Community
Look back on a record-setting year of traditions, milestone anniversaries, and strengthened community
Four exciting shows will hit the Hayes Auditorium stage next summer
The screening will be held in Hayes Auditorium in February
The screening, featuring three all-new climbing films, will be on Friday, Nov. 14
Hundreds of volunteers donated their time at sites across the High Country
"Lizzie," which focuses on one of the most famous true crime cases in history, is set to an exciting rock score
This fall’s Mountain Day marks a return to tradition following Hurricane Helene
From the dedication of a new time capsule to Bobcat Fest, the weekend was a perfect celebration of the college’s past and future
Dean of Business and Management Josh Pate discusses the ranking and how Lees-McRae prepares students for the industry
The high school is the latest partner in the college’s ongoing efforts to strengthen connections with schools throughout the region
This year’s celebration comes amid the college’s 125th anniversary year
Register by July 15 for an early bird discount
The musical is the final show of the series’ 2025 season
The long-time employee and friend of the college was also known as "Mr. Banner Elk" and "Mr. Woolly Worm"
Donors came together to offer record-breaking support amidst a year of both challenges and growth
The play is a period comedy full of laughs and a touch of mystery
"Nunsense" is the first production of the Lees-McRae Summer Theatre season for 2025
The program is a week-long camp where high school participants will get immersive experience in many writing styles
5 Rivers, a national collegiate fly-fishing organization led by Trout Unlimited and Costa Sunglasses, organizes four regional rendezvous each year
Three new shows will debut on the Hayes Auditorium stage
Countless members of the college’s faculty and staff did everything they could to assist in the community’s recovery, even while experiencing personal impacts from the storm
While the community has made it out of the emergency response stage, more support is needed during the transition to long-term recovery
CFWNC has provided two generous grants that have funded vital recovery efforts and helped the college return to near normal operations
The lecturer is Caroline Grego, assistant professor of history at Queens University in Charlotte
Founded in 2005, this summer’s cohort will mark two decades of the program that seeks to transform the lives of Appalachian women
The show premieres on Thursday, Feb. 27 and will close on Sunday, March 2
Commemorate this special month through a series of lectures, film screenings, and more
Ashe County High School is the fourth high school in the area to establish this partnership with the college
ONE Lees-McRae unites all college stakeholders including students, alumni, families, and the local community
For nearly 40 years Pinnacle Inn operated as a beloved resort for guests seeking a mountain getaway, and the Inn’s echoes can still be found on campus today
The film collection showcases outdoor adventure stories from around the world
Make the most of the most wonderful time of the year with this guide
Proceeds from the event will benefit the college’s Ski and Snowboard team
Fox8 News talks with Assistant Swim Coach Aaron Van Nostrand and student-athletes about their experience giving back
The college has been certified as a Gold-level Bicycle Friendly University and earned a spot on the Guide to Green Colleges for 2025
Many students have done their part to contribute to the recovery effort, whether in Banner Elk or from afar
Three private colleges in Western North Carolina, already facing a tough environment, weathered a historic storm
Building your bucket list for this fall in the mountains? We’ve got you covered
Kaplan joined the Lees-McRae Board of Trustees in 2019
Tim Gardner for High Country Press
The completion of this project represents the institution’s focus on the future as it marks its 125th anniversary
You won’t want to miss this one-night-only entertainment experience
The production is written and directed by Lees-McRae Summer Theatre’s own Janet Barton Speer
Western North Carolina is known for our winters, but summers are full of fun, adventure, and beautiful weather
The MOU involves three parts: programming exchanges, the Lees-McRae Pre-College Initiative, and discounted tuition
With a selection for every reader, this list is sure to educate, entertain, and engross
The series will feature eight exciting musical performances
The college's summer schedule is full of exciting entertainment
The award is presented by the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce
The annual tradition celebrates all things Appalachia with a week of special programming
The week-long celebration will explore all things Appalachia, from food, to music, to nature
Get your tickets for the screening now
After witnessing the lack of diversity in the outdoor industry firsthand, Hunter founded Black Folks Camp Too to address the disparity
Scouts camped on the college's South Campus property and received instruction from Lees-McRae faculty and staff
The agreement is effective immediately and will commence for the Fall 2024 semester
An old favorite returns to the stage
Women’s History Month is recognized in March in the United States, and this year Lees-McRae, led by Associate Professor of Communications and Media Studies Abby Arnold-Patti, is joining the celebration
The screening will be held at Beech Mountain Resort
Prior to the screening of the film the college will be hosting a fun and festive winter carnival
Hannah Leyva reports
2023 marked another year of historic growth for Lees-McRae
The Appalachian Trail, which runs along the western border of North Carolina, is the longest walking-only path in the world
The snowboarding film is one of two winter sports films TGR will screen as part of the series throughout this academic year
The artist lecture and exhibit opening will take place Nov. 9 at 11 a.m.
