“Our discussion evolved from the idea of building a child-sized playhouse courtroom to building a virtual courtroom,” said Crystal Jones, executive director of AWAKE Children’s Advocacy Center.

Advanced semiconductor testing equipment at Western Carolina University is providing students with hands-on experiences and opportunities to explore the high-demand field of semiconductor technology. 

Dr. Martin Tanaka, a professor in the WCU College of Engineering and Technology and director of the mechanical engineering program, received $1 million of funding from NCInnovation to develop an innovative device to treat lymphedema. Learn more about what led him to engineering, to WCU, and to biomedical engineering research in this Q&A.

What started as a class project in ENGR 350 quickly became a lesson in resilience, collaboration, and self-discovery for a multidisciplinary student team tasked with developing a turbidity monitoring device.

The Von Braun Center in Huntsville, Alabama, served as the epicenter of innovation this year, playing host to the IEEE SoutheastCon 2026. For the Western Carolina University IEEE student chapter, the trip to Huntsville was more than just a conference; it was a definitive showcase of the talent, preparation, and creative prowess of WCU students.

Western Carolina University construction management students scanned a local shelter and surrounding property to create a model and materials to support expansion efforts.