SMHS senior receives Presidential Award

The story was originally published in The Sylva Herald on March 7. At only 17 years old, Maci Long, of Jackson County has gone above and beyond to serve her community. Her selfless acts of service have resulted in over 10,000 meals being distributed to individuals in need. The Smoky Mountain High School senior was […]

Center for Service Learning leads the way with student involvement

A part of what defines WCU as an engaging and prospering institution is how it values a community effort. One way they present this through service learning. The Center for Service Learning (CSL) is a program here on campus that integrates everyday values as a person in society into education. Service learning acquires what students […]

Volunteers help out Cullowhee Garden Club

The story was updated on Nov. 1, 2017 with a photo-story.  WCU students and town locals volunteered with the Cullowhee Garden Club on Wednesday, Oct. 25 to prepare their garden and crops for the cold weather sweeping in. Five years ago Adam Bigelow, the garden manager, started the Cullowhee Garden Club to grow crops and […]

Helping hand for the Jackson County neighbors in need

Poverty in Western North Carolina is high and Jackson County resembles that picture, even though it’s not so obvious. According to the US Census Bureau, more than 20 percent, or around 8,000 people are poverty stricken. To combat the poverty, local community is helping and Jackson Neighbors in Need (JNIN), for the past nine years, has been […]

Animal shelter provides volunteer opportunity for WCU students

This story was written by Haley Smith, originally published in The Sylva Herald. Nicole Fox, a junior at Western Carolina University, enjoys spending her spare time playing with dogs at the Jackson County Animal Shelter. It almost makes up for the time the 20-year-old can’t spend with her own dog, Ellie. Spending time with animals waiting on […]

Behind the scenes: volunteers of the UP Program

“I can’t express to you how much this program means to me, how much the students, volunteers and staff have influenced and touched my life,” said two-year volunteer and now paid natural support for Western Carolina University’s University Participant Program (UP), Grayson Coleman. Coleman’s response is much like many other volunteer reactions when asked how […]