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Education briefs
WCU partners with Statesville school for mentorship program
For many students at Statesville High School, stepping onto the campus of Western Carolina University was their first college experience.
To help recruit students from diverse backgrounds into the teaching profession, WCU has partnered with Statesville High School to form a program called Students to Teachers Through Educator Pathways.
“The purpose of STEP with WCU is to introduce teaching as a profession in diverse high schools where students might not have had the opportunity to see it as such,” said Jenny Stewart, WCU’s director of Student Success and STEP. “This program contributes to the College of Education and Allied Professions and WCU goals for inclusive excellence, and was designed to address the low number of students of color in teacher education programs and the teaching workforce across our state.”
The students in the program are part of a Teaching as a Profession class at their high school and made the campus visit to learn more Students from Statesville High School visited Western Carolina University in October as part of the Students to about applying to college, Teachers Through Educator Pathways (STEP) program, a partnership between WCU and Statesville High School student life and financial to help recruit students from diverse backgrounds into the teaching profession. Donated photo aid.
Using the Teaching as a Profession curriculum approved by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and specific college engagement activities, this program aims to increase the positive perceptions of teaching as a profession and college as a destination after high school.
For more information about the STEP with WCU program, contact Stewart at jstewart@wcu.edu.
Agreement assures admission for WCU students to UNC School of Pharmacy
A new partnership will assure admission for current and incoming Western Carolina University students interested in pursuing a doctoral degree in pharmacy into the University of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy.
The Early Assurance Program is a partnership between the schools that will run through 2027, with an option to renew. The program is not only a means for WCU to increase its undergraduate enrollment, but it will also allow the Eshelman School of Pharmacy to attract students from Western North Carolina.
WCU is the third UNC System school to partner with the Eshelman School of Pharmacy, joining Appalachian State University and the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.
Any WCU student can apply to the program providing they have completed at least one semester. Up to 10 applicants can be chosen per year. They must meet all requirements, including three letters of recommendation, high school and current undergraduate performance/transcripts and a personal statement that conveys a passion for pursuing a career in pharmacy, as well as their short-term and long-term goals for their career.
Initial applications into the program will be due in January 2023. The director of recruiting from the Eshelman School of Pharmacy will be in Cullowhee Nov. 1, which is Advising Day for WCU students. She will give a presentation at 2 p.m., followed by a question-and-answer session at a yet to be determined location, Wallen said.
For more information on the Early Assurance Program, contact Wallen at 828.227.3667 or jamiewallen@wcu.edu.
SCC Milestone now accepting submissions
Submissions are now being accepted for the 2023 edition of the Milestone, the biennial art and literary review published by Southwestern Community College.
“Milestone” showcases the creative expressions of local writers and visual artists. The periodical is representative of the abundance of talent in the region and seeks to foster creative potential by providing artists an opportunity to gain public awareness.
All residents of Jackson, Macon and Swain counties and the Qualla Boundary, as well as SCC students and alumni, are eligible. Only unpublished work may be submitted. Prose should not exceed 2,000 words, and poems should be limited to two pages in length. Writers may submit more than one work. All writing must be double-spaced and submitted in paper format or via email. In addition, each page must be numbered, and the author’s name, address, telephone number and email address should be included on the last page of each submission.
Visual artists and photographers may submit only black and white copies of original artwork and must also include name, address, telephone number, email address, title of work and photo caption (if applicable) on the back of each submission. Artists and photographers may also submit more than one work.
First- and second-place prizes will be awarded in three categories: poetry, prose (short story or nonfiction works) and visual arts, including photography. In addition, one cash prize will be awarded for cover art.
Literary submissions must be postmarked by Dec. 8, 2022, and sent to SCC Milestone, Attn. Hannah Sykes; 447 College Drive; Sylva, NC 28779 or via email to milestone@southwesterncc.edu. Submissions in visual art must be postmarked by the same date and sent to the same address, Attn. Bob Keeling or via email to bkeeling@southwesterncc.edu.
HCC alumni gathering to be held Nov. 3
Are you an alum of Haywood Community College? Join for a gathering on Thursday, Nov. 3, from 4:30 until 6:30 p.m. at the Shelton House in Waynesville. The school is excited for the gathering and wants to hear what graduates have been up to. Beverages and appetizers will be served. RSVP by Oct. 28 by emailing hccalumni@haywood.edu or calling 828.627.4544.
Local and national dignitaries joined students and staff at Cullowhee Valley School on Oct. 10 to celebrate the opening of a new “Think Big Reading Room.” One of only five in North Carolina, the new space was made possible by the Carson Scholars Fund and the generosity of Gordon and Cheri Martin.
Dr. Ben Carson and his wife Candy founded the Think Big Reading Project in 1994 to award scholarships, promote literacy and encourage leisure reading to help students reach their full potential.
“Candy and I have made it our lifelong mission to instill the importance of reading, and we are honored to be opening a reading room in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina,” Dr. Ben Carson said.
Mrs. Candy Carson attended the event at Cullowhee Valley along with reading room sponsors Gordon and Cheri Martin.
“Gordon and I are honored and excited to be joining in partnership with the Think Big Reading Project to open a reading room at Cullowhee Valley School,” Martin said. “We believe acquiring a passion for reading is the basis of learning and knowledge, and a ‘Think Big Reading Room’ is the perfect environment for this love of books to happen.”
Cullowhee Valley Media Coordinator Tammy Cabe organized the project and believes it is important because the environment of the room will help students learn the value of reading for pleasure.
“My biggest hope is that kids fall in love with books and become forever readers,” Cabe said.
“We are excited and honored that Cullowhee Valley received a reading room that will be cherished for years and years to come,” Principal Holly Whisnant added. “We are so thankful to the Carson Scholars Fund and Gordon and Cheri Martin for granting this honor.”
