Countdown to Cullowhee: 3 Days

What about… Hit snooze once or twice… maybe three times, but be ready to hit the ground running. New professors and classes promise exciting opportunities to try something different, pick up a new skill, or get to understand the world from another view. Wake up, get out there, and decide to succeed as you chase after your future.  

Countdown to Cullowhee: 4 Days

A morning breeze, a good book, sunshine coming through the trees, and the fountain splashing in the distance…If you’re looking for a moment of relaxation on campus or need somewhere to catch-up on your studies, tie up a hammock, sit back, and take it all in. Beauty and tranquility surround you.  

Countdown to Cullowhee: 5 Days

The Cullowhee Valley is once again filling with the sounds of the Baddest Band in the Land. As the award-winning Pride of the Mountains marching band prepares for their return to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, you can bet you’ll hear the tick of a metronome and beating drums anywhere you turn.  

Cullowhee Countdown!  

Countdown to Cullowhee: 6 Days

When you see campus, there is only one way to describe what you feel. You don’t know how you know, but you know. It could be the sense of place you feel or the wonder of nature that surrounds you or the connections you’ve forged with forever friends and mentors, but only one thought crosses your mind. This…is home.  

Countdown to Cullowhee: 7 Days

Just as sure as the sun rises, it sets. While you’re at WCU, make the most of the time you have. Soak in the wonder and make the most of your experience. When you look back on your time here you don’t want to think of what you wish you had done, but reminisce about the memories you made while you were here and all the many things you accomplished.  

Countdown to Cullowhee: 8 Days

Break out your purple and gold and get ready to cheer on the Catamounts! Another exciting year of athletics is upon us. From homecoming and tailgating, to events for every sport, you’ll never run out of chances to cheer on our student-athletes. Get to know the fight song…you’re going to need it!  

Countdown to Cullowhee: 9 Days

Whether you want to catch a fish in the Tuckasegee River, bike a mountain trail, or set up camp under the night sky, outdoor adventure isn’t hard to find. Basecamp Cullowhee makes it easy to get any equipment you need or join in on a group excursion. With so much to choose from, all you’re going to have to do is decide what’s next.  

Countdown to Cullowhee: 10 Days

The Blue Ridge Parkway weaves its way through our beautiful mountains, connecting the Great Smoky Mountains National Park all the way to Virginia. Entrances close to campus mean adventure is never too far away. The parkway’s 469 miles promise breathtaking views, hiking, camping, waterfalls, and so much more. If you ever feel like you need a moment to reflect, take a break, or just explore, the parkway is your go-to.  

Dreams of Hosting a Latinx Student Leadership Conference Come True

This time a year ago, Ricardo Nazario-Colón, Western Carolina University’s chief diversity officer, and his graduate assistant, Kevin Trudell, took 10 WCU students to the 28th annual National Latino Collegiate Conference at the University of Albany. As they were returning to Cullowhee, traveling on I-81 south in the middle of the night, someone blurted out, “We need to have our own conference.” The van erupted into cheers. For the rest of the ride, the students began brainstorming and dishing out assignments.