Christian Gardner at the Avery Journal-Times explores the college's annual Mountain Day of Service tradition
Each year, Lees-McRae students, faculty, and staff participate in Mountain Day of Service, a day of volunteering and giving back to the community
Durham comes to the role with more than 30 years of related experience
The 15-year partnership between Lees-McRae and Reel Rock Film Festival continues with three exciting new films
The majority of this year’s cohort of Banner Elk Fire and Rescue volunteers are students in the Lees-McRae Outdoor Recreation Management and Wilderness Medicine and Rescue programs
The show, held on Thursday, Sept. 28, is free and open to the public
Part superhero origin story, part rom-com, all campy musical, “The Toxic Avenger” stretches the boundaries of musical theatre
Learn more about the road that has been “America’s favorite drive” for nearly 90 years
The season will also include productions of “Language of Angels” and “The Old Man and the Old Moon”
Nelson was brought to the Center with an injured wing as a baby and has lived, grown, and thrived there ever since
The original play by Lees-McRae Summer Theatre Director Janet Barton Speer tells the story of Katharine Wright, sister to aeronautic pioneers Orville and Wilbur Wright
The North Carolina-based musical is the second production of this season of Lees-McRae Summer Theatre, “a love letter to North Carolina”
The “Red, White, and Blue Ridge Variety Show” will feature a wide range of North Carolina-focused entertainment, from clogging to opera
The iconic theme park has been a beloved summer destination for more than 60 years, but the park’s iconic train, and the railroad for which it gets its name, has a much longer history
Getting involved in the community is a great way to celebrate the lives, accomplishments, and history of LGBTQ+ individuals this year
This year’s series will feature three different public events held in Evans Auditorium
Four local woodworkers have joined the Lees-McRae Summer Theatre crew to prepare for this year’s production, “The [W]right Sister”
Get the inside scoop on the May Wildlife Rehabilitation Center before summer wildlife presentations begin on Saturday, May 20
The ceremony recognized members of the Presidential Commission for Inclusive Excellence and awarded the Luminary and Beacon awards
Each year the college hosts a week of programming during April, Sexual Assault Awareness Month
Purchase tickets to all three of this season’s shows online now
John B. Stephenson and Jane Baucom Stephenson have left their mark on Lees-McRae both individually and as a couple
The festival celebrates and highlights the heritage and history of the Southern Appalachian region
In just five months, the college raised $2 million dollars, which was matched by the Bissell and Kopczynski families
The film tour is returning to Lees-McRae for the fifth year
Appalachian female poets Sara Moore Wagner and Pauletta Hansel will deliver readings of their work on womanhood, identity, and Appalachia
This year’s exhibition will be judged by artist and professor Chris Musina
The No Man’s Land Film Festival will visit Lees-McRae College as part of the world tour for their 8th annual event
Dickson’s talk, which will explore historical and modern perspectives on Black history, will round out Black History Month programming at the college
The grant will provide sponsorship for a significant portion of this session’s participants and financial resources for the recruitment process
The show is the department’s first foray into children’s theatre, a learning experience for the students and faculty involved in its production
The fight for equal educational opportunities in North Carolina and throughout the American South did not start and end with the famous Brown vs. Board of Education Supreme Court decision
2023 NC Year of the Trail is a state-wide opportunity to explore the trails, greenways, and blueways in communities across the state
Sanders was the keynote speaker for the college’s commemoration event, “Lessons from the Mountaintop: Revelations from the Promised Land”
The department’s first foray into children’s theatre celebrates imagination and the magic of storytelling
Meg Hale Brunton of Carolina Spark Magazine talks with Director of New Opportunity School for Women Jennie Harpold about her work with the school
The insurance broker and small business owner often references the skills he gained as a student
Sanders, a faculty member at Emory University, will speak on the event’s theme, “Lessons from the Mountaintop: Revelations from the Promised Land”
Take a walk down memory lane and reflect on this historic year
North Carolina is the second-largest real Christmas tree producing state in the country, many of which are grown in the High Country
BearWise is an organization that works with states and communities across the country to ensure outdoor safety
As the Native people of Western North Carolina, Cherokee communities are an integral part of Appalachian culture
The intimate event featured remarks from online student Jeffrey Thompson
This year’s film, “Magic Hour,” will be screened at Beech Mountain Resort
The annual event will recognize and honor veterans who are part of the Lees-McRae and local communities
A gallery opening for Joslin’s photography show will be held on the Lees-McRae campus
Abby Arnold-Patti and Lee Knight will each give a talk in early November
