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  • Western Carolina University
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  • HL_WesternCarolinian_2018-11-05_Vol88_No02_03

The Western Carolinian NEWS November 5, 2018 A3 Miracle at WCU prepares for a new goal Rachel Rae Hanes Staff Writer On March 30, 2019, the annual Miracle event will take place. Formerly known as Dance Marathon at Western Carolina, the event now wants to advertise that it is more than just dancing. Dance Marathon occurred at Western Carolina for seven ears prior to today. his year marks the debut of the new name Miracle at Western Carolina, as well as the first-year the event will fund scholarships. Dance Marathon is a nationwide event, and each program funds the local Childrens Miracle Network, a network of hospitals specifically for pediat- rics. The local hospital for Western Carolina is Greenvilles Childrens Hospital. The event also fea- tures massage chairs and snacks aside from dancing. However, the event does still have the dance marathon portion. The mara- thon lasts for about 12 hours. In register- ing, students pledge to dance for this time in the hopes of raising awareness and funding for the local miracle families. Throughout this time, participants are also taught a chore- ography for the Mo- rale Dance which at the end of the night is performed all together. The event will feature Silent Disco as well as a live DJ. Students are able to purchase merchandise to further support the event. Miracle at Western Carolina is working to partner with other on campus organiza- tions such as RSO, the Ballroom Dance Club and Catamount Singers. These partner- ships allow students, organizations and the miracle kids to benefit from the event. Every year about ten families affected by the local Miracle network at- tend to share their sto- ries. Miracle at West- ern Carolina mainly seeks to educate the community as well as fundraise for those in need. Miracle at WCU focuses on making the community aware of our cause and creating a welcoming environ- ment centered around our kids, said Direc- tor of Public Relations, Molly Mann. This year, Miracle at Western Carolina plans to use the pro- ceeds of the event to specifically fund scholarships for mira- cle kids at Greenvilles Childrens Hospital to attend summer camps. The summer camps often educate the children about their diagnosis and allows them to be surrounded and supported by other kids; evoking a sense of normalcy. Students are able to get involved by registering at miracle. wcu.edu. Registra- tion currently costs 25 dollars, however, after Christmas break it will cost 30 dollars. The previous record created in 2017 was $29,209.14 and they strive to over- come this with an even greater amount. The events goal is to raise $35,000 along with recruiting the most articipants than ever fore. Participating in the Miracle event at West- ern Carolina benefits the community as a whole and the students as well. R oote d i the a hinis Jeghintiien Ryan Gillig Staff Writer Western Carolina University held the ninth annual Rooted in the Mountains: Valuing Our Common Ground symposium on Sept. 28-29 in the Blue Ridge Confer- ence Room. This years theme was heart health which integrated Ap- palachian and Native American traditional knowledge, health, lan- guage and environmen- tal issues to educate students on the serious- ness of heart disease. Every year, about 610,000 people die of heart disease in the United States. That means that one in every four deaths are heart related. This symposium is a valuable opportunity to learn from Native _ speakers and those who knowledge. This an- nual event highlights the importance of traditional knowledges integration with health and environmental issues said Dr. Lisa Lefler, director of the Culturally Based Na- tive Health Program. Over this two-day event, many people spoke on this theme, including the keynote speaker Katsi Cook. Other speakers in- cluded Terri Henry, Sarah Sneed, Tom Belt, TJ Holland, Vickie Bradley, Billie Jo Rich, Blythe Winchester, Stephanie Hornbuckle, Rebecca Tsosie and Carmen Nations. The event began with Katsi Cook giving her keynote address which discussed Women as the First Environment. Shortly after, panel- i< ei pe aa ackson, Lisa Denzer and ices kicked _off the presentations with Language and Womens Health. This was followed by presen- tations on Cherokee Women Choosing a Path of Healing, Vio- lence Against Native Women and Issues of Violence and Native Women. Day two of this event dove deeper into heart health and the contrib- uting factors to heart disease. Staying healthy is no joke and that is why taking care of the body and being edu- cated on