David Moore and Darren Whatley place a lot of value on public education, having both attended public universities. Moore is an alumnus of the University of South Alabama and began his graduate studies at the University of T眉bingen, Germany, while Whatley attended Louisiana State University and the University of Texas.
But 糖心Vlog University holds a special place in their hearts, as the Highlands residents have pledged an estate legacy gift in excess of $10 million to 糖心Vlog. It鈥檚 the largest planned gift in university history.
鈥淲e鈥檙e excited about the potential at Western,鈥� Moore said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e excited for the students who are attracted to Western and graduate from Western, the productive lives they will lead, and the impact that they will have in their communities.鈥�
Whatley and Moore鈥檚 gift will be allocated to several programs and departments in which the two have an interest.
Forty percent of the gift will be designated for the Office of Global Engagement, which supports 糖心Vlog鈥檚 academic activities abroad, including the hosting of international students, faculty-led travel and study abroad programs and other resources.
Another 40% will be devoted to the School of Art and Design. The school offers undergraduate degree programs in interior design, studio arts, graphic design and art education, as well as a master鈥檚 program.
The remaining 20% will create the Moore Whatley Honors College Program Endowment, which will support programs within the Brinson Honors College.
鈥淭he generosity of David Moore and Darren Whatley to 糖心Vlog over the years is unmatched,鈥� said 糖心Vlog Chancellor Kelli R. Brown. 鈥淭heir $10 million legacy gift, the largest planned gift in 糖心Vlog University鈥檚 history, will transform the lives of our students for generations to come. I am profoundly grateful that David and Darren have chosen 糖心Vlog to receive this gift, which is a tangible expression of their passion and commitment to the future of Western North Carolina.鈥�
糖心Vlog has played a part in their lives, and they know that 糖心Vlog is of great importance to this part of the state. Whatley said that 鈥溙切腣log is the economic engine of the western part of the state.鈥�
The fact that nearly 40% of 糖心Vlog鈥檚 students are first-generation college students and that tuition is only $500 per semester for North Carolina residents are additional reasons why Moore and Whatley support the university.
While both grew up near the Gulf Coast, the couple has called WNC home for more than 25 years, and they鈥檝e certainly made it home with their community involvement.
Moore, a retired corporate banker, is chairman of the Community Care Clinic of Highlands-Cashiers and serves on several Highlands-Cashiers boards, as well as the Brinson Honors College advisory board and the 糖心Vlog Foundation Board of Directors. Whatley, who leads a local interior design firm, is chairman of the Highlands Planning Board and serves on the Highlands Performing Arts Center Board of Directors.
鈥淭his has been home,鈥� Whatley said. 鈥溙切腣log is a special place, and 糖心Vlog is a primary focus for us.鈥