The Gala

INAUGURATION CELEBRATION CULMINATES IN 42ND ANNUAL PRESIDENTIAL GALA

More than 450 alumni, donors, WCU faculty and staff, students, friends, and supporters gathered in the Conservatory at Longwood Gardens on March 28 in celebration of the inauguration of Dr. Laurie Bernotsky as the University’s 16th president.

Proceeds from this year’s Gala support experiential learning opportunities — unpaid internships, clinical rotations, student-teacher stipends, education abroad, the WCU Resource Pantry, and the Career Closet — that are vital to our students’ education. Senior marketing major Lilyana Campbell was awarded a scholarship to study language in Sorrento, Italy. She told the audience: “I can go on and on about the remarkable pizza and endless pasta, but this trip meant so much more to me. I discovered the beauty of connecting with people from diverse backgrounds and realized how important global perspectives are in today’s world. … I truly understood the significance of international business and the impact it has on fostering cross-cultural relationships.”

Lilyana is returning to WCU this fall to earn her MBA.

The Gala was co-chaired by Michael M’91 and Karen Gibson M’00 and made possible thanks to presenting sponsor Aramark and numerous corporate sponsors. The Gala is funded entirely by private donations and sponsorships.

Photos from the Gala