Community

May 23, 2018
On May 4, 2018, Lees-McRae became the first "small school" to take the crown in Blue Ridge Outdoor Magazine's annual Top Adventure College competition.
March 05, 2018
After pulling a man from a burning car two years ago while off-duty, Lt. William Buchanan, a former criminal justice student, received the Medal of Valor.
February 02, 2018
Dee Thomas, Lees-McRae College Adjunct Professor and Director of Catalyst Sports' Boone chapter, highlighted for her leadership in nature conservation and adventure.
December 15, 2017
Over 1,000 pounds of food in the form of cans, dry-goods and other non-perishable items were donated to local food bank, Feeding Avery Families, by the help of Lees-McRae students, faculty and staff.
December 07, 2017
For years, Lees-McRae College has been providing students with a cutting-edge education to take on the healthcare world.
November 20, 2017
With help from a $3,000 grant, the Lees-McRae Outdoor Recreation Management program, in conjunction with the organic garden club, has begun a brand new, three-part, campus-wide green initiative.
November 14, 2017
The Lees-McRae cheerleading team will host a fall cheerleading clinic on Saturday, Nov. 18 at the Student Recreation Complex from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
November 10, 2017
Lees-McRae College will host childhood survivor of the Holocaust, Louise Lawrence-Israëls, to speak about her experience and life story on Thursday, Nov. 16 at 7:30 p.m. in Hayes Auditorium.
November 06, 2017
Become immersed in the heartbreaking and hopeful Lees-McRae Theatre Arts production of And Then They Came For Me: Remembering The World of Anne Frank.
November 01, 2017
Have you ever thought about hiking the Appalachian Trail? Byron Browne, a photographer and teacher based in Asheville, North Carolina, is one of the few who has successfully completed a “thru-hike” of the AT.
October 27, 2017
Lees-McRae College will host a showing of the 12th annual REEL ROCK Film Tour on Friday, November 3 in Evans Auditorium inside the Cannon Student Center.
October 25, 2017
With 1,153 activities logged, Lees-McRae College students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members hiked, biked and explored their way to second place in the division I Southeast region and 21st place overall in the Outdoor Nation Campus Challenge.
October 24, 2017
If you are looking for a safe way to spend Halloween, sheltered from ghosts and goblins, come to Lees-McRae College for a poetry reading by professor Melissa Mercer.
October 10, 2017
It’s no secret that the process of exiting high school and entering the world of college is equal parts scary and liberating. This is a new beginning, and perhaps in a vastly different location than at home with your family.
October 09, 2017
Since its start on Sept. 18, Lees-McRae College students, faculty, staff and alumni have logged more than 900 total adventures for the chance at prizes and the ultimate title of “National Outdoor Champion.”
September 26, 2017
As part of the Stephenson Center for Appalachia lecture series at Lees-McRae College, Dr. Sean Collins and Dr. Michael Joslin will present a program titled Foraging in the Mountains.
September 21, 2017
How well can you spell? For the children competing in the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, six will enter, but only one speller will leave with the title of C-H-A-M-P-I-O-N.
September 19, 2017
On Thursday, Sept. 21, Asheville-based artist, Carley Dergins, will have her drawings displayed during the season-opener exhibition titled Recording Impermanence in the Cannon Student Center King-Shivell Gallery on the campus of Lees-McRae College.
September 19, 2017
Ally Murphy no longer has that constant sense of urgency she once had. It wasn’t because she gave up one day, in fact, it’s quite the opposite.
September 15, 2017
Get ready, because starting Monday, Sept. 18, Lees-McRae College Outdoor Nation Campus Challenge participants can begin logging their activities in the Campus Challenge app.
September 15, 2017
Much like the exciting yet classic movie, The Wizard of Oz, this years’ Homecoming theme, “There’s No Place Like Homecoming”, will bring together both classic tradition along with new excitement starting on Friday, Sept. 29 until Sunday Oct. 1.
September 12, 2017
In an increase from last year’s No. 23 spot, Lees-McRae College landed at No. 19 as best regional college in the South in addition to a spot on the “Best Value School” list in the newest evaluation released by U.S. News & World Report.
September 01, 2017
Hiking, kayaking, backpacking, bicycling and even bird-watching–just a few of the activities Lees-McRae students, faculty, staff, alumni and the local community will be participating in from Sept. 18 through Oct. 15 as they compete to win the fourth annual Outdoor Nation Campus Challenge.
August 31, 2017
With beautiful summer weather here and more to come with the arrival of autumn, discover places to explore in the area’s mountains during the Stephenson Center for Appalachia’s presentation, So You Say You Have Nothing To Do?: Plunging Waterfalls, Invigorating Hikes, Entertaining Beasts and Entrancing Sights.
August 31, 2017
Williams Gymnasium on the campus of Lees-McRae kicked off its next big chapter during the Celebration and Preview event on Monday, August 28.
August 29, 2017
During the President’s Circle Summer Soirée event on August 21, Lees-McRae President Barry M. Buxton publicly announced The University Campaign for Lees-McRae.
August 16, 2017
On Monday, August 21, Lees-McRae will hold a solar eclipse viewing party open to all students, faculty, staff and the local community on the front lawn of Tate Residence Hall.
August 14, 2017
Lees-McRae Performing Arts will open its stage for fall production auditions on Wednesday, August 16, at 6:30 p.m. in Hayes Auditorium.
July 31, 2017
Lees-McRae President Barry M. Buxton announced that he will retire in May 2018 and that a search for his replacement has begun. Buxton has served as the president of Lees-McRae since June 1, 2010 and is the 15th president in the 116-year-history of the institution.
July 17, 2017
Taking stage last, but certainly not least, Legally Blonde The Musical will cap off the Lees-McRae Summer Theatre season starting July 28.
July 03, 2017
Revisit some of the greatest songs of the rock ‘n’ roll age through the Lees-McRae Summer Theatre performance of the Tony award-winning show, Million Dollar Quartet.
June 26, 2017
You could say that Phil Hoffmann, the new director of campus recreation and outdoor programs, is passionate about the outdoors and recreation, but of course, that would not tell the whole story.
June 21, 2017
Warm sunshine. Cool breezes. Fresh, mountain air. Ah, summer in the mountains! We love all of our seasons, but there’s just something magical about summer in Banner Elk.
June 13, 2017
The Lees-McRae College Hayes Auditorium and Broyhill Theatre stage will come to life in vibrant colors on June 25 with the premiere of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
June 09, 2017
Lees-McRae Summer Theatre will kick off the 2017 season with the debut of Screen Test on June 17 as part of the theater for young audiences.
June 07, 2017
The Lees-McRae College Department of Athletics announced Friday that it will add men's and women's swimming and diving programs for the 2018-19 academic year.
June 06, 2017
If you are looking to gain insight into Appalachian culture, seeking to enrich your summer experience, or simply looking for traditional entertainment, reserve three Wednesdays in June to participate in the John B. Stephenson Lecture Series at Lees-McRae College.
June 05, 2017
Curious children and adults alike can now visit the May Wildlife Rehabilitation Center on the campus of Lees-McRae College Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 1 p.m. for its free summer wildlife presentation series.
