Top 10 most memorable moments of 2025
Look back on a record-setting year of traditions, milestone anniversaries, and strengthened community2025 marked the 125th anniversary of Lees-McRae College, an exciting milestone in the college’s history. But that milestone is not the only thing Bobcats have had to celebrate over the past 12 months. This year has been full of Bobcat spirit, traditions with new twists, and broken records.
Let’s look back on the top 10 most memorable moments from this historic year.
ONE Lees-McRae is launched
ONE Lees-McRae is a new engagement initiative that brings together stakeholders from all sectors of the college, including students and alumni, family and friends, community members, and donors.
ONE Lees-McRae events were held in the Triangle, Charlotte, and right here in the High Country to reinvigorate and organize new leadership for the existing engagement chapters. 2025 is just the beginning of what will be a multi-year project to fully launch the initiative.
Tourism and Resort Management becomes newest academic program
This year the college introduced the new Tourism and Resort Management major, a Bachelor of Science degree that takes advantage of the strong tourism industry in the High Country. The program leans into the college’s location and distinctiveness and will build on preexisting programming within the School of Business and Management.
With courses ranging from Event and Venue Management to Sustainable Tourism Operations, this program is the perfect preparation for students interested in any and all facets of the tourism industry.
Learn more about the launch of the new program
New Opportunity School for Women celebrates 20 years
Since 2005, the New Opportunity School for Women (NOSW) at Lees-McRae has offered a place for Appalachian women to gather together for a summer of academic, professional, and personal transformation. The program gives low-income women the skills and tools they need to achieve their goals in a supportive and nurturing environment.
2025 marked the 20th anniversary of the Lees-McRae branch of the program, which was founded by alumna Jane Baucom Stephenson ’57.
Community Foundation for Western North Carolina gives grants for Hurricane Helene recovery
The college—and the High Country as a whole—has made great strides in the recovery from Hurricane Helene since the record-breaking storm hit Western North Carolina last fall. Much of that recovery was made possible by generous grants from the Community Foundation for Western North Carolina (CFWNC).
The non-profit, which serves 18 counties in Western North Carolina, gave two rounds of grant funding to the college, which assisted in immediate recovery and reopening efforts, and in revitalization efforts for the Elk Valley Preserve. The 70-acre natural laboratory was greatly affected by the storm, and the grants from CFWNC were instrumental in returning students to their classes and research projects.
Commencement 2025 breaks records and starts new traditions
The 125th graduating class was historic for more than just its anniversary. The Class of 2025 was also the largest graduating class in the college’s history. The Commencement exercises held on Tate Lawn in May were an exciting celebration of the milestone both in the lives of the students and of the college, featuring new green gowns that will be worn by all graduates moving forward.
In recognition of this historic occasion, a new Commencement tradition was born: Golden Graduates. The Golden Graduates are alumni marking their 50th graduation anniversary, and each year a new cohort will join the ceremony in recognition of that important milestone.
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2025 becomes largest fundraising year in college history
This anniversary year also broke financial records, as the 2024–25 fiscal year is the biggest individual year of fundraising in the college’s history. With the outpouring of community support following the devastation from Hurricane Helene, and the ongoing investment into the future of the college, our Lees-McRae community came together to support their mountain home like never before.
During the fiscal year, which ended in June, patrons of the college came together to raise $10.2 million, a 68% increase in year-over-year giving from the previous year.
Lees-McRae lands highest ever ranking on U.S. News & World Report list
The college came in 12th place on the U.S. News & World Report list of best Regional Colleges South for 2026, its highest ranking ever. The college jumped 10 places from its 22nd place ranking on last year’s list, and 16 places from its 28th place ranking for 2024.
Lees-McRae also earned spots on the organization’s lists for Regional Colleges South Best Value, Regional Colleges South Social Mobility, and Regional Colleges South Undergraduate Teaching.
Homecoming and Family Weekend
Homecoming is always a reason for celebration and community gathering, but for the college’s 125th year it was time to go big, by combining Homecoming and Family Weekend into one weekend-long celebration for Bobcats of all ages and affiliations. With a Founder’s Day Ceremony, the burying of a 50-year time capsule, and a Ferris wheel on the schedule, this year’s celebration was one for the books.
Veterans Memorial rededication honors additional service members
This year’s Veterans Day ceremony was particularly special, as the college also celebrated the rededication of the on-campus Veterans Memorial. The memorial was updated to include additional service members from the Lees-McRae community.
This year’s ceremony also featured remarks from veteran, alumnus, and former Board of Trustee member Capt. Kenneth Sullivan ’59.
Lees-McRae celebrates incredible growth during Fall 2025 semester
2025 was also a record-breaking year for enrollment. Along with one of our largest-ever incoming classes (405 total across undergraduate and graduate programs), we saw a massive increase in students qualifying for the Honors Program (including 90 incoming students), a 69% increase in students coming from the Northeast, 37% more students from North Carolina, 50% more students from South Carolina, and 73% more students from Tennessee. A record 46 students are enrolled in the college's graduate programs—more than double the enrollment of the 2023–24 academic year.
Lees-McRae continues to thrive as students are drawn to the unique academic and athletic opportunities available here, as well as the inviting and community-focused atmosphere.
