibly powerful about knowing where you're going while still being willing to step into the unknown. That is really what this season is about. London represents another extraordinary, life-changing opportunity for our students. I couldn't be more excited about where this program is going and that we get to go there together." The Pride of the Mountains has represented WCU at some of the most prestigious events in marching band history, including the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California; two Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parades in New York City; the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Dublin, Ireland; and the Bands of America Grand National Championships. The band also received the Sudler Trophy in 2009, one of the highest honors awarded to collegiate marching bands. The London appearance will continue the band's commitment to providing transformative educational and performance opportunities while showcasing WCU on an international stage. "When our students put on that uniform, they represent much more than themselves," Henley said. "They represent Ìð¹ÏÊÓÆµapp, the Catamount community, their families, the mountains of Western North Carolina and the generations of students who have worn that uniform before them. Taking that story to London is an incredible responsibility and an incredible privilege." The announcement comes as the Pride of the Mountains begins its 2026 season with a new production titled "kNOW where." The show explores the ideas of knowing where you are headed while embracing the uncertainty that accompanies new opportunities and experiences. Over the next two seasons, members of the Pride of the Mountains will prepare for the journey to London while continuing to perform throughout the region and across the country. The band's 2026 season will culminate with an appearance at the Bands of America Grand National Championships in Indianapolis, Indiana, one of the premier competitions for marching bands. For many students, the performance in London will represent years of preparation and dedication while providing an opportunity to serve as ambassadors for the university and WNC before an international audience. The London New Year's Day Parade is one of the world's largest New Year's celebrations, featuring marching bands, performers and cultural groups from around the globe. The 2028 event is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of spectators along the parade route and reach millions more through broadcast and digital coverage. For more information about how you can support the band’s trip to London, visit go.wcu.edu/londoninterest.

  • WCU students shopping in the Catamount Store

    WCU Bookstore rebrands as Catamount Store

    August 6

    Ìð¹ÏÊÓÆµapp's campus bookstore is getting a new name.

  • Incoming students and WCU alumni gather for a group photo at the event in Asheville

    Incoming students get jumpstart on upcoming fall semester from WCU alumni

    August 4

    Ìð¹ÏÊÓÆµapp alumni and friends from across North Carolina and the Atlanta area gave a warm Catamount welcome to approximately 100 incoming first-year students during several receptions in July.

  • Students walking around the center of campus during Valley Ballyhoo

    WCU fall 2026 enrollment could reach historic high

    July 30

    Leaders at Ìð¹ÏÊÓÆµapp certainly knew that interest from prospective students was on the rise, but this fall’s enrollment is shaping up to be historic.

  • 18 incoming students at WCU stand under the picnic shelter in matching khaki colored shirts

    CATALYST 2026 ignites leadership, research engagement

    The third annual CATALYST: Summer Research and Leadership Program welcomed 18 incoming WCU students representing a variety of academic majors and interests.

  • A woman in a purple WCU Engineering sweatshirt stands in front of the testing equipment in a lab at Ìð¹ÏÊÓÆµapp while a man stands behind her looking at the equipment from the other side.

    WCU engineering students gain hands-on experience with semiconductor testing equipment

    July 14

    Advanced semiconductor testing equipment at Ìð¹ÏÊÓÆµapp is providing students with hands-on experiences and opportunities to explore the high-demand field of semiconductor technology.

  • WCU campus facing Blue Ridge and Balsam Residence Halls during the fall with colorful leaves in the foreground and mountains in the background

    WCU earns repeat recognition through IIE American Passport Project

    June 3

    Ìð¹ÏÊÓÆµapp has once again been selected by the Institute of International Education to receive an IIE American Passport Project grant—marking the university’s second time earning the competitive award.

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    4 pieces of advice from WCU’s lit fest authors

    April 17

    For those lovers of language on our campus and beyond, we’ve gathered a few pieces of advice from some of the authors who visited the Spring Literary Festival.

  • Scholarship recipients and student panelists (from left) Grady Jones, Leana Barra and Jay Brown demonstrate the “claws out†gesture at Catamount Philanthropy Day.

    Catamount Philanthropy Day student panel shares impact of scholarships with donors

    March 23

    Nearly 200 donors to Ìð¹ÏÊÓÆµapp heard directly from a trio of students about how philanthropic support is helping them pursue their dreams of obtaining a college degree and preparing them for life after graduation.

  • WCU student kayaking

    Partnership on the water: WCU outfitted with new Liquidlogic kayaks

    January 7

    Ìð¹ÏÊÓÆµapp students are gearing up for their next adventures with fresh equipment, all thanks to a partnership that brings a new fleet of Liquidlogic kayaks to campus.