June 01, 2017
Learn about drama, dance, music, technical theater, writing and other art forms at the Creative and Performing Arts Camp on the campus of Lees-McRae College this summer.
May 30, 2017
Brandi Clark, a junior at Lees-McRae College, never thought she would attend college, much less spend a month studying wildlife in New Zealand.
May 26, 2017
Registration is now open for two Lees-McRae College science-focused camps, the Wildlife Science Summer Program and the Advanced Wildlife Science Summer Program.
May 10, 2017
Dressed from head-to-toe in black satin regalia and anxiously awaiting with excitement, 334 students simmer in their seats, anticipating their designated time to approach the stage and receive their degree.
May 03, 2017
For many seniors, the end of a college career marks the start of a new chapter in life. Whether it is students from the May School of Nursing and Health Sciences, to the School of Arts, Humanities and Education, each corner of Lees-McRae has produced shining examples of what a degree from this college can do for you.
May 02, 2017
As part of the larger, nation-wide effort, Lees-McRae College joined as a supporting member of Sexual Assault Awareness Month through various events and discussions across campus.
April 26, 2017
The six outdoor legend panelists that sat before the tables of students, faculty and staff the evening of Thursday, April 20 could not have possessed more different personalities, but what did tie them together was their passion for the outdoors.
April 21, 2017
Though sharing his heart wrenching story was not favorable, 90-year-old Dr. Walter Ziffer said it is all too important, “in order to never repeat history ever again.”
April 20, 2017
Tickets are now available online for the 2017 Lees-McRae Summer Theatre series which will kick-off on June 25 with several performances of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Million Dollar Quartet and Legally Blonde The Musical.
April 11, 2017
Holocaust survivor Dr. Walter Ziffer will present first-hand accounts of his experiences at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 19 in Evans Auditorium.
April 07, 2017
The college’s motto, “In the Mountains, Of the Mountains, For the Mountains,” is more than a way of thinking– it’s a way of action.
April 06, 2017
Mark Reed, a nationally ranked private school leader and trustee for several regional and domestic boards, will speak during the spring Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 6. During that time, he will also receive an Honorary Doctorate of Education.
April 05, 2017
Currently serving as the U.S. Representative for North Carolina’s fifth district, Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., spent the afternoon Friday, March 31 answering students’ questions and discussing her childhood in Avery County.
March 27, 2017
Sponsored by the Stephenson Center for Appalachia, Lees-McRae will kick-off the start of spring and highlight the unique aspects of mountain living during its seventh annual Appalachian Heritage Week.
March 27, 2017
Lees-McRae will now go head-to-head against Tennessee-based school, Maryville College, after defeating Brevard College by nearly 900 votes in the Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine’s Top Adventure College competition.
March 20, 2017
After winning the first bracket of the Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine Top Adventure College contest against Georgia-based Berry College by almost 1,000 votes, Lees-McRae is now in the second round against North Carolina-based Brevard College.
March 17, 2017
The New Opportunity School for Women at Lees-McRae College is accepting applications for the program’s free annual summer session.
March 10, 2017
Warren Doyle, the record holder for the most complete traverses of the Appalachian Trail, will present a program on his Trail experiences at Lees-McRae College on Thursday, March 16 at 7 p.m. in Evans Auditorium as a Stephenson Center for Appalachia lecturer.
March 08, 2017
2017 marks Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine’s fifth “Top Adventure College” tournament and Lees-McRae is in the running.
March 03, 2017
When it comes to small, hidden gems, Lees-McRae knows a thing or two, but what do you do over spring break if you’re not leaving the high country? Here is our list of five things you can do over the vacation to get the most out of your fun, relaxing spring break.
February 21, 2017
In a bright, mural-covered library amidst several-dozen Mabel Elementary School students on Monday, February 20, President Buxton, alongside Appalachian State University Chancellor Sheri Everts and Caldwell Community College President Mark Poarch, talked about his career as president and answered questions in honor of Presidents Day.
February 15, 2017
Witty verbal exchanges, disguises, dysfunctional families, many lovers trying to find the perfect mates, and four marriages to end it all. Sounds like a lot to fit into one play, but William Shakespeare did just that in his pastoral comedy As You Like It, which is the spring production of the Lees-McRae College Performing Arts program.
February 13, 2017
Rachel Held Evans is weird, but it is not exactly what you would think–she wants to keep Christianity weird. New York Times best-selling author and popular faith blogger, Rachel Held Evans will visit campus to present her talk titled, “Keep Christianity Weird.”
February 10, 2017
Camping out of their Subaru, Steph Whatton and Andy Mossey—two Subaru/Leave No Trace traveling trainers—will visit campus on February 15 to educate the community on responsible and minimum-impact outdoor recreation.
January 30, 2017
Adaptive Ski Week participants are used to pushing against the odds, even if that means skiing in warmer-than-usual North Carolina winter temperatures.
January 27, 2017
Grammy nominee Ted Olson will come to Lees-McRae on Wednesday, February 1, to present a program on his latest award-winning album, On Top of Old Smoky: New Old-Time Smoky Mountain Music.
January 25, 2017
Nine-hundred miles off the East Coast of Australia and 600 miles south of Fiji, are the islands that comprise the fascinating country of New Zealand. Known largely for its biodiversity, it makes sense as to why students from the wildlife rehabilitation program made the 8,500-mile journey for the third year.
January 17, 2017
The May School of Nursing and Health Sciences at Lees-McRae College will host a team from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) from March 15-17, 2017, when CCNE conducts its on-site evaluation of the baccalaureate degree nursing program (RN to BSN and Pre-licensure BSN).
January 17, 2017
Other than the sounds of the wind and pelting snow, the haunting howls of red wolves that many years ago brought a different kind of chill to folks huddled in their cabins have disappeared from our area, although a population still exists in the Eastern part of North Carolina.
January 13, 2017
Dean and Instructor of Business and Management Amy Anderson provided some money saving tips on Daytime Tri-Cities finance segment “Money Matters”, on January 10. The live broadcast provided Anderson the opportunity to share money saving tips and some of her own personal tricks.
January 06, 2017
If you thought something looked different in the Williams Gymnasium, you would be right. Since mid-December, crews have worked to install the gym’s new bleachers on both sides of the court.
December 22, 2016
Entries were submitted from across the country, but now the results are in. On Dec. 21, the NCAA announced Lees-McRae’s ‘Lunch Buddy Program’ as the Conference Carolinas representative and finalist for the 2017 Division II Award of Excellence.
December 16, 2016
Over the last several weeks, students, faculty and staff have collected approximately 1,025 items and $200 in money donations as part of the annual food drive held on campus. Boxes of cans, soups and other miscellaneous dry goods were taken to the Feeding Avery Families location in Newland, North Carolina, on December 13.
December 16, 2016
Earlier this fall during the Woolly Worm Festival, a popular, ever-growing downtown Banner Elk festival dedicated to the larvae of the tiger moth and its abilities to predict the severity of the coming winter, students from the Business Statistics course (BUS 265) collected exactly 305 surveys.
December 15, 2016
Earlier this month, Hickory Young Professionals announced its 2016 Top 10 Under 40 Awards, earning Lees-McRae Vice President of Online Learning Bo Bennett a spot on its list.
