And, goal: WNC soccer players train with Olympics in mind
Jacob Flannick & Holly Kays • Correspondent/Staff writer
When Scott Cline graduated from Swain High School in the mid-1990s, the community had barely begun talking about forming a school soccer team. And while the sport is gaining popularity in Swain County, football is still the highest platform available to student athletes.
SCC charts course for major Macon campus expansion
Southwestern Community College leaders unveiled a master plan last month outlining a major expansion of its campus in Macon County.
The campus would double in size from 20 to 40 acres. The master plan has several phases, but the first phase calls for a 38,000-square-foot science building with 15 classrooms and a lab. The first phase also calls for a new law enforcement training center and indoor firing range.
WCU holds commencement for graduates
The fall semester came to a close at Western Carolina University on Dec. 14 as commencement exercises were held in Ramsey Regional Activity Center to recognize the university’s newest graduating class and a group of WCU alumni who were awarded degrees in August.
Faculty, student representatives at WCU frustrated by Raleigh
Faculty and student representatives at Western Carolina University expressed concern last week over recent legislative actions in Raleigh.
Campus visits ‘vital’ to Western Carolina recruiting efforts
Jacob Flannick • SMN Correspondent
Hundreds of high school students from across the state and beyond toured the campus of Western Carolina University last Saturday morning, trying to envision whether their next step might lead to Cullowhee in what has emerged as a crucial part of the university’s recruiting efforts.
Cullowhee planning initiative out of the gate at last
People who live and work in Cullowhee are being invited to share their opinions on growth and planning with a task force that is trying to crystallize a collective vision for the college-centric community.
More students prompt new construction at Pisgah
Pisgah High School in Canton finally has the money for some much-needed renovations, which have been years in the making.
The Haywood County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution allowing the county finance officer to borrow up to $1.7 million for the high school project.
Swain school officials take swift action against football player for racial insults on Facebook
A Swain County High School junior varsity football player was suspended from school for 10 days and kicked off the team for racially derogatory comments made to a member of the Cherokee JV football team.
College students must jump through new hoops to vote where they go to school
The new voter identification requirement won’t likely affect North Carolinians who have put down roots, but more transient populations including college students may find the new regulations cumbersome.
College students in North Carolina will have to make an extra effort if they want to vote in their college town — though it won’t be an impossible feat.
WCU makes big strides in freshmen retention rate
They made it a top priority, but Western Carolina University administrators were still a bit surprised when they learned they succeeded in raising the freshmen retention rate by a significant margin.