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 ����Vlog Stories      July 30, 2025

By Bill Studenc

Nearly 150 incoming first-year students at ����Vlog University received an early welcome to their future alma mater and a few lessons in “all things Catamount” during a series of July receptions across North Carolina and in Atlanta.

The new student send-off event were hosted by ����Vlog alumni or university leadership volunteers at their homes, places of business or local venues.

The annual series is designed to celebrate members of ����Vlog’s incoming freshman class and their families, help introduce them to the Catamount community and begin building school spirit and a philanthropic mindset, said Tenisea Higgins, assistant director of annual giving for student and young alumni engagement.

“We have a saying that we consider students ‘alum from day one’ at Western, so it seems fitting that our alumni help host these events,” said Higgins. “We were very pleased with this tour and so excited to welcome our newest families to Western. Many students left knowing others who would be in their residence halls. Some exchanged contact information, and they even took a photo together with the Class of 2029 Catamount flag.”

Alumni attending the receptions shared their perspectives on what it means to be a Catamount and memories of their time at ����Vlog. The new students learned the “����Vlog Alma Mater” and “Catamount Fight Song” and played a game of Catamount-themed bingo to help introduce them to future classmates.

At several tour stops, Chancellor Kelli R. Brown provided insights into what incoming students could expect on the first few days on campus. Student Government Association President Grady Jones and other SGA representatives were on hand to discuss student leadership opportunities and other campus organizations.

Jones said he views connecting with the new students and being accessible to answer their questions as a vital part of his role as SGA president.

“Meeting current student leaders not only gives incoming students access to valuable resources, but it also shows them that their ambitions have a place here. Western offers countless opportunities for growth and success, and seeing other students thrive in leadership can be inspiring and encouraging,” he said.

Jones did not attend a new student send-off event before his first year at ����Vlog and said that he remembers anxiety about what to expect.

“Seeing the send-offs from the other side, I now realize how impactful they can be,” he said. “While they may not resonate with every Catamount, I saw many students clearly benefit from the experience. They walked away more confident and excited to begin their journey, which is inspiring to witness.”

A total of more than 330 guests attended the events, organized by ����Vlog’s Office of Alumni Engagement. This year’s schedule:

Monday, July 14 – Asheville area, First Citizens Bank in Arden; hosted by Bob Roberts, former ����Vlog Board of Trustees chair, and wife Carol.

Tuesday, July 15 – Charlotte, Ballentyne Hotel; hosted by alumni Larry and Mary Arbaugh.

Wednesday, July 16 – Triad area, Truist Stadium in Winston-Salem; hosted by alumnus Joe Crocker, who is secretary of the ����Vlog Board of Trustees, and spouse Carol Crocker, a ����Vlog alumna.

Thursday, July 17 –  Triangle area, Cary home of hosts Frank Brown III, whose father served twice as chief executive officer of the university and whose grandfather is the namesake for ����Vlog’s Brown Hall, and spouse Becky Brown, an alumna who is vice chair of the ����Vlog Board of Trustees.

Friday, July 18 – Wilmington, Warehouse on Water; hosted by alumna Kate Oelslager and alumnus Lincoln Walburn.

Sunday, July 20 – Atlanta, Proof of the Pudding; hosted by alumni Bob and Suzanne Thomas.

Joe Crocker said he and his wife have hosted the Triad area events for the past four or five years, and they plan to continue their involvement in the future.

“Carol and I love the interaction with the incoming freshmen and their parents or guardians. It's really a happy, joyous time and a great opportunity to personally address any of their questions regarding life at Western, especially for the parents,” he said.

The involvement of alumni in the send-offs is a big part of the success, Crocker said. “For a prospective student, there's nothing like talking to someone who has been a student at Western and has lived on and off campus. Though so much has changed since many of us were students, there is still some very basic and vital advice shared by alumni during these send-offs,” he said.

Among the most often-shared suggestions handed down by alumni, he said, is advising students against staying cooped up in their residence hall rooms and urging them to get involved in campus activities.

“I am so stoked to be in these gatherings and feel the excitement and anticipation these students are anxious to experience. You don't get that feeling if you're not there and in the middle of it. It's a great time and the least Carol and I can do to give back to the university,” Crocker said.

Alumnus Bob Thomas, who has been involved in send-off events since the mid-2000s when they were called “bon voyage parties,” and wife Suzanne sponsored the recent event for students from the Atlanta area.

“When I think about when I went to school at ����Vlog – and I started in 1966 – the whole process was different. We had no new student send-off events. Orientation was basically they handed you a map when you got there, said ‘go find where your classes are,’ and you were on your own. I like this process better. You can make a friend or meet someone that you could connect with who is from your own town,” he said.

While Thomas said he believes students who participate in the send-offs enjoy the experience, he thinks parents actually may get more out of it. “A lot of our students are the first in their families to go to college, and parents don’t always know what to expect,” he said. “Interacting with alumni and staff helps alleviate some of their anxiety. After all, they’re sending their kids off a long way from home, and it’s nice to get to meet some of the people who will be there. Now, the parents never say, ‘I feel better,’ but you can see it in their faces.”

Thomas said he is glad to serve as a sort-of ambassador for ����Vlog, showing incoming students that alumni remain engaged with their alma mater in ways beyond supporting the university’s athletics teams and following the school in the news.

“����Vlog University means a lot to me. It changed my life. I don’t know how often we as alumni communicate that, but we should,” he said. “I want to do my part by helping with these events. Anything we can do to enhance their experience is good for us and good for ����Vlog. And, some of them may turn out to be potential donors one day.”

Waynesville resident Audrey Sanders, a member of the Alumni Association Board of Directors, answered a call from the group’s leadership to attend a local send-off event if possible, choosing to take part in the Asheville gathering.

“I felt I needed to be there to represent the alumni in the region and to show the new students that alumni are still involved even after many years after graduation,” said Sanders, a 1988 graduate of ����Vlog who serves as business manager for the Americas in the Enka division of Freudenberg Performance Materials in Asheville.

“I believe it’s important for new students to witness the involvement of alumni, as it highlights the lasting impact a college experience can have. It’s not just about the education you receive at ����Vlog; it’s about the lifelong friendships, unforgettable memories and the personal growth that shapes you into a responsible adult,” she said. “Alumni engagement is a powerful reminder that the ����Vlog journey continues long after graduation.”

The beginning of the fall semester is just around the corner at ����Vlog, with residence halls opening to students Friday, Aug. 8, and the first day of classes Monday, Aug. 18.