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 Ģ������ƵStories      July 8, 2025

By Bill Studenc

A collection of Catamounts recently toured Europe’s Iberian Peninsula from Lisbon on Portugal’s Atlantic coast to the municipalities of Merida and Olivenza in western Spain as part of Ģ������Ƶ’s second international Catamount Adventures excursion.

During the 10-day journey, about 20 alumni and friends of the university sampled native cuisine and learned about the importance of the marble, cork and olive oil industries to the region’s economy. The voyagers toured historic sites including ornate chapels and medieval structures; visited pottery studios, town markets and farms; prepared a traditional Portuguese meal; and experienced culture and art such as Portugal’s famed fado music.

Using the village of Vila Viçosa as home base for the majority of the stay, the group took guided day trips through the Alentejo region, with stops in Evora, Monsaraz, Estremoz and Elva and an excursion across the border into Spain. The final two days were spent in the capital of Lisbon, with guided tours across the city and a free day of exploration.

Throughout the June 15-24 trip, Lori Oxford, Ģ������Ƶprofessor of Spanish, and husband Alberto Centeno-Pulido, instructor of world languages at the Asheville School, provided insight into the language, culture and history of Portugal and Spain – along with assistance in overcoming some of the language barriers.

A native of Spain, Centeno-Pulido also engaged in some good-natured back-and-forth banter with the Portuguese travel director, who described the relationship between the two neighboring nations as akin to siblings or cousins who bicker one minute and are sociable the next.

And, perhaps most importantly, new friendships were forged and long-lasting bonds were renewed by a band of disparate travelers who shared at least one thing in common – an affinity for WCU.

For alumna Rebecca Schlosser, the trip represented her first travel-abroad opportunity in the wake of a deeply personal loss and an opportunity for some much-needed healing.

“Being able to join the Catamount Adventures tour to Portugal was very meaningful to me. I felt wonderful support from my Ģ������Ƶfamily after the passing of my husband a little over a year ago,” said Schlosser, a resident of Greensboro whose spouse, Michael, died in February 2024.

A 1973 graduate of Ģ������Ƶwith a bachelor’s degree in education, Schlosser found herself fielding numerous texts and messages throughout the trip from her grandchildren imploring her to send them photographs to illustrate she was having a good time on the trip. She graciously fulfilled those requests – often poolside from the hotel in Vila Viçosa after a full day of sight-seeing.

“The entire trip was fabulous. I thought everything was well planned, providing a taste of Portuguese cultures in rural areas and within small towns and cities. The farewell dinner and the fado performance were my highlights. The hotels were exceptional and the tour bus extremely nice,” she said. “I will definitely participate in a future Ģ������Ƶtrip. I feel comfortable and thoroughly enjoyed traveling with the Ģ������Ƶfamily. I look forward to the next trip.”

Sylva resident Tammy Fertenbaugh, a retired educator who earned her bachelor’s degree in special education in 1982 and master’s degree in special education in 1984, both from WCU, said her husband initially encouraged her to go on the Ģ������Ƶadventure. “He thought it would be good for me to meet other alumni while participating in a university-driven event. I agreed, of course,” Fertenbaugh said.

Among the highlights for Fertenbaugh were visits to a marble quarry, winery, olive orchard, and cork production facility. “I also was in awe of the medieval walls surrounding the village and could imagine how the fortress protected citizens of the communities. I loved the shopping as well, especially such beautiful pieces of pottery and cork products,” she said.

But the most beautiful part of the trip was meeting so many members of the Ģ������Ƶfamily, Fertenbaugh said.

“All of us shared a common thread; we were all Catamounts. We automatically had topics to discuss because most of our memories of Ģ������Ƶwere similar. It was apparent that we all loved our alma mater. There’s no place like Cullowhee,” she said. “I did not anticipate the camaraderie shared by the members of the group. Shared activities led to the development of friendships, just like my time at Western.”

Fellow first-time Catamount Adventurer Janet-Marie Stallings, a 1980 graduate of WCU with a bachelor’s degree in nursing, agreed. “I loved that the trip was through WCU,” said Stallings, a former member of the Ģ������ƵAlumni Association Board of Directors.

“I knew we would all have Ģ������Ƶin common from the start, it was a smaller sized group, and we would get to know each other better and quicker. The camaraderie we developed was so great. I enjoyed each person in our group. It was great to have the chancellor and other representatives from the school along to hear about the current Cullowhee happenings. I am so glad to have so many new friends up there and am excited to come tour and visit,” she said.

A retired nurse from Charlotte who was able to travel with a former colleague, Stallings had high praise for the trip organizers, itinerary, travel director, tour guides and meals, describing them as first-class.

“I was continually pleasantly surprised, with expectations exceeded,” she said. “I had never been on a wholly guided trip, and I loved not having to do any of the planning and logistics. I would love to participate again. I am most interested in Europe, but I am open. There’s also a lot in this country I’d like to see such as New England, for example,” Stallings said.

Pat Kaemmerling, a 1971 Ģ������Ƶmiddle grades education graduate from Peachtree City, Georgia, was among the contingent who had traveled to Ireland last year for the inaugural Catamount Adventures excursion.

“We so enjoyed the trip to Ireland with the Ģ������Ƶfamily. We thought AHI had done a good job with the hotels and itinerary, so we jumped on board,” said Kaemmerling, chief financial officer with Access Computers. “I loved learning about the cork production and all the products made from cork, and the marble quarry was extremely interesting. But overall, it was the history of Portugal that we found so very interesting, such as the explorers who ventured into the unknown and opened up many routes to other countries.”

While she enjoyed visiting Portugal, Kaemmerling said she had to give the nod to Ireland as her favorite destination (so far), in part because of higher temperatures topping 100 degrees Fahrenheit on the Iberian Peninsula and because of the Pride of the Mountains Marching Band performance in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Dublin on the last day of the first trip.

“It is wonderful to travel with people you know and have a history with – and those that you are meeting for the first time but have common history to share. It makes the trip so much more enjoyable,” she said.

Melinda Ward, a 1993 graduate of WCU’s environmental health program and acting public works director for the city of Eden, was eager to make another Catamount Adventures excursion with her husband.

“We enjoyed our trip to Ireland with the original Ģ������Ƶgroup, so we were hoping to explore a new country in a similar fashion,” Ward said. “The main thing was reconnecting with everyone from the last trip. I enjoyed getting to know everyone last time, but this time we really got close. As for the trip itself, I never expected so many Roman ruins. They were fascinating. I also really enjoyed the cooking class. It was the most fun we had.”

Ward said she hopes to participate in future trips through her alma mater.

 “I have wanted to travel more but have been unsure where to start. Going with the group provides valuable experience, learning opportunities I wouldn’t have otherwise and new friends to share experiences with,” she said. “I have always wanted to stay connected with Ģ������Ƶalumni, but the ones I know are all scattered. These trips have provided a chance to connect with other alumni who share similar experiences.”

Connections also were made between the American travelers and the Portuguese people  – despite language difference and through the universal language of music. Late one night, James Hogan, assistant vice chancellor for engagement, lured a handful of intrepid night owls to a local festival in Vila Viçosa where a band was performing an array of pop hits from the 1980s.

Fittingly, the group’s penultimate song was “We are the World,” which found the WCU visitors swaying alongside the town residents, including one of the trip’s tour guides from earlier in the week, and singing along with the message of hope for the planet and its inhabitants.

Plans are now in the works for the next Catamount Adventures journey. For more information about the travel series, contact Janice Feichter, advancement events manager, at jfeichter@wcu.edu or 828-227-2051, or visit the website give.wcu.edu/adventure.