{"id":13250,"date":"2025-08-27T08:18:26","date_gmt":"2025-08-27T12:18:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/staffsenate\/?p=13250"},"modified":"2025-08-27T16:26:34","modified_gmt":"2025-08-27T20:26:34","slug":"celebrating-employee-appreciation-week","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/staffsenate\/2025\/08\/27\/celebrating-employee-appreciation-week\/","title":{"rendered":"Celebrating Employee Appreciation Week"},"content":{"rendered":"

\ud83c\udf89<\/b>\u00a0At Western Carolina University, our faculty and staff are the heartbeat of our community. Every day, you support our students, lift each other up, and make WCU a place where learning and innovation thrive. That\u2019s why we\u2019re excited to celebrate <\/span>Employee Appreciation Week<\/span><\/b>\u2014a full week dedicated to honoring you with activities, perks, and special events across campus.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This year, Staff Senate has worked with many campus partners to stretch celebrations into a weeklong event so you have plenty of opportunities to join in, recharge, and connect with colleagues.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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\ud83c\udf1f<\/span><\/b> Highlights of the Week<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Tuesday, Sept. 2<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Professional Headshots & Passport Photos<\/span><\/b> (CCPD, no appointment needed)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Do you need a new a headshot for LinkedIn or a new passport photo?\u00a0 Take advantage of the Iris Photo Booth provided by the Center for Career and Professional Development (CCPD) located in Reid 150 on Tuesday, September 2, between 8:00am and 5:00pm.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Free Family Swim Night<\/span><\/b> (Reid Pool, 5:00\u20137:00 pm)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Bring the family for a swim night at Reid Pool sponsored by Campus Recreation and Wellness.\u00a0 Lifeguards will be on duty.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Wednesday, Sept. 3<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Faculty\/Staff Portraits<\/span><\/b> (HFR 420, 8:30 am\u201312:30 pm)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Do you need a new professional photo for your departmental webpage or other official uses?\u00a0 Our colleagues in University Photography are offering open studio sessions during Employee Appreciation Week.\u00a0 No appointment necessary.\u00a0 Please stop by any time between 8:30 and 12:30 on Wednesday, September 3<\/span>rd<\/span>. Sessions usually take less than five minutes.\u00a0 Professional attire is recommended.\u00a0 <\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Faculty\/Staff Day at the Mountain Heritage Center<\/span><\/b> (MHC in Hunter Library, 10 am\u20134 pm)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Wednesday, September 3<\/span>rd<\/span> is Faculty\/Staff Day at the Mountain Heritage Center!\u00a0 Stop by between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm to check out their brand-new exhibit:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Clearing the Hurdles: Women and Sport at WCU 1889 to Present.<\/span><\/i><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Imagine a time when people believed that exercise could harm a woman\u2019s health or<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

make her less feminine. These outdated ideas were once common and created major<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

obstacles for women who wanted to play sports. Some doctors even claimed that<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

physical activity could prevent women from having children, while others feared that<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

sports would make women too masculine.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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This was the world in which Western Carolina University began and where<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

women\u2019s athletics slowly took root. Despite these hurdles, women at WCU pushed<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

forward. They trained, competed, and proved that strength and femininity could go<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

hand in hand. Over time, students, coaches, and leaders changed the culture<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

and expanded opportunities.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Clearing the Hurdles<\/span><\/b> tells the story of that journey. This exhibit explores the people,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

events, and laws that helped shape women\u2019s college sports into what they are today.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Researched, curated, designed, and installed by WCU students, this exhibition is a<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

collaboration between the WCU\u2019s Mountain Heritage Center and History Department<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

and the Chancellor\u2019s University History Initiative.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Voter Registration Drive<\/span><\/b> (Catafount, 12:00pm \u20132:00 pm)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Get registered to vote at the Catafount.\u00a0 Volunteers will be on hand to help!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Step Class \u2013 Whee for Life<\/span><\/b> (CRC, 12:30 pm, no CRC membership needed)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Whee for Life Group Exercise classes are\u00a0 free to faculty and staff!\u00a0 Join us for Step Class with Holly at 12:30 in the Campus Recreation Center.\u00a0 You do not need to be a member of the CRC or have a Group Exercise membership to attend.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Thursday, Sept. 4<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

2025 Annual Employee Appreciation Luncheon<\/span><\/b> (Ramsey Center, 11:00 am\u20131:30 pm)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Wear your purple and gold<\/span><\/b> and enjoy food, fun, and prizes!\u00a0 Join us for the 2025 Annual Employee Appreciation Luncheon on the main floor of the Ramsey Regional Activity Center between 11:00 am and 1:30 pm on Thursday, September 4<\/span>th<\/span>.\u00a0 Free swag will be provided and a Benefits\/Vendor fair featuring 30+ vendors from the University and surrounding community will be on the concourse throughout the event.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Catamount Athletics Ticket Giveaway<\/span><\/b> (Ramsey Center Truck Tunnel, 11:00am \u2013 1:30pm)\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Be on the lookout for our colleagues from Catamount Athletics when you arrive at the Employee Appreciation Luncheon.\u00a0 They will be in the truck tunnel providing vouchers for two free home football tickets to every faculty and staff member!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Faculty\/Staff Portraits<\/span><\/b> (HFR 420, 12:30\u20134:30 pm)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Do you need a new professional photo for your departmental webpage or other official uses?\u00a0 Our colleagues in University Photography are offering open studio sessions during Employee Appreciation Week.\u00a0 No appointment necessary.\u00a0 Please stop by any time between 12:30 and 4:30 on Thursday, September 4th.\u00a0 Sessions usually take less than five minutes.\u00a0 Professional attire is recommended.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Friday, Sept. 5<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Passport Drive<\/span><\/b> (by appointment, hosted by the Office of Global Engagement)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

WCU Global be hosting a Passport Drive on Friday, September 5th! Please use the links below to sign up for appointments based on the size of your party!\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n