WCU Center for Community Engagement & Service Learning

09/01/2026

Want to make a real difference in your community but aren't sure how to start?

Our interactive, one-hour workshop is designed to turn your good intentions into meaningful impact, whether you are looking to give back as an individual or mobilize a larger group. We will dive into the core mindsets and mechanics of exceptional service, covering everything from logistics and transportation to the critical power of preparedness before you arrive. Through fun games to map out volunteer successes and failures, you will learn what works, what doesn't, and how to successfully find the right opportunities for your schedule and skills. We will wrap up with our top 10 tips and tricks to ensure you hit the ground running and become the kind of volunteer that organizations love to work with.

YOU ALSO RECEIVE SPARK CIVIC EDUCATION CREDIT FOR THIS EVENT! Come ready to learn, laugh, and walk away with a practical roadmap for making a lasting difference!

08/31/2026

Save the date for our next "know what's on your ballot" event!

Join the Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning (CCESL) for a nonpartisan educational event designed to help students become informed voters ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Participants will learn about the candidates, offices, and issues that will appear on their ballots, gain tools for researching ballot items, and have the opportunity to ask questions in a neutral and nonpartisan environment.

Food, refreshments, and fun included! Feel free to drop-in or stay the entire time.

⭐️ Civic Education Credit for the Spark Award ⭐️

08/30/2026

Happening Today, Sunday August 30, 2026!

2026 Jackson County Recovery Rally takes place today at Bridge Park in Sylva from 4:00-6:00pm! Featuring Keynote Speaker Keahana Lambert

The event aims at helping Jackson County residents embrace recovery and reach out to a variety of community resources and supportive services.

🎤 Meet Our Keynote Speaker!
We’re excited to welcome Keahana Lambert to the Jackson County Recovery Rally🌟 Keahana’s experience, passion, and message of hope will help us celebrate the strength of individuals and families impacted by recovery.
Join us as we come together to celebrate recovery, honor resilience, reduce stigma, and remind our community that recovery is possible. 💜
📅 August 30th, 2026
📍 Bridge Park Sylva
⏰ 4:00pm- 6:00pm

08/28/2026

HUGE SHOUT-OUT TO The Emergency Management Student Association here at WCU for a highly successful 2-day blood drive for the first American Red Cross Blood Donors drive of the 2026-2027 academic year! 162 units altogether!!!!!

Their hard work on this drive and your willingness to donate helped to change the lives of up to 486 patients in need of lifesaving blood products. That is a huge contribution to people right here in our region, and the American Red Cross sends its many thanks. CCESL is so proud of the collective Catamount family for being so willing to serve and engage with the community! Keep up the great work EMSA! We see you :)

The next blood drive is next Wednesday, September 2nd, and is hosted by the Brinson Honors College Board of Directors. Please support this cause, you can find an appointment and make an appointment at https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/drive-results?zipSponsor=cats

08/28/2026

Mark your calendars for the Community Involvement Fair on September 12!

Join us at the Community Involvement Fair on September 12 and meet 20+ local organizations eager to connect with WCU students. Whether you're looking for volunteer experiences, internships, community resources, or leadership opportunities, there's something for everyone.

📍 Illusions (UC 309)
🕧 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM

Bring a friend and discover how you can make an impact on campus and in the community!

08/27/2026

🚨 ATTENTION: WCU ENGAGE TRACKING IS OFFICIALLY CLOSED ! 🚨

As of today, the Spark Award is no longer active on WCU Engage.

To continue working toward your Spark Award (or to get started on your progress), you must join our new Canvas page!

📲 WHAT YOU NEED TO DO NOW:
Fill out the "Promise to Spark" survey to get your invitation to the new Canvas course.
For more information about the new Spark Award check out our recently pinned post from yesterday for everything you need to know!

Don't let your progress pause—fill out the survey today to get added to Canvas! ⚡

Still have questions? Reach out by emailing us at [email protected]

08/27/2026

One of the best ways to honor 9/11 is through service.

Join fellow Catamounts for an afternoon with Jackson County Rescue and connect with a community organization that serves our region every day.

🚐 Vanpool departs from Lot 14 (Belk Lot)
📅 Sept. 11, 2026 | 2:45-5:00 PM

The 9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance is a nationwide effort that transforms a day of remembrance into a day of positive action through service. The Western Carolina University Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning (CCESL) honors both National Days of Service: 9/11 and MLK Day.

08/27/2026

Looking for volunteer opportunities that include fluffy felines? Then consider making your way down to the Catman2 Shelter! Located less than 2.5 miles from campus!

Volunteers assist with important daily tasks such as sweeping and mopping floors, scooping litter boxes, cleaning food and water bowls, doing laundry, and helping keep common areas tidy. Volunteers are also needed to socialize kitties to prepare them for adoption by humans. If animal advocacy and the health of kitties are important to you, then be the reason these cats are provided a safe, clean, and enriching environment.

First, fill out a volunteer form at www.catman2.org/volunteer. Then you can call and schedule a volunteer time over the phone at 828-293-0892, or send an e-mail to the Director at [email protected]

08/26/2026

🚨 ATTENTION ALL SPARK PARTICIPANTS! SUPER IMPORTANT UPDATE! 🚨
Starting tomorrow, the Spark Award is officially moving FULLY to Canvas! We’ve created a brand-new setup to make tracking your progress easier, faster, and more accessible than ever before.

If you are currently working toward the Spark Award—or want to start—YOU NEED TO JOIN THE NEW CANVAS COURSE!SWIPE THROUGH THIS POST RIGHT NOW TO SEE:
1️⃣ What is changing & why
2️⃣ How your existing progress carries over
3️⃣ How to join the new Canvas course
4️⃣ Answers to your top FAQs📲

NEXT STEPS: Scan the QR code on Slide 4 to complete your "Promise to Spark" survey and get added to the Canvas course immediately!

Questions? Drop a comment below or email us directly at [email protected]!

08/26/2026

Today, we remember Dolly Parton, whose legacy extends far beyond music.

A beloved Appalachian icon, Dolly used her success to uplift others through philanthropy, literacy, education, disaster relief, and countless acts of generosity.

Flags across the country have been lowered to half-staff in her honor. Somewhere, people are singing along to a favorite Dolly song. Families are visiting Dollywood. And somewhere, a child is opening their mailbox to find a free book from Dolly's Imagination Library, continuing a legacy she built one reader at a time in honor of her father, who could neither read nor write.

Dolly never forgot where she came from. A champion of community, education, and service to others, she dedicated her life to creating opportunities for others while remaining deeply rooted in the mountains she called home.

Her example reminds us that service, kindness, and generosity can change lives.

Thank you for all you gave, Dolly, and for all you will continue to give through the lives that you touched, the opportunities you created, and the legacy that you built across generations. 💜