the risk factors are important. Blood pressure is the measurement of the force against the walls of your arteries as the heart pumps blood through the body. High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, places a strain on the heart, which makes it harder to pump blood. Unchecked, this can lead to a stroke, heart attack, organs. A few simple ways to avoid high blood pressure is to follow a healthy eating plan, engage in physical activities for at least 30 minutes/day and man- age exposure to stress. Another factor that contributes to heart disease is diabetes, in which a persons body is unable to properly make use of carbohy- drates. Food is broken down into glucose which is carried by the blood to the cells. For glucose to enter the cell, insulin must be present. In people with type 2 diabetes, the cells dont respond to insulin, which eventually leads to pancreatic failure. Without insulin, glucose builds up in the blood and overflows into the urine. This is a lethal combination for heart disease as high glucose and insulin resistance are bad for the circulation of blood and can lead to other more serious issues. On top of the present risk factors, diabetes damages blood vessels, which worsens because of high cholesterol and high blood pressure. If untreated this will lead to cardiovascular disease which includes heart attacks, strokes and leg vessel diseases. Every year about 735,000 Americans have a heart attack and of those, 525,000 are first time heart attacks and the other 210,000 happen in people who have already had a heart attack. Tom Belt, a Cherokee language instructor at West- ern Carolina, and TJ Holland, a cultural resource officer for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, knew firsthand the truths of these statistics and spoke at the panel Heart Health about their own personal experiences with heart disease. presentations from the symposium Even though this was a more serious topic, Bell did not hesitate to lighten the mood by talking about of his per- sonal experiences while adding in a joke or two. He went on to talk about how the Chero- kee words for heart and thought were derived from the same word because the Cherokee Indians believed that thoughts were derived in the heart. He re- called a story in which he asked his father about this belief and how it did not make sense. You would die within seconds without your heart, but you are a prime example that anyone can live without a brain, Bells father What I saw wasthe replied. strength in those indi- viduals presentations and they showed a lot For more information on the Rooted in the Mountains sympo- of strength to get where sium visit go.wcu.edu/ they are now said Bell, RootedintheMountains speaking about the or call 828-227-2164. Catamount Career and Networking Day Jamie Whitfield Staff Writer Western Carolina Uni- versity offered students a chance to meet with more than 125 vendors at the biannual Catamount Career and Networking Day. Held in the Ramsey Center on Wednesday, Oct. 3 and hosted by the Center for Career and Professional Development and the Center for Service Learning, attendees could review their choices for after graduation among graduate schools, for-profit and non-profit companies and even volunteer and internship opportunities to pursue while finishing their degree. Held twice a year, once in the fall and once in the spring, the event is geared for students in the Colleges of Health and Human Services, Engineering and Technol- ogy, Business, Arts and Sciences, Psychology and Parks and Recreation but students and alumni of every degree are encour- aged to attend. It is an opportunity for students to network with potential employers and make im- portant connections. It is also a chance to see what employers want. Todays career fair was very helpful for paving the way to my future career, said William Ward, a freshman attending the event. T learned a lot about different companies I hadnt heard of before, said Sinjon Stringfellow, senior. T had no idea there are so many career oppor- tunities, said Marabelle Cartwright, senior. I was worried about finding a career after graduation. The key to success is preparation. Applicants should have a current resume on hand and wear clothing appropriate to the venue. At a minimum, attendees are encouraged to wear nice jeans and a blouse or polo shirt. At- tendees should also plan to attend earlier in the day, if possible. Among the list of things to avoid are attending for freebies and walking in with a group of friends. Remember, you are in the employers eyes from the moment you get here, said Theresa Cruz Paul, Director for the Center of Career and Profes- sional Development. Do research