Spring 2007 Y T I S ERN CAROLINA UNIVER st MILLION DOLLARS Campaign Impacts Students’ Lives THE MAGAZINE OF WE Catamount catcher Blake Murphy, a junior from Waynesville who passed up a chance to play professionally after being drafted by THE MAGAZINE OF WES T ERN CAROLINA UNIVERSI T Y the New York Yankees, makes the tag at home in a game against Connecticut. Murphy helped lead Western’s baseball team to impressive early season wins over three nationally ranked opponents—Clemson, Georgia Tech and N.C. State from the ACC—and a victory over SEC The Magazine of Western Carolina University is foe Georgia. The bat Cats continue their march produced by the Office of Public Relations in the Division of Advancement and External Affairs toward the Southern Conference tournament, for alumni, faculty, staff, friends and students of which gets under way May 22 in Charleston, Western Carolina University. S.C. For game and ticket information, visit catamountsports.com. WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY Chancellor John W. Bardo Vice Chancellor Clifton B. Metcalf Advancement and External Affairs Associate Vice Chancellor Leila Tvedt Public Relations Managing Editor Bill Studenc Associate Editor Teresa Killian Art Director Rubae Sander Chief Photographer Mark Haskett ’87 Contributing Writers Phil Cauley ’83 MS ’90 Jess Clarke Jessica Cregger David Driver Randall Holcombe Daniel Hooker ’01 Leila Tvedt Dianne Yount ’79 Class Notes Editor Dianne Yount ’79 Designer John Balentine Contributing Photographer Ashley T. Evans Production Manager Loretta R. Adams ’80 THE MAGAZINE OF WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY SPRING 2007 SPRING 2007 THE MAGAZINE OF WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY to change things for the betterment of government, which allocates funding advocating for issues such as new everybody, Andrus said. “That’s where for about 50 organizations on campus student parking regulations, boosting we are starting from,” he said. The and helps keep students informed about community service and expanding program is designed to help students issues such as tuition, parking, food Internet access in residence hall rooms. see their goals as individuals, then work services and financial aid. He’s excited “We disagreed on student government together for a common purpose, such about WE LEAD. “Student leadership but had to work together, and that was as developing a community service on campus is growing exponentially,” a great education for me in leadership,” activity, and ultimately apply their said Grasty, who is majoring in Brock said. “If it wasn’t for that, I leadership skills to benefit society. “We emergency management and criminal wouldn’t be where I am today.” might ask a student to consider, ‘What justice. “We are seeing more and Another legislator who honed his would it be like to be the greatest bio- more freshmen come in eager to step leadership skills as an undergraduate environmental engineer that ever came up to a leadership role.” at WCU is N.C. Sen. Tom Apodaca ’80 out of Western?’” Young alumni who quickly became who is now deputy Republican leader. In the classroom, students take community leaders after graduation, A former member of Western’s board interactive leadership classes offered such as N.C. Sen. Andrew Brock ’98, of trustees, Apodaca says experiences through the College of Education and are excited to see Western expand a at Western helped prepare him for the Allied Profession’s human resources program designed to help more students future. “Jobs as a resident assistant department that teach leadership theory realize early in their college career their and head resident were very valuable and ethics. The courses require so much leadership potential. Brock remembered in learning to work with others and time and commitment that students wanting to get involved at WCU as a deal with numerous situations,” said have asked university leaders to consider student but not feeling ready, at first, Apodaca. “Secondly, working as an offering a minor in leadership, and to be “out front.” That changed as he orientation leader proved to be very Andrus expects a leadership minor to be accepted larger and larger leadership beneficial in enhancing my people skills.” in place as early as spring 2008. roles in student government. He began Outside the classroom, WE LEAD offers workshops, journaling, coaching, a N.C. Sen. Andrew Brock ’98 speaks at a Restore America Rally that drew more than 12,000 people to the legislature. residential living-learning community for freshmen, and mentoring experiences that link incoming students with campus leaders. Members of the freshman community create their own governing structure, such as offices of president and vice president or committees with equal representation. They work together on group activities, including community service. In addition, WE LEAD offers a Students in Western’s increasingly Wellness. The 17 presentations she gave theories she learns in class. leadership certificate and “co-curricular” comprehensive leadership program for C.L.A.W. in one semester helped