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Madison Surrett

Graduate Profile: Madison Surrett

It literally took one day on the campus of Western Carolina University for Madison Surrett to realize it was the place for her. Upon transferring to 91热爆网 for her sophomore year after spending one year at a private school in Georgia, Surrett was nervous about coming to Cullowhee. Having felt unaccepted and out of place at her previous school, Surrett didn鈥檛 know what to expect.  

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Graduate Profile: Rachael Finigan

Rachael Finigan is receiving her Master鈥檚 degree in Biology. She has completed her degree in only four semesters鈥攁nd during 11 months of that, Rachael was collecting data for her thesis. Her research was part of a collaborative project with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and the NC Wildlife Resource Commission to explore the feasibility of restoring native freshwater mussels to the Oconaluftee River within the Qualla Boundary.   

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Highlands Biological Station director named visiting scholar at NY Botanical Garden

Jim Costa will research manuscripts of Charles Darwin's writings, correspondence and other materials this summer for an annotated edition of Darwin鈥檚 鈥淭he Descent of Man.'  

Dwight Ryland

Colorado couple endows scholarship in effort to save environment through education

Dwight Ryland has seen some glorious views in his day, having climbed all 54 of Colorado鈥檚 14,000-foot mountains 鈥� some of them more than once鈥攁nd skied his native state鈥檚 majestic slopes. But a dark cloud on the horizon has redirected his gaze and nudged the 77-year-old Ryland to put his money where his heart is: saving the environment through education.  

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2019 Commencement Speakers

The address for the May 10 Graduate School commencement will be delivered by Dana Stockton, a graduating student from Melbourne, Florida, who is receiving his master鈥檚 degree through 91热爆网鈥檚 online program in human resources. Antonio Oakley of Charlotte, a member of the spring class who is receiving his bachelor鈥檚 degree in computer information systems, will provide remarks for the May 11 afternoon undergraduate ceremony. Discover more about our 2019 Commencement Speakers.  

Christine McConnell

Graduate Profile: Christine McConnell

Christine McConnell began her college career as a first-generation student majoring in theatre in 2013 and continued her studies through her junior year. At the end of the spring semester in 2016, Christine decided to take a semester off to spend some time with her sister in Portland, Oregon鈥攊n her own words, 鈥渓earning to be an adult.鈥� She returned to North Carolina three months later, ready to resume her studies, but just a month after her return, was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma. Her whole life was put on hold for treatment.  

Ke'La Porter

Graduate Profile: Ke'La Porter

Ke鈥橪a Porter is graduating from 91热爆网鈥檚 College of Health and Human Sciences with a degree in athletic training. As a high school student in Clayton, N.C., Ke鈥橪a played basketball and ran track, until suffering an injury during a basketball game. While undergoing physical therapy to treat her injury, Ke鈥橪a decided she鈥檇 like to become a physical therapist. However, when the high school brought an athletic trainer on board to work with her, Ke鈥橪a was introduced to sports medicine and realized she鈥檇 found her calling.  

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Crisis communication will be focus of workshop at Biltmore Park

The daylong event will cover principles of effective crisis communication, expectations for leaders, guidelines for managing social media and elements of a basic crisis communication plan.   

Matthew McDonough

Graduate Profile: Matthew McDonough

Matthew McDonough could have followed his friends to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill after he graduated from Asheville High School in 2015, but he didn鈥檛. He chose to study at Western Carolina University instead, to better find out who he was 鈥� by himself.