December 02, 2016
Several dozen students sat on the curb outside Banner Elk Elementary School Thursday afternoon waiting for the arrival of the Lees-McRae cycling team with books stuffed in their backpacks.
November 29, 2016
Today, the League of American Bicyclists recognized Lees-McRae with a Silver Bicycle Friendly University (BFUSM) award, joining more than 150 visionary colleges and universities from across the country.
November 22, 2016
You may have heard about Black Friday or Cyber Monday, but have you heard about Giving Tuesday? On Tuesday, November 29, hundreds of colleges, universities, organizations, companies and even individuals will participate in Giving Tuesday—a global day of giving that harnesses the collective power of individuals, communities and organizations to encourage philanthropy and to celebrate generosity worldwide.
November 11, 2016
If you are interested in learning about the complexities of Reconstruction in Southern Appalachia, come to the Stephenson Center for Appalachia’s lecture on November 16, at 7 p.m. in Evans Auditorium on the Lees-McRae College campus. Dr. Steven Nash will present a program based on his recently released book Reconstruction’s Ragged Edge: The Politics of Postwar Life in the Southern Mountains.
November 10, 2016
Meet Eurydice (pronounced: Ear-reh-da-see): daughter of the Greek god Apollo and wife of Orpheus, and you could say she is in-between a rock and a hard place.
November 07, 2016
BackgroundChecks.org released its annual "Safest Colleges in North Carolina" report for 2016 in early October—landing Lees-McRae 27 on the list.
November 02, 2016
In a recent ranking study released by Affordable Colleges Online—a resource for online learning and college affordability information—Lees-McRae online programs ranked among the top in North Carolina for the years 2016 through 2017.
October 27, 2016
With the help of faculty and students from Lees-McRae, young students across Avery County on Friday, October 21, got a hands-on experience with the rich heritage of the Appalachian high country.
October 27, 2016
May Wildlife Rehabilitation Center Director, Nina Fischesser, made an appearance on two local television stations last week with students and feathered-friends closely by her side.
October 19, 2016
The May School of Nursing and Health Sciences held its first mock disaster simulation Wednesday, October 12. The simulation took place in the rear parking lot of the May School of Nursing and Health Sciences building. Both nursing and emergency medical services and management students were made aware of the situation only moments before being asked to spring into action.
October 18, 2016
Are you looking for spooky fun to celebrate Halloween? Come to Lees-McRae College on October 27, at 7 p.m. to hear an original play, The Devil’s Stairs, written by Boone novelist Joshua Simcox. A graduate of the college’s creative writing program, he will direct a radio broadcast reading of his play with Lees-McRae students in Evans Auditorium.
October 14, 2016
Members of the campus community joined President Buxton Thursday, October 13 for a community bike ride. The ride was part of an effort to promote both Lees-McRae and the Town of Banner Elk as a “Bicycle Friendly Community”—a label presented by The League of American Bicyclists.
October 10, 2016
The campus of Lees-McRae is both a mixture of the new and old. Boulders stacked atop of one another like mosaic tiles in a church window are juxtaposed by sleek white floors and trendy furniture.
October 07, 2016
Ireland is coming to Lees-McRae! The Belfast Boys, traditional Irish music duo, will visit campus on Thursday, October 13. As part of the Stephenson Center for Appalachia Lecture Series, poet and musician Adrian Rice and classically-trained musician Alyn Mearns will appear at 7 p.m. in Evans Auditorium in the Cannon Student Center.
October 06, 2016
Students, faculty and staff will gather Friday afternoon to celebrate the completion of the Dotti M. Shelton Learning Commons. The Learning Commons— formerly James H. Carson Library—received about $2.5 million for renovations and began work in May 2016.
September 29, 2016
Lees-McRae students, faculty, staff and several college leaders met Wednesday afternoon for the Daniel May Woodworking Shop Dedication Ceremony. The space-- made possible by donations from the May family-- will now feature state-of-the-art wood working equipment housed within its new walls.
September 26, 2016
Lees-McRae President Barry Buxton was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine from North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory Friday morning. Created in 1963, the award is one of several civilian-focused honors the governor of North Carolina can bestow.
September 19, 2016
They’re ooky and they’re spooky—and they’ll be appearing in the Lees-McRae College Performing Arts fall musical. The Addams Family will make its debut from Thursday, Sept. 29 until Sunday, Oct. 2.
September 13, 2016
Lees-McRae College was named the No. 23 best regional college in the South, in a new evaluation released by U.S. News & World Report. Defined by the news site, regional colleges focus on the undergraduate experience and offer a broad range of programs in the liberal arts and professional fields such as nursing, education and business.
September 08, 2016
Lees-McRae College will host a showing of the 11th annual REEL ROCK Film Tour on Friday, September 16 on historic Tate Lawn. An opening reception complete with information booths and vendors will start at 7 p.m. with the film to begin at 8 p.m.
September 07, 2016
To open the academic year and introduce newcomers to the area, the Stephenson Center for Appalachia at Lees-McRae College will present So You Say You Have Nothing To Do?: Plunging Waterfalls, Invigorating Hikes, Entertaining Beasts and Entrancing Sights on Thursday, September 15 at 7 p.m. in Evans Auditorium.
August 29, 2016
UNC-TV recently featured Lees-McRae Summer Theatre in a special episode of the North Carolina Now program which provided a behind the scenes look at the acclaimed theatre program with a special focus on Summer Theatre Artistic Director Dr. Janet Barton Speer.
August 19, 2016
Lees-McRae College is pleased to announce the appointment of Erin Healey as Vice President of Enrollment Management. Healey most recently served as Senior Associate Director of Admissions at Ross University School of Medicine and School of Veterinary Medicine.
August 17, 2016
On Wednesday, August 31, the Lees-McRae Performing Arts department will partner with dancers Sandi Solomon and Tony Luis to present “The Joys of Partner Dancing,” a lecture, dance exhibit and opportunity to learn. The event will be held from 4 – 5:20 p.m. in the dance studio located in the Performing Arts Building.
August 12, 2016
Lees-McRae College will hold its Convocation ceremony on Thursday, August 18 at 4 p.m. in Hayes Auditorium. Convocation is an important part of the academic tradition at Lees-McRae. Literally a 'coming together' of the College community, Convocation celebrates the beginning of the academic year and welcomes new and returning students to campus. Lees-McRae alumnus Hakim Bellamy ’02 will give the keynote address, “4000 Feet Above Average.” Bellamy will also be a poet in residence on campus August 17-18.
August 01, 2016
A Lees-McRae graduate will be among the elite athletes at the opening ceremonies of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio on Friday, August 5. Cyclist Brent Bookwalter will ride for Team USA with the U.S. men’s road team. “This has been a firm and ambitious goal of mine for the past couple of years,” says Bookwalter, who will compete in two events: the Road Race and the Time Trial.
August 01, 2016
As the 2016-2017 academic year quickly approaches, Lees-McRae Provost Dr. Todd Lidh spoke with WLTX of Columbia, SC about the college freshman experience. His advice included to make connections with peers, prepare for the semester using class syllabi, be financially smart, take a walk around campus and finally, stay in touch with family.
