The cake was eaten, the community showed up, and fun was had at the Big Birthday Bash on Tuesday, August 25. Western Carolina University is officially 125 years old!
At the celebration, student organizations, faculty and community members alike gathered to hear some music played by the Pride of the Mountains Marching Band and watch a performance from the WCU cheerleaders, and of course to eat all of the delicious free food that was offered. There were a few options that were vegetarian and everything on the menu, from deep-fried oreos to veggie burgers to barbecue sandwiches, was well cooked and delicious, even if the lines were pretty long.
Chancellor David O. Belcher gave a speech to kick off the event that spoke to the entire community, saying, “This is your university, and I invite you back over and over. Don’t be strangers on our campus. Attend our events. Cheer on our Catamounts on the fields and courts of competition. Enjoy our theatrical performances, musical concerts, art exhibits, guest lectures and films in our film series program. Take a class or two. Enroll in our new Lifelong Learning Program, Life at Western Carolina. We want you to be part of this university, just as this university is part of your community.”
This student was having a blast at the Big Birthday Bash
Photo by Ceillie Simkiss
The Dirty Guv’nahs, a Southern rock band from Knoxville, Tenn. filled out the rest of the evening with their music until the party wound down around 7 p.m. Everyone there seemed to be having a great time, whether they were playing cornhole, eating their fill or taking pictures with the cutouts. There was definitely a lot of fun to be had at the birthday party for everyone involved.
