Alumni Award Nominations

Each year, ĢƵ 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—while staying connected to ĢƵalong 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 ĢƵand 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 ĢƵ 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 ĢƵand 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’s 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 ĢƵand as graduates, were and are active participants in the life of the university.

Past Award Winners

 

Academic Achievement Award - Heather Smith ’15

Professional Achievement Award - Mike Crawford ’87

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

Distinguished Service Award - Brad Bradshaw ’76

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

Professional Achievement Award - Debbie Wright ’77

Young Alumnus Award - Jonah Slentz ’21

Distinguished Service Award - Bob Roberts

Academic Achievement Award - Dr. James “Allen” Queen ’72, M.Ed. ’73

Professional Achievement Award – Mr. Paul Johnson ’79

Young Alumni Award – Mr. Joey Blake ’12

Distinguished Service Award – Mr. Marty Ramsey ’85

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

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

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

Young Alumni Award - Mr. Aaron Marshall ’14 

Distinguished Service Award - Mr. Bryant Kinney ‘82

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

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

Young Alumni Award – Mr. Jake Robinson – '10

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

 

2010

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

2011

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

2012

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

 

 

2013

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

2014

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

2015

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

 

 

2016

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

2017

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

2018

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

2019

Academic Achievement – Mr. Matthew Hickey – 88, B.S.
Professional Achievement  – Ms. Danita Johnson – 05, B.S.
Young Alumni  – Mr. Tyler McKenzie – 13, B.A.
Distinguished Service   – Mrs. Pat Kaemmerling – 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 ’07, MA ‘09
Professional Achievement- Todd Vasos ‘83
Academic Achievement- Dr. Irene Hamrick ‘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 ĢƵAlumni 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.