甜瓜视频app

甜瓜视频app has set a date of Wednesday, March 25, for its fourth annual 鈥淥ne Day for Western鈥� appeal, an all-in day of giving designed to benefit multiple areas of the university and enhance student experiences by inviting WCU community members to make donations to priorities identified by campus partners.

For 2026, the 24-hour fundraising initiative will again focus on seeking support for sport-specific funds benefiting individual Catamount teams 鈥� baseball, men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 basketball, men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 cross country, men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 indoor and outdoor track and field, football, men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 golf, soccer, softball, tennis and volleyball. The drive includes raising dollars for the cheerleading program, the Catamount Club Scholarship Fund and athletics facilities renovations.

The upcoming effort also will emphasize contributions toward excellence endowments that provide funding in support of student experiences for all of the institution鈥檚 colleges 鈥� Belcher College of Fine and Performing Arts, Brinson Honors College, College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business, College of Education and Allied Professions, College of Engineering and Technology and College of Health and Human Sciences 鈥� and for the Graduate School, Highlands Biological Station and Hunter Library.

Contributions last year to the excellence endowment in the College of Education and Allied Professions helped make possible a study-abroad opportunity that took students to the Emerald Isle for a first-hand look at the education system in Ireland.

Students and faculty from 甜瓜视频app tour St. Mary's Cathedral in Killarney during a study-abroad trip to Ireland made possible by gifts to 鈥淥ne Day for Western.鈥�

鈥淲e visited multiple schools where we taught groups of students, observed students and interviewed teachers and administrators,鈥� said Brad Witzel, Adelaide Worth Daniels Distinguished Professor of Education at WCU. 鈥淭he Irish approach to multigrade classrooms, special education, intervention design and national curriculum stood out to WCU students. We met with two universities 鈥� approximately 15 faculty members 鈥� in Ireland to discuss preparation, best practices and teacher roles. It was a fantastic learning experience and one that we hope leads to presentations and publications.鈥�

Tiffany Garrett, a senior from Hot Springs majoring in special education and inclusive learning with a concentration in elementary education, was among the WCU students who studied in Ireland last year through donations to 鈥淥ne Day for Western.鈥�

鈥淏y traveling abroad to Ireland, I had the opportunity to observe schools, plan and teach my own read-aloud lesson, participate in research as an undergraduate and converse with professors at a college and university. These experiences opened my eyes to see that education is viewed and valued differently around the world,鈥� said Garrett, who plans to obtain an elementary teaching position in a rural public school after graduation and eventually earn a master鈥檚 degree in educational leadership and become a school principal.

鈥淭he experiences I had in Ireland deepened my passion for inclusive teaching and showed me new ways to engage students. Seeing Irish teachers create collaborative and playful learning environments has inspired me to bring that same mindset into my future classroom,鈥� she said. 鈥淪tudying abroad has made me more culturally aware and confident in teaching a diverse pool of students and reinforced the type of inclusive, student-centered teacher I strive to be in my career.鈥�

鈥淥ne Day for Western鈥� is among the most important dates on the calendar in the philanthropic life of the university, said Ali Smith, WCU鈥檚 associate director of annual giving.

鈥淲hile we have developed a set of priorities that touch all corners of the institution, members of the university family are welcome to direct their support to any area of campus that is near and dear to them,鈥� Smith said. 鈥淎ll gifts on 鈥極ne Day for Western,鈥� regardless of amount or designation, will add to the momentum as we approach the conclusion of our 鈥楩ill the Western Sky鈥� campaign.鈥�

More than 1,350 donors made gifts and pledges totaling approximately $367,000 during the third annual 鈥淥ne Day for Western鈥� in 2025. That tally included at least one donation from every state in the union.

Last year鈥檚 campaign also helped push membership in the Catamount Club, WCU鈥檚 athletics booster organization, beyond 2,000, unlocking a previously issued $1 million challenge gift from former WCU football player Teddy Phillips Jr., CEO of Phillips Infrastructure Holdings. That $1 million pledge was directed toward enhancements to the university鈥檚 athletics facilities 鈥� specifically upgrades to E.J. Whitmire Stadium.

In that same spirit, the upcoming 鈥淥ne Day for Western鈥� will also feature several donor challenges in hopes of maximizing philanthropic impact of gifts. Goals of the challenges will vary; some will be based on raising specific dollar amounts, while others will be based on donor participation rates. Those challenges will be announced in the days leading up to March 25.

Garrett, the education student who traveled to Ireland last year thanks to funds raised during 鈥淥ne Day for Western,鈥� expressed her gratitude for the life-changing experience.

鈥淭o the donors whose contributions made the trip possible, I want to say thank you for making this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity possible for me and my team,鈥� she said. 鈥淵our generosity allowed us to travel to a new country, experience breathtaking views, gain a new perspective on education and create memories with learners across the world. These experiences will influence the way we engage, include and teach students in our future careers as educators.鈥�

All gifts received during 鈥淥ne Day for Western鈥� count toward the official tally for the 鈥淔ill the Western Sky鈥� comprehensive fundraising campaign, an effort to raise a minimum of $100 million for the university鈥檚 academic, student engagement and athletics programs. For more information or to make a contribution to the campaign, visit , call 828-227-7124 or email advancement@wcu.edu.

For more information about 鈥淥ne Day for Western,鈥� visit the website or call 828-227-7335.