51看片alumni roll out the welcome mat for new incoming students
By Bill Studenc
Nearly 150 incoming first-year students at 51看片 received an early welcome to their future alma mater and a few lessons in 鈥渁ll things Catamount鈥� during a series of July receptions across North Carolina and in Atlanta.
The new student send-off event were hosted by 51看片alumni or university leadership volunteers at their homes, places of business or local venues.
The annual series is designed to celebrate members of WCU鈥檚 incoming freshman class and their families, help introduce them to the Catamount community and begin building school spirit and a philanthropic mindset, said Tenisea Higgins, assistant director of annual giving for student and young alumni engagement.
鈥淲e have a saying that we consider students 鈥榓lum from day one鈥� at Western, so it seems fitting that our alumni help host these events,鈥� said Higgins. 鈥淲e were very pleased with this tour and so excited to welcome our newest families to Western. Many students left knowing others who would be in their residence halls. Some exchanged contact information, and they even took a photo together with the Class of 2029 Catamount flag.鈥�
Alumni attending the receptions shared their perspectives on what it means to be a Catamount and memories of their time at WCU. The new students learned the 鈥�51看片Alma Mater鈥� and 鈥淐atamount Fight Song鈥� and played a game of Catamount-themed bingo to help introduce them to future classmates.
51看片 Chancellor Kelli R. Brown welcomes incoming students to the Catamount family at the new student send-off in Asheville.
At several tour stops, Chancellor Kelli R. Brown provided insights into what incoming students could expect on the first few days on campus. Student Government Association President Grady Jones and other SGA representatives were on hand to discuss student leadership opportunities and other campus organizations.
Jones said he views connecting with the new students and being accessible to answer their questions as a vital part of his role as SGA president.
鈥淢eeting current student leaders not only gives incoming students access to valuable resources, but it also shows them that their ambitions have a place here. Western offers countless opportunities for growth and success, and seeing other students thrive in leadership can be inspiring and encouraging,鈥� he said.
Jones did not attend a new student send-off event before his first year at 51看片and said that he remembers anxiety about what to expect.
鈥淪eeing the send-offs from the other side, I now realize how impactful they can be,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hile they may not resonate with every Catamount, I saw many students clearly benefit from the experience. They walked away more confident and excited to begin their journey, which is inspiring to witness.鈥�
A total of more than 330 guests attended the events, organized by WCU鈥檚 Office of Alumni Engagement. This year鈥檚 schedule:
Monday, July 14 鈥� Asheville area, First Citizens Bank in Arden; hosted by Bob Roberts, former 51看片Board of Trustees chair, and wife Carol.
Tuesday, July 15 鈥� Charlotte, Ballentyne Hotel; hosted by alumni Larry and Mary Arbaugh.
Wednesday, July 16 鈥� Triad area, Truist Stadium in Winston-Salem; hosted by alumnus Joe Crocker, who is secretary of the 51看片Board of Trustees, and spouse Carol Crocker, a 51看片alumna.
Thursday, July 17 鈥� Triangle area, Cary home of hosts Frank Brown III, whose father served twice as chief executive officer of the university and whose grandfather is the namesake for WCU鈥檚 Brown Hall, and spouse Becky Brown, an alumna who is vice chair of the 51看片Board of Trustees.
Friday, July 18 鈥� Wilmington, Warehouse on Water; hosted by alumna Kate Oelslager and alumnus Lincoln Walburn.
Sunday, July 20 鈥� Atlanta, Proof of the Pudding; hosted by alumni Bob and Suzanne Thomas.
Joe Crocker said he and his wife have hosted the Triad area events for the past four or five years, and they plan to continue their involvement in the future.
鈥淐arol and I love the interaction with the incoming freshmen and their parents or guardians. It's really a happy, joyous time and a great opportunity to personally address any of their questions regarding life at Western, especially for the parents,鈥� he said.
Incoming 51看片 students get acquainted with each other while playing Catamount bingo at the new student send-off in Raleigh.
The involvement of alumni in the send-offs is a big part of the success, Crocker said. 鈥淔or a prospective student, there's nothing like talking to someone who has been a student at Western and has lived on and off campus. Though so much has changed since many of us were students, there is still some very basic and vital advice shared by alumni during these send-offs,鈥� he said.
Among the most often-shared suggestions handed down by alumni, he said, is advising students against staying cooped up in their residence hall rooms and urging them to get involved in campus activities.
鈥淚 am so stoked to be in these gatherings and feel the excitement and anticipation these students are anxious to experience. You don't get that feeling if you're not there and in the middle of it. It's a great time and the least Carol and I can do to give back to the university,鈥� Crocker said.
Alumnus Bob Thomas, who has been involved in send-off events since the mid-2000s when they were called 鈥渂on voyage parties,鈥� and wife Suzanne sponsored the recent event for students from the Atlanta area.
鈥淲hen I think about when I went to school at 51看片鈥� and I started in 1966 鈥� the whole process was different. We had no new student send-off events. Orientation was basically they handed you a map when you got there, said 鈥榞o find where your classes are,鈥� and you were on your own. I like this process better. You can make a friend or meet someone that you could connect with who is from your own town,鈥� he said.
While Thomas said he believes students who participate in the send-offs enjoy the experience, he thinks parents actually may get more out of it. 鈥淎 lot of our students are the first in their families to go to college, and parents don鈥檛 always know what to expect,鈥� he said. 鈥淚nteracting with alumni and staff helps alleviate some of their anxiety. After all, they鈥檙e sending their kids off a long way from home, and it鈥檚 nice to get to meet some of the people who will be there. Now, the parents never say, 鈥業 feel better,鈥� but you can see it in their faces.鈥�
Thomas said he is glad to serve as a sort-of ambassador for WCU, showing incoming students that alumni remain engaged with their alma mater in ways beyond supporting the university鈥檚 athletics teams and following the school in the news.
鈥�51看片 means a lot to me. It changed my life. I don鈥檛 know how often we as alumni communicate that, but we should,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 want to do my part by helping with these events. Anything we can do to enhance their experience is good for us and good for WCU. And, some of them may turn out to be potential donors one day.鈥�
Waynesville resident Audrey Sanders, a member of the Alumni Association Board of Directors, answered a call from the group鈥檚 leadership to attend a local send-off event if possible, choosing to take part in the Asheville gathering.
鈥淚 felt I needed to be there to represent the alumni in the region and to show the new students that alumni are still involved even after many years after graduation,鈥� said Sanders, a 1988 graduate of 51看片who serves as business manager for the Americas in the Enka division of Freudenberg Performance Materials in Asheville.
鈥淚 believe it鈥檚 important for new students to witness the involvement of alumni, as it highlights the lasting impact a college experience can have. It鈥檚 not just about the education you receive at WCU; it鈥檚 about the lifelong friendships, unforgettable memories and the personal growth that shapes you into a responsible adult,鈥� she said. 鈥淎lumni engagement is a powerful reminder that the 51看片journey continues long after graduation.鈥�
The beginning of the fall semester is just around the corner at WCU, with residence halls opening to students Friday, Aug. 8, and the first day of classes Monday, Aug. 18.