July 29, 2016
To wrap up the 2016 season, the cast and crew of Lees-McRae Summer Theater will present The Pajama Game. Based on the novel “7½ cents” by Richard Bissell, the production will be performed August 2 and 4–5 at 7 p.m. and August 3–4 and 6–7 at 2 p.m.
July 11, 2016
Lees-McRae continues the 31st Summer Theatre season with the musical Always… Patsy Cline. The production will be performed on July 14-16 and 19 at 7 p.m. and July 16, 17 and 20 at 2 p.m.
July 01, 2016
This summer, taking a stroll around Banner Elk will have an added pleasure — fully operational pianos situated throughout town, ready for players.
June 20, 2016
Lees-McRae is kicking off the 31st Summer Theatre season with Disney and Cameron Mackintosh's Mary Poppins, which runs from June 26-July 3. Based on the books by P.L. Travers and the classic Walt Disney film, the show delighted Broadway audiences for more than 2,500 performances and received nominations for nine Olivier and seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical. The shows will take place in the Hayes Auditorium of Broyhill Theatre.
June 10, 2016
Lees-McRae College was represented by Vice President of Athletics and Club Sports Craig McPhail at the 2016 NCAA Career in Sports Forum in Indianapolis, Ind. last weekend. McPhail served as a panelist at the Forum, which consisted of over 200 current student-athletes and NCAA postgraduate scholarship recipients with an interest in working within the sports industry.
June 09, 2016
NCAA Division II Conference Carolinas selected Dr. Barry M. Buxton as President at the organization’s spring meeting in Clemson, South Carolina. Conference Carolinas has 12 member colleges and universities in North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. The athletics conference promotes student-athletes and sportsmanship with a focus on academic rigor and performance.
June 01, 2016
Lees-McRae Summer Theatre is excited to announce the 2016 Summer Theatre schedule. The 31st season, which includes Mary Poppins, Always… Patsy Cline and The Pajama Game, is packed with family-friendly comedy, laughs and good memories.
May 27, 2016
If you are looking to gain insight into Appalachian culture or seeking to enrich your summer experience, reserve the first three Wednesdays in June to participate in the John B. Stephenson Lecture Series at Lees-McRae College. The Wednesday lectures on June 1, 8, and 15 are free and open to the public.
May 10, 2016
Lees-McRae College awarded 251 degrees, the largest number in College history, during commencement exercises Saturday, May 7. Among the graduates, 23 graduated with honors, 58 graduated summa cum laude (3.90-4.0 GPA), 63 graduated magna cum laude (3.70-3.89 GPA) and 33 graduated cum laude (3.50-3.69 GPA).
May 05, 2016
The Lees-McRae College Chi chapter of Alpha Chi National College Honor Society is pleased to announce its spring 2016 class of members. Founded in 1922, Alpha Chi was established to recognize academic achievement. Today, Alpha Chi has chapters at 300 college campuses across the United States.
May 02, 2016
Learning Management Coordinator Melissa Mercer has published her first chapbook of poetry with Dancing Girl Press. Storm Was Her Voice wrestles with gender, identity and voice: the fraught process of speaking and being heard. It features strong ancestral women, myth and communal movement through a beautiful, brutal earth.
April 20, 2016
Lees-McRae College is proud to announce that Dianne L. May has been chosen to receive an honorary Doctor of Humanities at this year’s commencement ceremony on May 7, 2016.
April 19, 2016
On Wednesday, April 13, Lees-McRae celebrated the 12th annual Mountain Day of Service. This annual day of service resulted in an incredible 1,029 hours of service completed by 343 students, faculty, staff and volunteers. Altogether the campus community participated in 22 projects, two off campus and 20 on campus. After all the hard work was complete, participants gathered on Tate Lawn to enjoy a cookout, fellowship with one another and the beautiful spring weather.
April 13, 2016
Wildlife biology major Destini Petitt and biology major Hailey Sarausky participated in the 23rd annual Blue Ridge Undergraduate Research Conference this month at King University in Bristol, TN. Undergraduate students from throughout the region submitted brief abstracts and were selected to present their scholarly work in either oral or poster presentations. Institutions represented at this year’s conference included Davis & Elkins College, King University, Lees-McRae College, Lincoln Memorial University, Milligan College, Ohio Valley University, Tusculum College, Union College, and the University of Virginia - Wise.
April 11, 2016
Dr. Michael Joslin, English professor and director of the Stephenson Center for Appalachia at Lees-McRae, was featured on WLOS in Asheville along with Lee Rankin of Apple Hill Farm. Check it out and learn more about Appalachian Heritage Week!
April 08, 2016
Lees-McRae College and the Honors Program are proud to announce three new scholarship recipients for the entering class of fall 2016. The Shelton Scholarship, the highest honor awarded every four years and covers one student’s full tuition plus room and board, has been awarded to Quinn Reeves of Tyler, Texas. Christine Turk of Cooper City, FL and Isaiah Addair of Rural Retreat, VA have been awarded the prestigious full-tuition Elizabeth McRae Scholarship.
April 06, 2016
Join Lees-McRae College in celebrating spring’s return to the mountains. During the 6th annual Appalachian Heritage Week, April 7-15, the College will highlight beloved American novelist Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, who spent a creative autumn in one of the College’s cottages. Other unique aspects of mountain heritage will enlighten and entertain students and community members. Lees-McRae invites everyone to participate in the activities sponsored by the Stephenson Center for Appalachia.
April 05, 2016
Meg Quinn believes she would never be where she is today without her experience at the New Opportunity School for Women at Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk. When she arrived at NOSW in July 2010, she had low self-esteem and no idea what the program would entail. What she found in the three week intensive session was life-changing.
March 30, 2016
The Lees-McRae College performing arts program is excited to announce the renovation of the program’s dance studio. The renovations were completed in March and made possible by generous donors Dana and Vicki McKittrick and support from Lees-McRae Summer Theatre.
March 14, 2016
Continuing its exploration of Appalachian history and culture, the Stephenson Center for Appalachia at Lees-McRae College will host Dr. Billy Carver on Thursday, March 17. His lecture, titled “Mountain Air: Tuberculosis in Appalachia,” will cover the fascinating facts behind the mountains’ place in medical history. The program will begin at 7 p.m. in Evans Auditorium in the Cannon Student Center and is free and open to the public.
March 14, 2016
Dr. Barry Buxton, president of Lees-McRae College, spoke with Charlotte Today and discussed myths about college costs. He discussed the difference between sticker price and actual price, the significance of having a college degree in the job market and the importance of growth during a student's college experience.
March 04, 2016
The New Opportunity School for Women (NOSW) at Lees-McRae College is accepting applications for its three-week residential summer program that helps low-income women gain the skills and confidence to turn their lives around. This summer’s session will be held from May 29 – June 18.
March 04, 2016
Ivanna Knox, a freshman at Lees-McRae College, received a $2,425 UPS Scholarship provided through North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (NCICU) for the current academic year.
March 02, 2016
Lees-McRae College will host a selection of artwork by Michael Polomik beginning February 28, with the opening reception and artist talk scheduled for March 28 from 5-6 p.m. in King-Shivell Gallery. The exhibit and reception are free and open to the public.
