Motorists on Interstate 40 near Hickory may spot a familiar face beaming at them from along the roadside in the next few months. Western Carolina University student Adrian Rose, a 2005 graduate of McDowell High School, is featured on a series of billboards introducing the university’s new logo and the theme, “Your climb starts here.”

The billboards are going up in Charlotte, Burlington, Greensboro, Hendersonville, Hickory and Raleigh to encourage other students to come to WCU.

Rose, a senior who is majoring in chemistry with a minor in biology, said she considered applying to other institutions downstate, but picked Western Carolina because it is close to her home in Marion, and because she values the close interaction between professors and students.

“You have one-on-one time with your professors, and that’s important, especially in science labs,” she said. “It’s easier to be one student in a class of 20 or 30, than one in 100 or 150 at a bigger school. I think you learn more by having those smaller classes and getting to know your professors. Don’t underestimate Western. There are a lot of awesome learning opportunities here.”

An award-winning member of WCU’s Honors College and Alpha Chi Omega sorority, Rose said she enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking, rafting, and visiting nearby lakes and waterfalls. Scheduled to graduate from Western Carolina in December, she plans to attend veterinary school and eventually to work in a zoo.

For more information about Western Carolina University, call (828) 227-7317 or toll-free (877) WCU-4-YOU.

Maintained by the Office of Public Relations
Last Modified: Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2008