Sue and Jack Wakeley (center) meet student-athletes (from left) Zeb Johnson, Mike Malone and Annie Bailey.

Warm up: After serving in leading administrative jobs at Western, Jack Wakeley wanted to get back in touch with students. Wakeley not only stepped down to return to teach in the classroom but also, for fun, started volunteering to assist the coach for track, field and cross country.
 
Starting line: Wakeley noticed at a banquet that no scholarship awards were presented to the students he was cheering for and helping coach. So, he and his wife, Sue, started the now more than $22,000 fund to provide scholarships in those sports for men and women.
 
Closing the gap: “Recognizing both men and women was important to us,” Wakeley says. “We believe the emergence of women’s athletics has been good for education at all levels and good for society, and we want to support it.”
 
Winners circle: Winners of the Wakeley student-athlete scholarship are students such as Leslie Martin from Jonesville, Va. A sprinter and middle distance runner, Martin has been the conference champion for the 800-meter event and was an Academic All-American during her sophomore year.
 
Gaining momentum: The Wakeley scholarship is just one way faculty, staff, alumni and community members reach out to students. WCU began an effort called The Campaign for Western to raise $40 million for scholarships and faculty and program support.