February 22, 2016
The May Wildlife Rehabilitation Center was recently featured on WDBJ7 out of Roanoke, Virginia. Director Nina Fischesser spoke about the types of animals the Center takes in and the wildlife rehabilitation program.
February 19, 2016
Join us on Thursday, February 25 as we celebrate Black History Month with Dr. Kristen Baldwin Deathridge’s lecture “Public History and the History of an African-American Appalachian Community.” The program, part of the Stephenson Center for Appalachia Lecture Series, will begin at 7 p.m. in Evans Auditorium in the Cannon Student Center. The event is free and open to the public.
February 05, 2016
He’s been hailed as one of the most significant figures in modern musical theatre, and Lees-McRae College’s Performing Arts program will present some of Stephen Sondheim’s best music in Sondheim on Sondheim February 25‒28 at Hayes Auditorium.
February 05, 2016
Director of the May Wildlife Rehabilitation Center Nina Fischesser attended and presented two lectures at the Wildlife Rehabilitators of North Carolina Symposium (WRNC) in Raleigh, NC January 30-31. Her lectures were titled Working with Veterinarians in Wildlife Rehabilitation, which focused on helping new rehabilitators build relationships with veterinarians in their communities, and Wildlife Rehabilitation in Higher Education, which covered the educational aspect of working with wildlife.
February 04, 2016
Students in the first cohort of the Lees-McRae Emergency Medical Services and Management Program (EMSM) have reason to celebrate this spring. The program has received a Letter of Review from the leading specialized accreditation agency focusing on Emergency Medical Services education, which means that these students will be eligible to take the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians credentialing exam upon graduation.
February 03, 2016
Best Master of Science in Nursing has ranked the May School of Nursing and Health Sciences as one of the top up and coming nursing schools in the south. The schools were ranked based on innovative teaching methods, cutting-edge technological resources, facilities and student organizations.
January 29, 2016
Professional cyclo-cross racer Ally Stacher knows what it takes to fuel a body for the pounding, punishing, calorie-sucking energy needed to ride at the highest levels in the sport.
January 28, 2016
Lees-McRae welcomes Dr. Conrad Ostwalt, Professor of Religious Studies at Appalachian State University, as the spring 2016 Staley Distinguished Lecturer. Dr. Ostwalt will present a series of three public lectures following the theme of Millennial Dawn in America: The Evolution of Spirituality, the Church and God.
January 26, 2016
On Jan. 11, Lees-McRae’s Avery Wallis, making his second career collegiate start, scored a career-high 13 points in a home win against Piedmont International.
January 25, 2016
145 Lees-McRae student-athletes were named to the Conference Carolinas Fall 2015 Presidential Honor Roll, the league office announced. Each semester recognition is given to student-athletes who achieve a grade-point average of 3.2 or higher on a 4-point scale. All student-athletes, including underclassmen, transfers, and those who play non-conference sponsored sports, are eligible for the recognition as long as they participated during the semester in question.
January 21, 2016
Due to Winter Storm Jonas, the Lees-McRae athletic schedules has been altered, announced Director of Athletics and Club Sports Craig McPhail Thursday morning.
January 14, 2016
The USCSA event hosted an event this past weekend at Beech Mountain Resort in Beech Mountain, N.C.
January 14, 2016
If the novelty of winter has ebbed, come warm up with poet Adrian Rice’s reading at Lees-McRae College on Thursday, January 28 from 7 to 8 p.m. Rice will present his poems in Evans Auditorium of the Cannon Student Center as the first of the Stephenson Center for Appalachia’s 2016 Lecture Series.
January 06, 2016
Dr. Barry Buxton, president of Lees-McRae, offered advice to high school students on selecting a college that is the best fit for them. He brought along his dog, Ah Shux, to discuss our pet-friendly campus!
December 18, 2015
Members of the Division of Education presented at the Center for Scholastic Inquiry’s annual International Academic Research Conference held in Charleston, SC, October 28-30. The presentation, by Drs. Susan Gilbert, Lynn Swann, Pam Vesely and Robin Buchanan, demonstrated how to create an online environment that exposes students to a multiplicity of discourses.
December 18, 2015
Lees-McRae senior James Abraham was named to the 2015 Division I and Division II Men's Scholar All-South Region Team, the National Soccer Coaches Association of America announced Tuesday evening.
December 11, 2015
Assistant Professor of History Dr. Robert Turpin has signed a contract to publish his first monograph, First Taste of Freedom: The Bicycle and American Culture, with Johns Hopkins University Press. His publication will trace the bicycle’s role as a status symbol in the 1890’s to a child’s toy by the 1950s and its evolution from a means of demonstrating health and wealth to a tool used temporarily during childhood.
December 11, 2015
Students of Lees-McRae recently met with representatives JoAnn Hedstrom, volunteer specialist, and Brian Womack, disaster program manager of the American Red Cross, with the intent of organizing a local Red Cross Club. They will join a number of college clubs that have been established throughout the country.
December 01, 2015
Dr. Skeate, professor of wildlife biology and coordinator of the Wildlife Biology Program at Lees-McRae College, has received the Whalen Master Teacher Grant to fund student research projects for the Belize Foundation for Research and Environmental Education (BFREE). As a scholar involved in tropical research for many years, he understands the challenges and is working to improve the student experience.
November 23, 2015
On November 16, Lees-McRae's Judicial Process class experienced a common criminal trial first hand. Instructor Howard Donovan, who is also a defense attorney, Avery County Assistant District Attorney Penn Dameron and local attorney Wiliam B. Cocke, Jr. lead the class through the exercise. During the trial, students acted as witnesses, defendants, jurors, and other key members of the case.The purpose of the trial was to encourage students to put their knowledge of legal information, trial procedures and evidentiary and constitutional concepts into practice.
November 19, 2015
Support the Lees-McRae Communication Arts & Design seniors as they share their works with the community. The show is open to the public November 16 - December 3.
November 19, 2015
Lees-McRae College’s Department of Performing Arts continues the Fall 2015 performance series with Terra Nova. The drama, written by playwright Ted Tally, is the story of Englishman Robert Falcon Scott’s ill-fated Antarctic expedition in 1912 as his five-man team endeavors to be the first to reach the South Pole. This journey is filled with intense moments of hope to be the first to discover this foreign place, but also of fear, determination, isolation and tragedy.
November 18, 2015
Nina Fischesser, director of the May Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, will be releasing a bald eagle at Lake James this Friday. She rescued the eagle from the lake in September and transferred the bird to the Carolina Raptor Center for treatment. The eagle has recovered and was approved for release on November 10.
November 13, 2015
My favorite memories at Lees-McRae College were spending the spring on the porch in the Village and riding the cyclo-cross course in the fall.
November 11, 2015
Professor Silver discusses the Lees-McRae Cycling Studies program and how students can apply what they learn after graduation and talks through winter biking safety tips for new cyclists.
November 10, 2015
Students at Lees-McRae College will now have the opportunity to earn a licensure in Special Education, General Curriculum (K-12) and graduate with a Bachelor of Science or a Bachelor of Arts. The accredited Special Education program is the most recent addition to the Lees-McRae Division of Education, which offers licensures in both Theatre Arts Education and Elementary Education (K-6).
