Archived News

Duke Energy gives $75,000 for WCU engineering

A $75,000 gift from the Duke Energy Foundation will allow Western Carolina University’s Kimmel School of Construction Management and Technology to improve opportunities for engineering students. 

Using the money, WCU will buy $45,000 worth of new power systems laboratory equipment and provide $15,000 worth of student scholarships. The remaining $15,000 will fund faculty development and programming to encourage more students in Western North Carolina to consider a career in engineering. 

“As someone who has worked with multitudes of electric cooperatives around the South, I know firsthand how important and essential electric power is to the economic growth of this region of North Carolina, and we really appreciate Duke Energy’s support,” said Jeffrey L. Ray, dean of the Kimmel School.

Since the University of North Carolina system’s Board of Governors approved a stand-alone engineering program at WCU in 2012, enrollment in the program has soared. In 2013, WCU was the only UNC institution to receive expansion funding, which went to expand general engineering program in its Asheville location. 

Smokey Mountain News Logo
SUPPORT THE SMOKY MOUNTAIN NEWS AND
INDEPENDENT, AWARD-WINNING JOURNALISM
Go to top
Payment Information

/

At our inception 20 years ago, we chose to be different. Unlike other news organizations, we made the decision to provide in-depth, regional reporting free to anyone who wanted access to it. We don’t plan to change that model. Support from our readers will help us maintain and strengthen the editorial independence that is crucial to our mission to help make Western North Carolina a better place to call home. If you are able, please support The Smoky Mountain News.

The Smoky Mountain News is a wholly private corporation. Reader contributions support the journalistic mission of SMN to remain independent. Your support of SMN does not constitute a charitable donation. If you have a question about contributing to SMN, please contact us.