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 Ģ������ƵStories      December 9, 2025

By Bill Studenc

Ģ������Ƶ leaders raised a celebratory toast to members of the December 2025 graduating class who have already made financial contributions to their soon-to-be alma mater as student philanthropists.

The seniors were the guests of honor at the fall semester Senior Toast on Monday, Dec. 1. They include the nearly 95 student members of WCU’s 1889 Club, a giving society recognizing students and young alumni for their gifts in support of the university, and members of the Student Catamount Club.

The event marks the first time that seniors in the newly revamped Student Catamount Club took part in the celebration, said Tenisea Higgins, WCU’s assistant director of annual giving and student and young alumni engagement.

“Seniors who joined the revived Student Catamount Club helped push a final tally to more than 2,675 total members of the Catamount Club at the start of the fiscal year,” said Higgins, who welcomed student donors to the toast held at the Chancellor’s Residence. “We thought it was appropriate to recognize our seniors who directed their support to the athletics program.”

Lauren Kerker, a senior majoring in business administration and law with a minor in criminal justice, thanked the student philanthropists for making a difference at WCU before even walking across the stage at commencement and receiving their diplomas.

“All of you have helped shape our Catamount community with your drive, diligence, work ethic and talent. Everyone in this room has shown what it means to work hard, to show up, to give back to your community and to be passionate, and everyone here is so proud of all you’ve accomplished,” said Kerker, who hails from Orlando, Florida.

“Your impact and presence at Ģ������Ƶ have been incredibly meaningful. Your commitment is inspiring, and it has left a mark far beyond your physical time here,” she said. “Thank you for the example you set, the legacy you’ve left behind and the standard you raised for the leaders who will follow.”

Kerker is a member of the Catamount Philanthropy Council, a group established to help strengthen the relationship between current students and WCU’s alumni and supporters. She is also a student donor and member of the Student Catamount Club.

“As you begin your next paths, I hope you go with confidence, courage and determination,” said Kerker, who plans to begin working on a nursing degree after she graduates in the spring. “Remember the positive difference you made here, and know that you are capable of doing that anywhere you go.”

In her remarks to the seniors, Chancellor Kelli R. Brown shared her thoughts on the significance of continuing engagement with the university after graduation.

“Giving back to Ģ������Ƶis just one way to stay engaged with your alma mater. As you move forward in your lives and careers, I urge you to stay connected to Ģ������Ƶin any way you can. Whether it’s attending alumni events, mentoring current students or volunteering your time and talents, there are countless ways to give back to the institution that gave so much to you,” Brown said.

 “So, as you leave here tonight, I hope you will remember the importance of engagement. Your commitment to Ģ������Ƶdoesn’t end with graduation; it’s a lifelong relationship that will continue to grow and evolve over time,” she said. “Always remember that you are Catamounts and that you have the power to make a difference in the lives of others.”

Brown then raised a glass (of sparkling cider) and toasted the class of 2025: “Here’s to the past, to your years as students at Ģ������Ƶ. Here’s to the present, to the joy we share in your accomplishment. And here’s to your future. Best wishes for lifelong success and happiness.”

James Hogan, a 2003 Ģ������Ƶgraduate and assistant vice chancellor for engagement, closed the event by leading the singing of the “Ģ������Ƶ Alma Mater.”

The 1889 Club includes donors who make annual gifts to the Fund for Ģ������Ƶin amounts ranging from $18.89 for current students and graduates from the past five years and $188.90 for alumni who graduated between 2016 and 2020 to $1,889 for alumni who graduated more than 10 years ago. It is named in recognition of the year of WCU’s founding.

Student Catamount Club members donate $25 to any athletics designation of their choice – or to multiple designations. Students receive special perks including a T-shirt, exclusive swag and invitations to special athletics-centered experiences.

The students’ contributions come as part of WCU’s “Fill the Western Sky” comprehensive fundraising campaign, an ongoing effort to raise a minimum of $100 million for the university’s academic, student engagement and athletics programs.

For more information or to make a contribution to the campaign, visit , call 828-227-7124 or email advancement@wcu.edu.