Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina student-athletes alongside students from WCU's University Participant – or UP Program – partner tonight inside the friendly confines of Ingles Court at the Ramsey Center for a unique and unforgettably enriching Unite UP basketball game as students from the UP Program become Catamount student-athletes for the day.
 
Tip-off of Thursday's extra-special and rewarding event is scheduled for 7 p.m., with admission FREE to the public. Everyone on campus and in the local community is welcome and encouraged to attend to support these students and WCU student-athletes.
 
Earlier this week in helping promote tonight's event, University Participant student Jamaal Dion attended Western Carolina's home baseball game against UNC Asheville and delivered a strike when he threw out the ceremonial first pitch. WCU rallied late to win the game with a Cole Jones walk-off, two-run single in the bottom of the ninth inning.
 
The WCU UP Program offers an inclusive, two-year, on-campus living and learning experience for college-aged individuals with intellectual disabilities. The program aims to facilitate the transition of UP students from secondary school to adult life, focusing on education, employment, and independent living. WCU undergraduate students provide support for the UP students during their time on campus. Currently, the UP Program enrolls up to 12 students at a time.
 
Unite UP is a special event designed to enhance WCU's campus culture and promote inclusivity. UP Program students will be able to become Catamount student-athletes as they take the court inside the Liston B. Ramsey Center for a basketball game alongside their peers.
 
Teams will feature a mixture of WCU student-athletes and UP students, with WCU men's basketball head coach Tim Craft and women's basketball head coach Jonathan Tsipis leading the squads.
 
Thursday's event will capture the full gameday excitement of a Catamount home game, complete with the sights and sounds of the Cat House Pep Band, Catamount cheer with UP students and dance teams, and in-game entertainment. UP students will also take part in postgame press conference interviews in a real-world setting, with postgame autographs on the concourse.
 
Started as a pilot program in 2007 and federally funded in 2010, WCU's University Participant program became the first-ever officially accredited inclusive post-secondary program in the country through the Inclusive Higher Education Accreditation (IHEA) Council in 2023. WCU's program works under the guiding principles of raising expectations, providing opportunity, and transforming outcomes. Learn more about WCU's UP Program by clicking here.
 

Event Details:
Date: Thursday, March 27, 2025
Time: 7 p.m. tip-off; Doors open at 6 p.m.
Location: Ingles Court at the Ramsey Center
Admission: FREE, no tickets required