WCU trumpet professor Brad Ulrich retirement swan song performance

The classical works of Vivaldi, Debussy and Bach matched perfectly with more contemporary works of Horowitz and Turrin during the final concert of Dr. P. Bradley Ulrich which was worthy of the name “Final Trumpet Extravaganza.” The matching tones of Paul Merkelo and Ulrich’s trumpets reverberating throughout Coulter’s Recital Hall were coordinated with the expertise […]

BearWise keeps bears wild in Waynesville

Kim Parker was spending a normal weekend afternoon with family in the living room when she spied something out the window that left her speechless.  “I looked out and at first I couldn’t get the words out. I’m just pointing at the yard. The bear just came down from my neighbor’s yard, and then just […]

Navigating the Post-Graduation Path: Insights from WCU Alumni

There are approximately 1,800 WCU students preparing to graduate this spring, many of whom are wondering ‘Will I be able to find a job in my field?’ But some are asking a different question: ‘Does it really matter if I do?’ To help answer these questions, six WCU alumni who graduated within a 22-year span […]

“A place at the table for everyone”

Beulah Land, a local drag queen, artist and advocate for social change talks about what it’s like being a drag queen.  She begins her day as any of us. Her daily job is working as a barista in downtown Sylva. But when the day draws to a close, Land gets to a different type of werk. […]

Diving into the world of drag with Bayleigh Katch

Bayleigh Katch (they/them) is a student at Western Carolina University who performs drag in the Sylva area. They are a junior double majoring in criminal justice and emergency/disaster management. Katch’s first performance happened at Sylva Pride this past September. They performed alongside other drag queens in the area like Beulah Land, Ida Carolina, and Calcutta. […]

Vulnerability in relationships are critical to our health

The story co-written with Chloe Ettinger Relationships are what make us human. That’s what Dr. Candy Noltensmeyer, 2021 student nominated faculty of the year award winner, said during the “Last Lecture” presentation on Thursday, Nov. 18. Noltensmeyer is an associate professor at Western Carolina University in the Communications Department. Her research focuses on forms of […]