Alumni Award Nominations

Each year, 91女神 honors alumni whose achievements, leadership, and service reflect the very best of the Catamount spirit. These awards recognize graduates who are making an impact in their fields, their communities, and beyond鈥攚hile staying connected to WCU along the way.

Know someone who fits the bill? Submit a nomination and help us celebrate alumni who continue to lead, inspire, and give back.

Heather Smith accepts her award

Submit A Nomination
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.
Mike Crawford '87 speaks

Submit A Nomination
The Alumni Award for Professional Achievement may be awarded annually to no more than one 91女神 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. 
Inaugural Catamount 10

Submit A Nomination
The Catamount 10 recognizes established and emerging leaders among Western Carolina University鈥檚 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 鈥15

Professional Achievement Award - Mike Crawford 鈥87

Young Alumnus Award - Jamie Van Pelt 鈥12, MPA 鈥14

Distinguished Service Award - Brad Bradshaw 鈥76

Academic Achievement Award - Brenda Gorsuch 鈥77, M.A. Ed. 鈥80

Professional Achievement Award - Debbie Wright 鈥77

Young Alumnus Award - Jonah Slentz 鈥21

Distinguished Service Award - Bob Roberts

Academic Achievement Award - Dr. James 鈥淎llen鈥 Queen 鈥72, M.Ed. 鈥73

Professional Achievement Award 鈥 Mr. Paul Johnson 鈥79

Young Alumni Award 鈥 Mr. Joey Blake 鈥12

Distinguished Service Award 鈥 Mr. Marty Ramsey 鈥85

Distinguished Service Award - Mr. Phil Haire and Dr. Connie Haire M.A. Ed. 鈥84

Academic Achievement Award - Dr. Kathryn Rentz 鈥75, M.A. 鈥77, PhD 鈥86 

Professional Achievement Award - Ms. Laura Leatherwood 鈥93, MSHR 鈥96, PhD 鈥07 

Young Alumni Award - Mr. Aaron Marshall 鈥14 

Distinguished Service Award - Mr. Bryant Kinney 鈥82

Academic Achievement Award 鈥 Dr. Jason E. Bond 鈥 '93

Professional Achievement Award 鈥 Dr. Carol Burton 鈥 '87, '89

Young Alumni Award 鈥 Mr. Jake Robinson 鈥 '10

Distinguished Service Award 鈥 Mr. Bob Folsom 鈥 '66, '68

 

2010

Dr. Carol Fowler Durham 鈥76
Sarah L. Lowell 鈥84, 鈥89
Dr. Elizabeth D. Wall-Bassett 鈥00
Chuck Wooten 鈥73

2011

Dr. Cecil L. Adderley, III 鈥85
G. Dale Sims 鈥78
Bobbi Baker James 鈥01
Dr. Myron L. Coulter

2012

Dr. Ronald "Ron" G. Morrow 鈥78
Gaither M. Keener, Jr. 鈥72
Dr. Wade G. Livingston 鈥04 MEd 鈥06
Bob Buckner 鈥67

 

 

2013

Dr. Johnny L. Carson 鈥71
Wesley "Wes" R. Elingburg 鈥78
Manteo Mitchell 鈥09 MAEd 鈥12
Joan MacNeill

2014

Dr. Martha J. Powell 鈥69
Robert W. "Bob" Thomas 鈥70
Jarrett Frazier 鈥12
Robert Edwards 鈥77

2015

Brandon A. Robinson 鈥05 MA 鈥10
Michell Hicks 鈥87
Dr. Keith M. Ramsey 鈥73
Teresa Holland Williams

 

 

2016

Mitchell Hutchings 鈥07
Dr. Richard Starnes 鈥92 MA 鈥94
CAPT Alan Parham 鈥87
Terry Welch

2017

Young Alumni- David Joy 鈥07, MA 鈥09
Professional Achievement- Todd Vasos 鈥83
Academic Achievement- Dr. Irene Hamrick 鈥91
Distinguished Service- Ed Broadwell

2018

Academic Achievement 鈥 Dr. Elizabeth Ransom 鈥 94, B.A.
Professional Achievement 鈥  Mr. Kenny Messer 鈥 86, B.S.
Young Alumni  鈥 Dr. Mary Beth Fallin Hunzaker 鈥 10, B.A.
Distinguished Service  鈥 Mrs. Susan Belcher

2019

Academic Achievement 鈥 Mr. Matthew Hickey 鈥 88, B.S.
Professional Achievement  鈥 Ms. Danita Johnson 鈥 05, B.S.
Young Alumni  鈥 Mr. Tyler McKenzie 鈥 13, B.A.
Distinguished Service   鈥 Mrs. Pat Kaemmerling 鈥 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

Young Alumni- David Joy 鈥07, MA 鈥09
Professional Achievement- Todd Vasos 鈥83
Academic Achievement- Dr. Irene Hamrick 鈥91
Distinguished Service- Ed Broadwell

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.