ahead of time. Know which employers are coming and who to talk to. In addition to poten- tial employment, vendor companies may also offer internships. For those interested in the non-profit sector, volunteerism is a great way to shine and learn more about the orga- nizations in the field. More full-time employ- ees start as volunteers, said John Wert, Outreach Director for Habitat for Humanitys Macon and Jackson Counties. [It lets us] get to know who somebody is. Tts the kind of work you do because you believe in the mission, said Amy Sims, Western Zone Outreach Coordinator for MANNA FoodBank. Sponsors for the Cata- mount Career and Net- working Day this fall were: SCI Fusion360, spe- cializing in software development, application and component develop- ment, and application maintenance, is located in Charlotte. They hire four to five graduates in December and May from students in the computer sciences programs. In the last four years, they have gone from 12 employees to 46. Applicants need to have a desire to program, s passion for the work, said Ken Workman, Lead Software Developer. Great Smoky Moun- tains Railroad, located in Bryson City, had a booth for students to stop by. They will be doing a major hiring for a special season- al production called The Polar Express. We are more than just a train ride, said Lisa Mitchell, Human Re- source Manager. We also offer welding and engi- neering jobs. State Utility Contrac- tors, a long-time sponsor of the event, specializes in building environmental services facilities in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. They have both employment positions and internships. As a contractor, were looking for individuals to be boots on the ground, said Kris Hannah, Busi- ness Development and Marketing Manager. Sherwin Williams, spe- cializing in coatings and related products, looks for applicants who are inter- active, competitive and well-dressed. This is a good location for us to target. Great alumni come through, said Lindsay Verhoff, Area Recruiter. They are currently seeking manage- ment and sales training applicants. Vannoy Construction is seeking new graduates and interns. They have four to five Western Caro- lina alumni just in their Asheville office. Full-time positions are often offered. to students who interned. with the company. There is a great con- struction management program here, said Mitch- ell West, Project Manager. Phillips & Jordan, a heavy civil and infrastruc- ture contractor is another long-time sponsor of the event. Their internships have rolling application dates and will look to fill 5-20 positions nationwide. In the last five years, Phil- lips & Jordan has hired at least 10 Western Carolina University alumni. This is home, said Kyle Buchanan, Vice President. The company started in Robbinsville. We are happy to be home. Waffle House, also a long-time sponsor of the event, is a privately-held company with operations in 25 states across mostly the southeastern U.S. They have full and part- time positions and intern- ships available. Weve had luck in find- Photo by Sarah Jolly/STAFF ing candidates here, said Wendell Reece, Opera- tions Manager. Everyone starts at the ground and works their way up. The career fair has an expected draw of 375- 500 students in the fall and more than 700 in the spring. The next Cata- mount Career and Net- working Day will be Feb. vp Western Carolina also offers resources to students for their future employ- ' ment search. Prep sessions are offered the week before the fair, and students can drop-in for resume review Monday through Friday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Career Center. Alterna- tively, students can make an appointment in Grades- First to schedule a time to meet with someone outside normal walk-in times.

The Western Carolinian is Western Carolina University's student-run newspaper. The paper was published as the Cullowhee Yodel from 1924 to 1931 before changing its name to The Western Carolinian in 1933.

• Creator
  • Western Carolina University
• Format
  • Publications (documents)
  • Text
• Type
  • Text
• Date
  • Date original: 2018-11-05
• Extent
  • Dimension: 22.5" x 11.25"
  • Pages: 12
• Subject - Topic
  • College student newspapers and periodicals
  • Cullowhee (N.C.) -- Newspapers
  • Universities and colleges -- North Carolina -- Cullowhee -- Newspapers
  • Western Carolina University -- Periodicals
• Location
  • Jackson County (N.C.)
  • Cullowhee (N.C.)
• Source institution
  • Western Carolina University
• Source Collection
  • WCU Students Newspapers Collection
• Identifier
  • HL_WesternCarolinian_2018-11-05_Vol88_No02
• Repository
  • Western Carolina University Hunter Library