蘑菇短视频

The 蘑菇短视频 Division of Advancement recently bid farewell to several members of its top three volunteer boards that provide oversight and advice in support of the institution鈥檚 philanthropic, athletic and engagement activities.

During respective meetings held throughout the spring and early summer, the 蘑菇短视频Foundation Board of Directors, Alumni Association Board of Directors Catamount Club Board of Directors recognized the contributions of members whose terms come to a close this year.

Ben Pendry, 蘑菇短视频vice chancellor for advancement, expressed appreciation to the outgoing board members for their advocacy and guidance through their service.

鈥淭hese board members have played important roles in supporting the mission of our university 鈥� providing the transformative power of higher education to our deserving students and helping meet the needs of the Western North Carolina region this institution was founded to serve,鈥� Pendry said.

The departing board members have been key to the success of the ongoing 鈥淔ill the Western Sky鈥� fundraising campaign, an effort to raise a minimum of $100 million for the university鈥檚 academic, student engagement and athletics programs, he said.

鈥淰olunteer engagement is critical to the university鈥檚 ability to effectively increase philanthropic support. Our boards lead that work, and their investment is invaluable,鈥� Pendry said. 鈥淎nd we look forward to their continuing advocacy on behalf of the campaign as we near its conclusion later this year.鈥�

Departing Foundation Board of Directors members Hoyt Almond (second from left) and Ken Martin (second right) are recognized by (from left Michael Crawford, Foundation Board chair; 蘑菇短视频Chancellor Kelli R. Brown; and Ben Pendry, vice chancellor for advancement.

The 蘑菇短视频 Foundation Board of Directors provides oversight and strategic guidance to support the university鈥檚 mission through philanthropy. The board helps advance 蘑菇短视频by fostering donor relationships, creating scholarships and securing resources for students, faculty and programs.

Two departing members were honored during the annual presentation of the Foundation Board Medallion held at the board鈥檚 final meeting of the fiscal year on Friday, April 17:

* Hoyt Almond, a 1969 graduate of 蘑菇短视频with a bachelor's degree in business administration who has served as vice chair of the board and chair of its finance and audit committee. A native of Locust, Almond is a retired banking executive who went on to found a sports and corporate brand licensing company.

* Ken Martin, a 1980 graduate of 蘑菇短视频with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in industrial technology and a former Catamount student-athlete who competed as a member of the track-and-field team. A resident of Knoxville, Tennessee, Martin is manager of shipping operations in Tennessee for Arconic (formerly known as Alcoa).

Outgoing Alumni Association Board of Directors chairman John Connet (center) is recognized for his service by Stacey Miller (left), senior director of alumni engagement, and James Hogan (right), assistant vice chancellor for engagement.

The 蘑菇短视频Alumni Association Board of Directors strengthens connections between the university and its alumni by fostering engagement, supporting university initiatives and celebrating Catamount achievements. Board members serve as ambassadors, offering guidance and helping advance the mission of the university through alumni involvement.

The Alumni Association Board honored six departing members at its final meeting of the fiscal year, held June 26:

* Beverly Barr, a 1972 graduate of 蘑菇短视频with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in education. A retired teacher at White Oak High School, Barr also holds a master鈥檚 degree from East Carolina University. A resident of Jacksonville, she now is an independent distributor for an essential oils company and former president of Alpha Delta Kappa professional educators sorority.

* Eddie Burks, a 1983 radio and television graduate. Burks worked at WWCU-FM and was a member of the Alpha Epsilon Rho broadcast fraternity and Residence Hall Council. A former cable advertising account executive, he owns a video agency and has served on the Asheboro City Council since 2007. He also earned a master鈥檚 degree at UNC-Greensboro.

* Darrin Hemphill, a 1993 management graduate. Principal at the Garland (Texas) Alternative Education Center, Hemphill holds a superintendent certification from the University of Texas-Tyler, a master's degree in educational leadership from Texas Woman鈥檚 University and a doctorate in organizational leadership from Abilene Christian University.

* George Hudson, a 1988 graduate of 蘑菇短视频with a degree in marketing. A resident of Mint Hill, Hudson began his career in banking before switching to law enforcement, serving as a  detective with the Charlotte Police Department and retiring after 30 years. A former in-school suspension coordinator, he now works as a safety officer at Charlotte Lab School.

* Kate Oelslager, a 2006 graduate of 蘑菇短视频with a degree in communication. Currently a communication specialist with a coastal North Carolina health care agency, Oelslager formerly worked as communications specialist for New Hanover County. A resident of Wilmington, she is a former staff member in the Office of Admissions at WCU.

* Jason Whaley, a 2003 alumnus with a degree in computer information systems. An Asheville software engineer, he was an offensive lineman on the football team and is one of only two Catamounts selected three times for College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honors. He earned a master's degree from UNC-Charlotte in 2008.

The board also honored the service of outgoing chairman John Connet, who earned his bachelor's degree in political science at 蘑菇短视频in 1992 and serves as Hendersonville鈥檚 city manager.

Outgoing Catamount Club Board of Directors member Dale Sims (center) is acknowledged by Brittany Kicklighter, WCU鈥檚 interim associate athletics director for development and Catamount Club director (left); and Eddie Wells, board president.

The Catamount Club Board of Directors supports WCU鈥檚 athletics program by promoting philanthropic investment in student-athlete scholarships and facility enhancements. Board members serve as advocates and advisers, helping grow membership, increase engagement and strengthen the overall impact of the Catamount Club across the university community.

The final buzzer sounded at the end of the fiscal year for the terms of five members who were recognized at the board鈥檚 meeting Friday, April 24:

* Jordan Howell Dunn, a 2005 alumna with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in sociology and a four-year letter winner on the women鈥檚 soccer team that won WCU鈥檚 first-ever women鈥檚 soccer regular-season Southern Conference championship in 2001. A resident of Smyrna, Georgia, Dunn is a physical education teacher and coach at the Lovett School in Atlanta.

 * Joel Fleming, a 1998 graduate with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in sociology who was a member of the 1995-96 team that won the Southern Conference Men鈥檚 Basketball Tournament and played in the NCAA tournament. A resident of Asheville, Fleming has spent his professional career in pharmaceutical and biotechnology sales.

* Leslie Greer, who earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in business administration from WCU in 1990. A resident of Duluth, Georgia, Greer is a supervisory examiner for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, a position she has held for 17 years, and she has established a scholarship fund in honor of her father to support students on the football team.

* Dale Sims, a 1978 alumnus with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in political science who was a catcher on the baseball team before earning his master鈥檚 degree at Murray State University. A resident of Franklin, Tennessee, Sims retired as Tennessee state treasurer in 2009 and as vice chancellor for business and finance on the Tennessee Board of Regents in 2017.

* David Sims (no relation to Dale Sims), a 1999 graduate of 蘑菇短视频with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in communication. A resident of Charlotte and frequent participant in university golf tournament fundraisers, Sims currently works for a national health technology company where he serves as a hospital automation sales executive.