November 06, 2015
The May School of Nursing and Health Sciences, in partnership with Hospice and Palliative Care of the Blue Ridge, Life Care of Banner Elk, and the Williams YMCA is presenting this opportunity for area seniors (all ages are welcome) to meet with medical professionals to receive information about depression, fall prevention and balance, medication management, nutrition, dementia, diabetes and home safety.
November 04, 2015
Leading into the holiday season, Lees-McRae is holding two events to help area families. The Nursing and Health Sciences CLA-199 students are collecting winter gear for Hospitality House and the Avery County YMCA, and the Staff Association is sponsoring a canned food drive for Feeding Avery Families.
October 23, 2015
The Stephenson Center for Appalachia at Lees-McRae College will host an evening with two distinguished Appalachian poets. Dr. Don Johnson and Dr. Jesse Graves will read selections from their poetry on November 3 beginning at 7:00 p.m. in Evans Auditorium on the Lees-McRae campus.
October 22, 2015
Dixie Seating Company out of Stony Point, N.C. generously donated 10 stools worth $80 apiece to the Whitesell Art Studio at Lees-McRae College. Dixie Seating Company President Dirk E. Baker personally authorized the generous donation of magnificently handcrafted American stools worth over $800.
October 21, 2015
Charles Singletary, also known by his stage name Charles DaBeast, released his debut album Patience in August after 10 months of writing and studio time.
October 21, 2015
The Bobcats completed their regular season in mountain bike at the SECCC Conference Championship at Clemson University this past weekend, and rode away with another team omnium championship title in Division I.
October 12, 2015
Nina Fischesser and two students majoring in Wildlife Rehabilitation were featured on Fox 46’s Good Day Charlotte on October 9. Check out our Saw-Whet owls, leucistic grey squirrel, British Barn owl and more on camera!
October 09, 2015
Boone novelist Joshua Simcox will present a program at Lees-McRae College on Tuesday, October 20 at 7:00 p.m. in Evans Auditorium. As part of the Stephenson Center for Appalachia lecture series, Simcox will read from his novel Zapheads: Scars and Ashes and will discuss the publication process.
October 07, 2015
I have many fantastic memories from my time at Lees-McRae, but the ones that really stick with me are the many hours spent sitting in Dr. Stewart Skeate’s office talking about birds, flowers, ecological systems, and graduate school. He was such a great mentor and I really don’t think I would be working as an educator today if it wasn’t for this relationship. For the past 14 years I have had the honor of mentoring hundreds of students at Appalachian State University. I often think about the positive influence a mentor can make because of my experience at Lees-McRae.
October 05, 2015
Bobcat Cycling Coach Tim Hall covers safety tips, proper technique, bike maintenance and more on Charlotte Today.
October 05, 2015
Lees-McRae College has implemented a tuition guarantee program for students beginning in fall 2016. As a testament to the College’s commitment to affordability, all students entering the 2016-17 academic year will be guaranteed the same rate of tuition for remaining academic years based on their classification as of fall 2016.
September 28, 2015
Lees-McRae’s King-Shivell Gallery is thrilled to host a selection of artwork by Scott Lowrey titled “Aspects of Nature”. The exhibit will be on display from October 1-31, with the opening reception scheduled October 8 from 5 – 6 p.m. in King-Shivell Gallery. The exhibit is free and open to the public.
September 25, 2015
Nina Fischesser, director of the May Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, spoke with WCNC's Charlotte Today. Students Shannon Granger and Dustin Longstreet assisted with the demonstration.
September 22, 2015
Lees-McRae College’s Department of Performing Arts kicks off the Fall 2015 performance series with Plain and Fancy, showing October 1-4.
September 16, 2015
Lees-McRae College Outdoor Programs is excited to host a showing of the 10th annual REEL ROCK Film Tour on Friday, September 25. An opening reception complete with information booths will be held beginning at 7:30 p.m. in Evans Auditorium in the Cannon Student Center at Lees-McRae College. The main event, including short film premieres, will begin at 8 p.m.
September 08, 2015
To open the new academic year and introduce newcomers to the area, the Stephenson Center for Appalachia at Lees-McRae College will present So You Say You Have Nothing To Do?: Plunging Waterfalls, Invigorating Hikes, Entertaining Beasts and Entrancing Sights on September 15 at 7 p.m. in Evans Auditorium. Lees-McRae, the highest elevation campus in the East, sits in the midst of some of the most vibrant natural attractions in the country, providing students with unmatched opportunities of outdoor adventure and relaxation.
September 01, 2015
As higher education institutions continue to face stiff competition from both traditional and alternative learning programs, Lees-McRae College is pleased to report record enrollment growth for the 2015-16 academic year. Student numbers jumped 10%, from 940 in fall 2014 to 1,034 this fall.
August 31, 2015
The Lees-McRae athletic department is proud to announce the induction of Troy Brown, Shela Moffett-Fabri and Ally Stacher into the Lees-McRae Fred I. Dickerson Athletics Hall of Fame.
August 24, 2015
Nina Fischesser, director of the May Center for Wildlife Rehabilitation, spoke with Bounce TV on Friday night. Students Shannon Granger and Dustin Longstreet assisted with the demonstration, holding two red tailed hawks and a pair of Saw-Whet owls.
August 21, 2015
Students, faculty and staff who attended the annual Lees-McRae Opening Convocation ceremony on Thursday, August 20 were inspired by the message woven throughout the program – follow your passion and you'll find success.
August 18, 2015
Lees-McRae College will host the 2015 Opening Convocation on August 20 at 3:30 p.m. in the Broyhill Theatre of Hayes Auditorium. Each fall, students, faculty and staff come together for the afternoon to celebrate the beginning of a new academic year. Executive Director of Grandfather Mountain and Lees-McRae alumnus Jesse Pope will give the keynote address titled Follow Your Passion, Find Your Success at this year’s Opening Convocation.
August 17, 2015
Colleges and universities across the country continue to implement new and innovative programs to enrich the faculty and student experience, and Lees-McRae is no exception. Our pet-friendly campus policy is garnering national attention and was just featured on People.com.
August 03, 2015
Dr. Laura Fero, dean of nursing and health sciences at Lees-McRae College, has been elected to the Board of Directors for the North Carolina League of Nursing, the constituent league for the National League of Nursing. This national body promotes excellence in nursing education to advance the health of the nation and global communities through advocacy and public policy. Dr. Fero’s term will begin in the fall of 2015 and run for two years.
July 23, 2015
After a great production of Oliver!, the cast and crew of Lees-McRae Summer Theatre is excited to begin on their next show of the season, Lend Me a Tenor. This production will be performed on July 15-18 at 7 p.m. and July 16, 18 and 19 at 2 p.m.
July 20, 2015
Lees-McRae College continues to live by its motto: In the Mountains, Of the Mountains, and For the Mountains. In courses focused on Appalachia, in programs presented to the community, and in research and creative work by students, faculty and staff, the college continues to draw life from its roots.
July 13, 2015
On Friday, July 10, more than 90 faculty, staff, students, alumni, community members and friends of the College celebrated the dedication of the Ann and John Tickle Classroom at the May Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. The 950 square foot classroom space allows for larger classes and community educational programs to be held.
July 07, 2015
After a great production of Oliver!, the cast and crew of Lees-McRae Summer Theatre is excited to begin on their next show of the season, “Lend Me a Tenor.” This production will be performed on July 15-18 at 7 p.m. and July 16, 18 and 19 at 2 p.m.
June 25, 2015
Lees-McRae College has launched a $250,000 fundraising campaign for the renovations of Hayes Auditorium. The auditorium, built in 1975, is located at the front of campus on Highway 194 and serves as an important campus and community venue.
June 22, 2015
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) has reaffirmed the accreditation of Lees-McRae College for 10 years. The reaffirmation was announced at a meeting of the SACSCOC Board of Trustees on June 11.
June 18, 2015
Kicking off the Lees-McRae Summer Theatre season from June 26 – July 3, Oliver!, a beloved musical based on Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist, has won numerous awards including the Tony for Best Musical and Academy Award for Best Picture. Set in the 19th century, Dickens makes important social statements about the conditions of poverty in London, yet does it with comedy, empathy and the ever-present sense of hope.
June 15, 2015
On Wednesday, June 17, Dr. Katherine Ledford will present a program on the inter-mountain exchange program between Southern Appalachia and Ukraine at 7 p.m. in the Carson Library on the campus of Lees-McRae College. As part of the Stephenson Center for Appalachia Lecture Series, this event is free and open to the public.
June 02, 2015
Lees-McRae College is proud to announce that it has received accreditation from the state of North Carolina Office of Emergency Medical Services (NCOEMS) as an authorized emergency medical services educational institution. This designation allows Lees-McRae to instruct students in this new program and allows students to obtain North Carolina state certifications as an EMT-Basic or EMT-Paramedic as part of the overall Bachelor of Science degree in emergency medical services and management (EMSM).
May 26, 2015
The Lees-McRae Cycling program finished sixth overall in USA Cycling National Division I Team Rankings for the entire 2014-15 season.
May 22, 2015
Lees-McRae College President Barry M. Buxton has been named vice president of NCAA Division II Conference Carolinas. The vice president serves on the executive committee and chairs the conference personnel committee, as well as acting on behalf of the conference when the president is unable to attend conference activities. Dr. Buxton will assume the role of president of Conference Carolinas at the conclusion of the 2016 spring conference meeting.
May 22, 2015
If you are looking to gain insight into Appalachian culture or enrich your summer experience, reserve three Wednesdays in June to participate in the John B. Stephenson Lecture Series at Lees-McRae College. The Stephenson Lecture Series is free and open to the public.
May 18, 2015
Lees-McRae College conferred 214 degrees upon the class of 2015 in a beautiful commencement ceremony held on historic Tate Lawn. As a result of excellent career preparation and an 88% placement rate, the new graduates are embarking on a journey of endless opportunities.
May 11, 2015
Lees-McRae College conferred degrees upon 214 graduates during commencement exercises Saturday, May 9 on Tate Lawn on the campus in Banner Elk. The 2015 ceremony was the first time commencement has been held on Tate Lawn in the history of the College. Of the graduating class, 15 graduated with honors, 56 graduated summa cum laude (3.90-4.0 GPA), 43 graduated magna cum laude (3.70-3.89 GPA) and 31 graduated cum laude (3.50-3.69 GPA).
April 28, 2015
Lees-McRae College will hold its annual commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 9 at 11 a.m. on Tate Lawn. As the culmination of the academic year, commencement is a special time for students, faculty, staff, families and the community to celebrate the accomplishments of the Lees-McRae College graduates. Lees-McRae College Board of Trustees chairman, Harvey Lowd, has been chosen as the 2015 Commencement speaker. Lowd will present his keynote address titled “Dream Big.”
April 23, 2015
The Communication Arts and Design program at Lees-McRae College is proud to host an exhibit of student artwork titled “The Shop” as part of the program’s senior exit show. An opening reception for the exhibit will be held on Wednesday, April 29 from 6-7 p.m. in King-Shivell Gallery located in the Cannon Student Center. Senior presentations will begin at 7 p.m. in the adjacent Evans Auditorium.
April 17, 2015
Lees-McRae Summer Theatre is excited to announce the 2015 Summer Theatre schedule. This year’s season, which includes Oliver!, Lend Me a Tenor and The Denim King: The Moses Cone Story, is packed with family-friendly comedy, laughs and good memories. Online ticket sales for the three shows begins April 20.
April 17, 2015
The spring 2015 semester proved to be a successful one for the Lees-McRae College Robb Center for Career Exploration, which is concluding its first full academic year of operation. The Robb Center provides centralized resources for students seeking guidance on obtaining internships and jobs by providing resume and cover letter assistance, interview preparation and multiple opportunities for students to learn about different career prospects.
April 10, 2015
The Avery County Rotary Club presented a $10,500 check to President Barry Buxton for Lees-McRae’s May School of Nursing and Health Sciences. The donation will be going towards an Omnicell G4 Unity Medication Dispensing System which will help Lees-McRae students enhance their learning experience in the nursing program.
April 10, 2015
On Wednesday, April 9, Lees-McRae celebrated the 11th annual Mountain Day of Service. This annual day of service resulted in an incredible 1,134 hours of service completed by 378 students, faculty, staff and volunteers. Altogether the campus community participated in 29 projects, two off campus and 27 on campus. After all the hard work was complete, participants gathered on Tate Lawn to enjoy a cookout, fellowship with one another and the beautiful spring weather.
April 06, 2015
Lees-McRae performing arts students will present Brunch: The Musical, an original rock musical by New York City-based actor and playwright Rick Kunzi, in a never before seen version of the show. Director and designer Ethan Henry ’15, in conjunction with Lees-McRae students, will perform the show on April 11 – 12 at 7:30 p.m. in the Broyhill Theatre of Hayes Auditorium on the campus of Lees-McRae College. Seating is general admission and entry is free.
March 31, 2015
Celebrating spring’s return to the mountains, Lees-McRae will host the fifth annual Appalachian Heritage Week April 6 through 10. Each day, the College will highlight a unique aspect of mountain heritage and invites everyone to participate in activities sponsored by the Stephenson Center for Appalachia.
March 31, 2015
Assistant Professor of Communication Arts and Design Jason Sabbides will participate in the Mountain Man Memorial March (MMMM) on April 10-11 in Gatlinburg, Tenn. The 8th annual march will honor Gold Star families and loved ones.
March 31, 2015
Lees-McRae performing arts students and faculty recently participated in the Southeastern Theatre Conference (SETC) held in Chattanooga during early March. Of the ten students in attendance, seven scored an audition, interview or made promising contacts for future employment.
March 30, 2015
Thanks to generous donations and partnerships, Lees-McRae is pleased to announce plans to enhance Bobcat athletic facilities by adding three new venues to the existing athletic complex by fall 2015. Scheduled enhancements include the addition of a media room, indoor training facility, locker rooms, study lounge, and captain’s meeting room as well as remodeled bathrooms and shower facilities and a renovated student recreation center. These enhancements increase the existing athletic footprint by 10 percent and serve over 300 student-athletes participating in one of the College’s 19 athletic teams.
March 20, 2015
Lees-McRae College is pleased to announce the appointment of Brent Thomas ’85 as Vice President of Advancement. Thomas most recently served as the Director of Development at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, North Carolina. He will begin his duties at Lees-McRae College on April 1, 2015.
March 12, 2015
UNC-TV recently featured the May School of Nursing and Health Sciences at Lees-McRae College in a special episode of the North Carolina Now program which provided a behind the scenes look at the new facility and Hart Simulation Center.
March 11, 2015
On March 20 from 5 - 6 p.m., Lees-McRae’s King-Shivell Gallery will host a reception for artist Tom Root, whose exhibit of portrait paintings will be on display throughout the month of March. Root will also host a portrait painting demonstration on March 18 at 10 a.m. in Whitesell Art Studio. The reception, exhibit and demonstration are free and open to the public.
March 06, 2015
Lees-McRae College is proud to announce that incoming freshman, Maggie Thomas, has been named the first recipient of the Sam and Mary Hart Endowed Scholarship. As the winner, Thomas will receive a full tuition scholarship that is renewable for up to four years as long as she maintains a 3.0 cumulative GPA.
March 03, 2015
Lees-McRae students are making moves to elevate their careers! On March 4, nearly a dozen students and six faculty and staff members from the Performing Arts Department will make the trip to Chattanooga, Tenn. for the four-day Southeastern Theatre Conference (SETC) 2015 Annual Convention.
February 27, 2015
The New Opportunity School for Women (NOSW) at Lees-McRae College, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary, is accepting applications for its three-week residential summer program that helps low-income women gain the skills and confidence to turn their lives around. This summer’s session will be held from May 31 – June 20.
February 23, 2015
If you are looking for an escape from the winter blues, come to Lees-McRae College on Thursday, March 5, at 7:00 p.m. in Evans Auditorium to watch a screening of Jesse Knight’s feature film The Orbs. As part of the Stephenson Center for Appalachia Lecture Series, Knight will discuss the process of producing a movie in Appalachia, and show his award-winning film. This event is free and open to the public.
February 17, 2015
On February 20 from 5 – 6 p.m., Lees-McRae’s King-Shivell Gallery will host a reception for the faculty art show, Across Borders. The featured faculty artists will be available to discuss their work. The reception and exhibit are free and open to the public. The exhibit will be on display until February 27.
February 12, 2015
Get ready for a great night at the theatre! The Lees-McRae Performing Arts Department is proud to present the British production, She Stoops to Conquer, a classic comedy of errors that debuted in 1773. The production will premiere in Hayes Auditorium on the campus of Lees-McRae College on Thursday, February 26 at 7:30 p.m. and run through March 1. All performances are open to the public.
February 11, 2015
Lees-McRae's senior class combined for 53 points while the men's basketball team made history by claiming their school-record 14th win in 86-78 fashion against Conference Carolinas foe Emmanuel (Ga.) Tuesday evening at Williams Gymnasium in Banner Elk, N.C.
February 03, 2015
On February 28, 2015, for the first time in 12 years the college will host FAFSA Day in Carson Library on the campus of Lees-McRae from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. College financial aid officers and admissions specialists will assist students in completing the 2015-16 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This event is open to the community for students who plan to attend college in the 2015-2016 academic year.
February 02, 2015
Lees-McRae is proud to announce that on January 30, 2015, the North Carolina Board of Nursing (NCBON) approved the College to begin offering a pre-licensure nursing program. As the regulating body for the practice of nursing in North Carolina, NCBON approval marks a significant milestone in the progress of pre-licensure nursing at Lees-McRae.
January 30, 2015
While Thomas Wolfe is famous for both writing and in some ways proving, “You Can’t Go Home Again,” a contemporary Appalachian author disputes the point. Kevin Keck, an adjunct instructor of rhetoric at Lees-McRae, will present a program, “Born Again: My Return to Appalachia,” that explores returning to his mountain roots at Lees-McRae College. His presentation will take place on Thursday, February 12 at 7 p.m. in Evans Auditorium in the first of this semester’s Stephenson Center for Appalachia Lecture Series. This program is free and open to the public.
January 30, 2015
From February 5 – 10, Lees-McRae students and faculty will participate in a University of Florida-led (UF) oral history research and interview collaboration designed to preserve the cultural history of Southern Appalachian people, specifically residents of Avery County and the surrounding area.
January 26, 2015
From January 19 – 23, volunteers from Lees-McRae College participated in the 34th Annual DSUSA Adaptive Learn to Ski event at Beech Mountain Resort. Students, staff and alumni assisted instructors and volunteers with many of the lessons for the more than 70 individuals with disabilities as they learned to ski and snowboard.
January 23, 2015
From her home in Horse Shoe, N.C., Lees-McRae College alumna Ally Stacher ’10 is building an empire powered by sweet potato flavored bars simply named Ally’s Bar. In addition to operating a thriving energy bar business, Stacher is also a professional cyclist riding in multiple disciplines. It was her love of training married with a love of cooking that spawned this delightfully tasty treat and business venture.
January 21, 2015
On Tuesday, January 20, Lees-McRae welcomed Rep. Josh Dobson to campus for a private tour of the newly constructed May School of Nursing and Health Sciences. Dobson was appointed to the N.C. House of Representatives in January 2013 and represents the 85th District including Avery, McDowell and Mitchell counties.
January 20, 2015
Pity Kerry Shields. He’d filled an oversized van with gear and driven halfway across the country to watch his twin daughters compete for national championships in cyclocross bicycle racing. To be sure, it’s a niche sport followed mostly by the riders, their friends and families and hardcore spokeheads. The crowds that turned up to watch in a muddy city park in Austin, Texas last weekend wouldn’t rival that found at an average high-school football game. Still, for the Shieldses – and their beleaguered father — it was the culmination of 10 years of hard work, a rare shot at being the best in the country in a sport they love.
January 14, 2015
The Lari beetle controls adelgids well because it is a voracious predator that feeds exclusively on woolly adelgids, according to the WRC. Lari beetles are winter feeders and can eat up to six adelgids per day before laying 200 to 400 eggs in the adelgid egg sacs. Each larva can consume 200 to 250 adelgid eggs or crawlers before they pupate in June. Once established, Lari beetles can advance up to two miles per year. Since the initial release of 300 lab-reared Lari beetles in 2003 on Hemlock Hill in Banner Elk, 10 generations of beetles have spread some 45 miles from the Lees-McRae College Elk Valley Preserve.
January 14, 2015
Senior Emily Shields claimed the national title in the women's Division I cyclocross and the Lees-McRae cycling teams grabbed third overall in the Division I team omnium at the 2015 USA Cycling Collegiate Cyclocross Nationals in Austin, Texas.
January 05, 2015
(High Country Press) It may still be wintertime, but Lees-McRae College already has great things in store for the High Country community for the upcoming summer months. The highly-anticipated 2015 lineup of the annual Lees-McRae Summer Theatre has officially been announced, and the 2015 summer season is sure to be yet another great year of theatrical treats.