Western Carolina Alumni Surpass $1 Million in Support to the University

The Delta Alpha chapter of the Kappa Alpha Order at Western Carolina University did more than merely win the 2022 rendition of the Greek Challenge by raising more than $170,000 for the Catamount Club, the university’s fundraising organization for Catamount Athletics.

The brothers of KA this year also surpassed the $1 million mark in total contributions made to Catamount athletics since the inception a decade ago of the annual competition pitting alumni of WCU’s fraternities and sororities against each other, all in the name of providing financial support for WCU student-athletes.

The Greek Challenge is one of the Catamount Club’s largest annual fundraising campaigns and has been since its founding in 2014, said Julie Miller, associate athletics director for development and director of the Catamount Club.

“We are so grateful for the support of our Greek alumni over the years through the Greek challenge. Congratulations to the brothers of Kappa Alpha and the sisters of Sigma Kappa for winning this year’s Greek Challenge. The ongoing support of all of our Greek-letter organizations is instrumental in providing assistance to as many Catamount student-athletes as possible,” Miller said.

“More than half of the scholarships awarded to student-athletes by the Catamount Club come from gifts made by Greek alumni,” she said. “This shows, firsthand, the importance of alumni support and how critical they are in helping us accomplish to our mission of fostering a championship culture while preparing student-athletes for lifelong success.”

Kappa Alpha has been involved in the Greek Challenge since it was founded as the Fraternity-Sorority Challenge, taking first place five times, with two second-place and two third-place finishes.

A total of 77 KA alumni made contributions during this year’s challenge, and the $170,066 raised this year represents an all-time high in terms of donations as part of the Greek Challenge in a single year.

What’s behind that lengthy track record of financial support for Catamount athletics? “We just love our Cats. It’s actually a great way to get back together and renew friendships,” said Bruce Moore, a 1982 graduate of WCU with a degree in marketing who is owner of a food packaging, inspection and handling company in Charlotte.

“I think every alumnus should give back, but with Greeks, we basically have a permanent outpost on campus. It could be a house or a small picnic area, it doesn’t matter,” said Moore, a member of the WCU Foundation Board of Directors. “With so many memories and relationships, there is just so much for us to come back to.”

Skip Smith, a 1982 graduate of WCU with a major in business administration who serves as secretary of the KA alumni group, agreed.

“Our brothers, like many others, genuinely love WCU and enjoying getting together for various sporting events throughout the year, particularly football,” said Smith, a teacher at Hudson Middle School in Caldwell County.

“Greek life gave each of us a home, one where many friendships were formed and continue to this day. Our years in Cullowhee are special to each of us, and we want others to be able to have that experience,” he said. “We are proud graduates of WCU and are happy to help students of today to have an opportunity to experience Cullowhee. There is no place like it.”

Plans are already underway for the 2023 competition.

Moore issued a friendly warning to alumni from other WCU fraternities, stating that KA has no intention of losing the title of champion of the Greek Challenge. “Fraternity guys for the most part hate to lose,” he said. “That is just our nature. We always love a challenge, and I say this for all the Greeks.”

Previous Greek Challenge winners, from 2014-2021:

2014:

• Fraternity winners: Pi Kappa Alpha and Sigma Alpha Epsilon
• Sorority winner: Alpha Xi Delta

2015:

• Fraternity winner: Kappa Alpha
• Sorority winner: Alpha Xi Delta

2016:

• Fraternity winner: Pi Kappa Alpha
• Sorority winner: Sigma Kappa

2017:

• Fraternity winner: Pi Kappa Alpha
• Sorority winner: Sigma Kappa

2018:

• Flight 1:
  • Fraternity winner: Pi Kappa Alpha
  • Sorority winner: Sigma Kappa
• Flight 2:
  • Fraternity winner: Sigma Phi Epsilon
  • Sorority winner: Zeta Tau Alpha
  • Overall winner: Lambda Chi Alpha

2019:

• Flight 1:
  • Fraternity winner: Kappa Alpha
  • Sorority winner: Sigma Kappa
• Flight 2:
  • Fraternity winner: Sigma Phi Epsilon
  • Sorority winners: Phi Mu and Zeta Tau Alpha
  • Overall winner: Lambda Chi Alpha

2020:

• Flight 1:
  • Fraternity winner: Kappa Alpha
  • Sorority winner:  Sigma Kappa
• Flight 2:
  • Fraternity winner: Sigma Phi Epsilon
  • Sorority winner: Zeta Tau Alpha
  • Overall winner: Kappa Alpha

2021:

• Flight 1:
  • Fraternity winner: Kappa Alpha
  • Sorority winner: Sigma Kappa
• Flight 2:
  • Fraternity winner: Sigma Phi Epsilon
  • Sorority winner: Phi Mu and Zeta Tau Alpha
  • Overall winner: Kappa Alpha