Williamson dedicated years of service to Lees-McRae and the High Country
This semi-autobiographical play about Williams’ own experiences is an exploration of memory
Storytelling is a centuries-long tradition in Southern Appalachia, and the High Country has many tales of its own
The Reel Rock Film Tour brings climbing and adventure films to live audiences around the world
With more than 30 volunteer sites throughout the High Country, Lees-McRae continued the tradition of giving back to the community for another year
Learn about the origins of this month-long celebration
The event brought together students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members to recognize Baker’s life and impact ahead of Homecoming 2022
The High Country is home to a wealth of natural wonders that draw visitors from around the world
The Office of Inclusive Excellence will be hosting a celebration for all members of the Lees-McRae and local community
“Shalom Y’all: The Jewish American Experience in the High Country” was the latest installment in this series of discussion panels
This next installment of the High Country Adventure Film and Speaker Series will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 11
Trustee Neil Ramo, Director of Counseling Services Marla Gentile, and sophomore Benjamin Gribbins will be the discussion panelists at the event
None of the snakes living in or near the lake are venomous, and they are an essential part of the local ecosystem
“Doc Watson: Celebrating a Life in Music” has been nominated for the 2022 Bluegrass Music Awards Event of the Year category
Rapid deployment training prepares law enforcement officers for active shooter and other high-stress emergency scenarios
This series showcases different perspectives on outdoor adventure
The symposium provides continuing education credits for veterinary professionals
The musical is based on the much-loved children’s book of the same name by Roald Dahl
Banner Elk may be small, but it offers big opportunities for adventure
For over a century, June 19 has been recognized for the emancipation of enslaved individuals in the United States
The first show of the 37th season will open Sunday, June 26
For more than 100 years Grandfather Home for Children has addressed the needs of children in the High Country
The Walk and Roll in the Park event will feature educational programming on cycling as well as games and giveaways
Wildcat Lake and Arthur Student Recreation Complex will be open to the public for the summer season
The 2022 season features two award-winning musicals, “The Drowsy Chaperone” and “Matilda: The Musical”
This annual event is not only a celebration of all things Appalachia, but also a time to learn from and reflect upon the rich history of the region
North Carolina is nationally renowned for its scenic Blue Ridge Parkway and various mountain ranges to explore. Rich in local history and vast in outdoor pursuits, one will get an unforgettable sense of accomplishment upon paying a visit to one of these state's best mountain towns.
New campus police chief Brandon Greer is recognized in special ceremony
The weeklong event is an annual tradition that recognizes and celebrates the heritage of Lees-McRae and the surrounding region
Lees-McRae College aims to grow residential enrollment to 1,000 students – Children’s Hope Alliance to serve ten times as many children
The convergence of these holidays can unite people from different faiths
The funds will be used to enhance the student experience, modernize the infrastructure, and improve accessibility.
The panel was hosted by the Office of Inclusive Excellence in honor of Women’s History Month
The tour features fishing-related short films from around the world
The event, sponsored by the Office of Inclusive Excellence, gave African American members of the community a chance to relate their experiences
There will be two sessions of the camp for two different academic levels
The acquisition will play a key role in accomplishing priorities laid out in the strategic plan
Associate Professor and Veterinarian Amber McNamara shares ways we can protect our wildlife this season
This is the second discussion panel hosted at the school to bring awareness to topics of diversity and inclusion
Scots-Irish immigrants were one of the groups who heavily contributed to the creation of a distinct Appalachian culture
The musical, which is based on the 1980 film of the same name, features original music by Dolly Parton
The Friday night event will feature resources and information on drug and alcohol abuse, addiction, and recovery
Lees-McRae is honored to bear the names of two women who dedicated their lives to helping others, especially children
Gibson is excited to set an institutional precedent when it comes to DEI work at Lees-McRae
Why getting a fuller understanding of Appalachia’s past can help us create a better future
The panel will feature a current student, a Lees-McRae alumnus, and a member of the local African American community Junaluska
Four creative ways local couples used to show their love
Brown uses historical photography techniques to offer a fuller representation of modern Appalachia
"Proof" will run from Wednesday, Feb. 16 to Saturday, Feb. 19
There are many opportunities on and off campus to bring our community closer together
Props and costumes from previous Lees-McRae shows helped create the kingdom of Arendelle on stage