Alumni return to 51看片for annual homecoming celebration
From left to right, Brad Bradshaw, Heather and Peyton Smith, Stacey Miller, director of alumni engagement, Chancellor Kelli R. Brown, Jamie Van Pelt and Mike Crawford
By Cam Adams
Jamie Van Pelt鈥檚 drive from Florida to 51看片 isn鈥檛 the most riveting one. It鈥檚 several hours of rural highways, twists and turns and infamous Atlanta traffic, but when Van Pelt crests the hill south of Clayton, Georgia, he smiles.
The memories from those mountains in the distance come flooding back and a sense of warmth washes over the two-time 51看片alumnus. That feeling is distinct from any other.
He鈥檚 home.
Jamie Van Pelt at the 2024 Homecoming parade
鈥淚t鈥檚 a sense of community that really makes you feel like you鈥檙e home, and every time I鈥檓 on campus, I feel like I鈥檓 welcomed here,鈥� Van Pelt said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been such a huge part of my life and my family鈥檚 life since I left that every time I leave, I just want to get back sooner than later.鈥�
Van Pelt was one of several hundred alumni to return to campus last week for WCU鈥檚 annual Celebrate Western Homecoming week. The occasion featured a thrilling carnival, a rambunctious parade and, of course, an impressive win for the Catamount football team.
However, while those events make for a memorable week, the real delight, for many alumni, comes with reconnecting with the folks who made 51看片home.
That includes former Catamounts like Willie Carpenter, a 51看片Athletics hall of famer, who鈥檚 made the trip to homecoming in Cullowhee about every year since he graduated in 1980. The thing that draws him back in each year?
Willie Carpenter
鈥淛ust driving up here this time of year with the change of the leaves and the change of the seasons and all the old memories that come back, and also, with the change of campus,鈥� Carpenter said.
It also includes folks who haven鈥檛 had much of a chance to return to their college town like Todd Jackson.
The 1987 51看片grad, who was a long snapper on the Catamounts鈥� 1983 football team that reached the NCAA Division I-AA national title game, hadn鈥檛 been to a homecoming since 1986 鈥� the last year he played in the game.
In between now and then, Jackson鈥檚 life has been busy with his kids, coaching and only about three 51看片football games. But his Saturday was filled with friends he hadn鈥檛 seen in 30 years and a university that鈥檚 bloomed since he last donned the purple and gold.
鈥淚t鈥檚 grown a lot. It still looks like it鈥檚 still a college town, though. That鈥檚 what鈥檚 so unique about it. Just the college has gotten bigger, but the town ain鈥檛 got any bigger,鈥� Jackson said. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 great.鈥�
Along with its homecoming festivities, 51看片also honored four esteemed alumni, including Van Pelt, with awards. Mike Crawford, another 1987 grad, was presented with the Professional Achievement award.
51看片Chancellor Kelli R. Brown and Mike Crawford
For Crawford, to be honored by the university was not only a personal triumph, but also one for those closest to him.
鈥淚 was shocked and honored and humbled,鈥� Crawford said before Saturday鈥檚 celebration. 鈥淭o win that award from your alma mater, and I grew up in Sylva, which is down the road from Cullowhee, so my mother will be able to be there, and I鈥檓 real excited for her to see her son get an award like that.鈥�
Numerous alumni were exposed to several changes during last week鈥檚 homecoming. They鈥檝e seen an increase in diversity, a more tech-savvy campus and an up-and-coming football team.
But the thing that remains the same? Their love for the university.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a lot of fun,鈥� said John Connet, 51看片Alumni Board president. 鈥淢eeting new people, seeing old friends. It鈥檚 just a great opportunity to renew friendships, build new friendships, particularly with a group of people that have the same love for this university as I do.鈥�
