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REALITY BYTES
REALITY BYTES … or how a chemistry major from Concord was the last contestant standing on TV’s “Big Brother” By BILL STUDENC MPA ’10 So, what does Rachel Reilly ’07 do for an encore after pocketing...
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CLASS REUNION
CLASS REUNION Retired teachers join forces to prepare youngsters for kindergarten By AMY B. McCRAW What’s the dream job for two retired elementary school teachers? If you guessed anything that...
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CASE CLOSED
CASE CLOSED A WCU criminal justice professor is honored as one of the state’s top educators By TERESA KILLIAN TATE Lisa Briggs ’87 MPA ’89, associate professor of criminology and criminal justice at...
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MAKING HAYESVILLE
MAKING HAYESVILLE Clay County believes local strides will strengthen the entire region By JILL INGRAM MA ’08 “You owe a fair amount back to your community,” Rob Tiger ’73’s grandfather always said....
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WORD PERFECT
WORD PERFECT Short story prize allows a Swain teacher to put the spotlight on public education By JILL INGRAM MA ’08 As a private person, Dawn Gilchrist-Young ’87 lately has found herself the center...
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RISKY BUSINESS
RISKY BUSINESS Challenges in climbing the corporate ladder inspire an entrepreneurship alumna to start a magazine for women professionals By TERESA KILLIAN TATE Climbing the corporate ladder for...
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HEALING HEART
HEALING HEART Former WCU coach helps discover son’s rare condition By TYLER NORRIS GOODE Complaining isn’t in Cody Briggs’ vocabulary. Two years ago, the high school quarterback didn’t miss a snap...
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IN THE PINK
IN THE PINK A career with Mary Kay brings out a young alumna’s best side By JILL INGRAM MA ’08 Most freshmen arrive on campus with new bedding and a window fan. Lori Ann Mauney ’11 arrived in 2008...
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LEGAL ACTION
LEGAL ACTION A philanthropic attorney hopes others will learn to think for themselves By JILL INGRAM MA ’08 Gaither Keener ’72 had always wanted to attend law school. He achieved his goal in 1977 when...
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WCU’s WILLY WONKA
WCU’s WILLY WONKA A creative candy man is savoring sweet success with his confectionary concoctions By LEILA TVEDT Derek Lawson ’91 is having a blast. He talks exuberantly about the fun of being...
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WINNING NUMBERS
WINNING NUMBERS A casino VP is recognized as a top Native American young professional By KEITH BRENTON The ninth month of 2012 will certainly rank as a “September to remember” for Paxton Myers ’00....
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HOMEGROWN
HOMEGROWN A Cullowhee kid and two-time graduate still enjoys the rural lifestyle By RANDALL HOLCOMBE Wade Livingston ’04 MEd ’06 proved to be an exception to the familiar adage “you can’t go home...
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THE CREATIVE CLASS
THE CREATIVE CLASS An alumna launches a blossoming summer arts program in Cullowhee By TERESA KILLIAN TATE As a child, artist Norma Hendrix MA ’01 enjoyed bringing forth something new from what she...
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EQUAL PLAY
EQUAL PLAY An educator-administrator advocates for diversity, inclusiveness and healthy living By KEITH BRENTON Health and fitness is not just a concern for the physical body, but for the whole person....
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BREATH OF FRESH AIR The road from fandom to stardom is navigated by a band’s new drummer By PATRICK O’NEAL Randall Harris ’09 MM ’11 has played in front of thousands of fans and appeared on national...
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ADVENTURE OVERLAND
ADVENTURE OVERLAND One couple refuses to allow a nightmarish event to cut short their tour of the Americas By JILL INGRAM MA ’08 For many people, a week or two of vacation every year suffices to...
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HISTORICAL CONTEXT
HISTORICAL CONTEXT The state archivist society salutes the head of special collections at WCU’s library By CHRISTY MARTIN ’71 MA ’78 George Frizzell ’77 MA ’81, head of special collections at Western...
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THE WRITE STUFF
THE WRITE STUFF A busy mom finds time to return to school, earn two degrees and make a difference in the lives of others By BARBARA BLAKE If there was a bona fide job called “freelance...
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AN OFFICE WITH A VIEW
AN OFFICE WITH A VIEW A veteran National Park Service administrator is back in the Smokies By RANDALL HOLCOMBE The way Patty McMullen Wissinger ’82 MPA ’98 sees it, her job and the role of her fellow...
View ArticleJOURNEY OF DISCOVERY
JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY An alumnus’ fascination with little green algae sparked a life of research By RANDALL HOLCOMBE Johnny L. Carson ’71 says he learned a lot about pond scum when he was a student at...
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