That’s exactly what Bart Andrus, transcripts to document students' test theories from the classroom in one her gain confidence, and today she’s associate director for leadership extra-curricular achievements of the largest laboratories on campus a resident assistant and leader in her programs, wants the growing number and participation. —the campus itself. They take the sorority, continually and consciously of participants to experience. “You don’t The program continues to expand opportunities as freshmen, assigned applying to her life the leadership get the whole picture of leadership by as WE LEAD charters a new local to observe “leadership” at reading a book. You have to chapter of Omicron Delta Kappa, a university events including apply it, and participants in nationally recognized leadership honor (above) Cody Grasty, a senior involved in WCU's leadership program, presides over a concerts, exhibits, Women’s our program do that right society, this spring. “The chapter brings Student Government Association meeting. Center activities, guest lectures, “ You don’t get the whole picture here at Western. They gain together individuals who, in all phases of career services, club meetings confidence and sharpen collegiate life, help model the outcome (right) N.C. Sen. Tom Apodaca ’80 speaks and football games. of leadership by reading a skills that will help them as of the institution,” Andrus said. In the to a group of local business people. (photo “I saw leadership was all graduates to be leaders in their fall, WE LEAD will roll out new student- courtesy Hendersonville Times-News) around me—even within a book. You have to apply it, and communities,” Andrus said. facilitated leadership workshops. team—no matter what I was The concept of WE LEAD, Cody Grasty, a senior from Maggie doing,” said Bethany Hartshorn, which stands for Western Valley, said the skills he’s fine-tuning in a junior nursing major from participants in our program do Encourages Leadership leadership classes and as president of Hendersonville. Hartshorn came that right here at Western. Education and Development, is the Student Government Association away inspired to get involved ” to help students see leadership will help him pursue a career in city with organizations such as —Bart Andrus as a process of involving other or county management. Grasty Campus Leaders Advocating people toward a common goal practices building consensus in student THE MAGAZINE OF WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY SPRING 2007 SPRING 2007 THE MAGAZINE OF WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY Among those who have benefited from Western’s graduate education programs are, from left, school principal Sherri Arrington MAEd ’82 EdS ’04, community college administrator Van Wilson ’83 MPA ’91 and banker Catherine Sams MBA ’05. Alumni Emphasize Value DIFFERENCE of Graduate Education By PHIL CAULEY ’83 MS ’90 education and research opportunities that enhance their lives is a wonderful way to give back to the university. When we get and the lives of others,” Higgins said. great students, the value of everyone’s degree is enhanced.” Help wanted. Minimum education required: master’s degree. College made it clear I would likely remain at the technician Many alumni are enhancing lives across North Carolina. New graduate programs such as nurse anesthesia, social Increasingly, phrases like this adorn job postings and career level in my field without an advanced degree,” said Mark Hall “WCU has an excellent school administration program, and the work, sport management, teaching English as a second language, Web site listings throughout the nation. And increasingly, more MS ’05, project manager/regional vegetation ecologist for training is very beneficial to the job,” said Sherri Arrington and the educational doctorate position Western to prepare more students are turning to Western to earn those advanced degrees. Appalachian Trail NatureServe in Arlington, Va. “He also said MAEd ’82 EdS ’04, principal at Hazelwood Elementary School graduates who can be responsive to the needs of the community, Fueled in part by the development of several new it would be good exploration into the many aspects of biology. in Haywood County. Arrington is not sure she would have begun region and state. Online delivery of graduate programs such as graduate programs such as physical therapy and construction After finishing my graduate research, I actually felt like a without support. “Balancing between a full-time job, being a construction management, entrepreneurship, human resources, management, enrollment in WCU’s Graduate School has biologist capable of acting independently and making informed mom and wife, and going back to earn another degree was very nurse educator, project management and school administration increased by 58 percent since the fall of 2000. And the growth decisions,” Hall said. challenging, but Keith Wyatt MAEd ’76 EdS ’87, my principal, increases the likelihood that place-bound students can go the of online courses has sparked a dramatic spike in the number Catherine Sams MBA ’05 echoes that sentiment.