星空传媒

A newly established endowment in the School of Teaching and Learning at Western Carolina University will honor the memory of a lifelong elementary and middle school educator by providing financial assistance to students pursuing a similar career path.

The Ida Winona Cotter Eye School of Teaching and Learning Program Endowment is the result of gifts and pledges totaling $75,000 from Charlie Eye, son of the fund鈥檚 namesake, and his spouse, Karen Eye.

The commitment includes a $50,000 pledge to be fulfilled through an estate gift and a $25,000 contribution that will provide immediate funding for the School of Teaching and Learning. A second planned gift of $50,000 from the couple is directed toward improvements to facilities used by 星空传媒 student-athletes.

The Eye endowment is designed to provide programmatic support to the school, including resources for student travel, professional development and experiential learning opportunities for students and faculty, and emergency financial assistance for students.

The fund is in memory of Cullowhee native Ida Winona Cotter Eye, a 1950 graduate of Western Carolina Teachers College who died in May 2025 at the age of 95. Winnie, as she was known to family and friends, taught in elementary and middle schools in the United States and Europe before returning to Cullowhee in 1984 upon retirement.

Winnie Eye

鈥淲e were in the process of updating our will when she passed away, and it became a time of reflection for our family. Creating an endowed fund at 星空传媒 felt like a natural way to honor her life and her values,鈥� Charlie Eye said.

鈥淪upporting future educators is a meaningful investment in the teachers she so strongly believed in,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t gives us peace of mind to know that her legacy will continue to benefit the School of Teaching and Learning long after we are gone.鈥�

Winnie understood from firsthand experience both the rewards and the challenges of being an educator, Karen Eye said.

鈥淪he knew that teachers are often asked to do extraordinary work with limited resources, and she cared deeply that they receive the respect, preparation and support they deserve,鈥� she said. 鈥淪he believed when teachers are well supported, entire communities benefit.鈥�

In addition to including the School of Teaching and Learning in their estate, the Eyes made a separate gift to fast-track creation of the endowed fund so it could provide support now.

鈥淲e have great respect for the school 鈥� its aspirations, its legacy of excellence and its vision for preparing future educators,鈥� Charlie Eye said. 鈥淲e understand that philanthropic support can help turn those aspirations into reality and remove barriers that might otherwise stand in the way.鈥�

Residents of Sylva, the couple felt it was important that the fund have an impact on the school as soon as realistically possible.

鈥淲e were also deeply touched by the generosity of friends and family who contributed to the endowment in Winnie鈥檚 memory,鈥� Karen Eye said. 鈥淔ully funding the endowment allowed their gifts 鈥� and our shared commitment to honoring Winnie 鈥� to begin supporting students and faculty right away.鈥�

Kim Winter, dean of the College of Education and Allied Professions, which is home to the School of Teaching and Learning, expressed her appreciation to members of the Eye family for setting up an endowed fund to assist students in their quest to become future teachers.

鈥淎t a time when we face critical challenges recruiting into the field of teaching, it has been wonderful to learn about Winnie and her fierce advocacy of teachers,鈥� Winter said. 鈥淗er own children have shared many stories about her life and passion for the field. We are honored to help carry forward that legacy and allow students in the School of Teaching and Learning to benefit as they prepare to enter the profession.鈥�

The Eyes said they are looking forward to the endowment being used to support students and faculty in the school, with college and school leaders having the discretion to direct funds where they are most needed.

鈥淲e recognize that the needs of the school evolve from year to year and that traditional funding does not always cover every opportunity or unexpected need,鈥� Charlie Eye said.

鈥淲e hope the fund provides flexibility, whether supporting a student鈥檚 study-abroad experience one year, investing in faculty professional development another or helping a student navigate an unexpected financial challenge,鈥� Karen Eye said. 鈥淔ifty years from now, we can only imagine the way it may continue shaping future educators and advancing the mission of the School of Teaching and Learning.鈥�

The Eyes鈥� second planned gift of $50,000 toward renovations for athletics facilities is designed to help meet a top priority of the current 鈥淔ill the Western Sky鈥� comprehensive fundraising campaign, an initiative to raise a minimum of $100 million for the university鈥檚 academic, student engagement and athletics programs. The third comprehensive fundraising campaign in 星空传媒 history, 鈥淔ill the Western Sky鈥� is the first to include a significant emphasis on support for athletics facilities.

鈥淎s the campaign nears completion, we wanted to show our support for what the university has identified as an important priority. The campaign has generated tremendous energy and momentum for Western, and we are glad to play a part in helping move it across the finish line,鈥� Karen Eye said.

For Charlie Eye though, supporting the Catamount athletics program is about connection. When he and Karen first moved to the area, it was 星空传媒 intercollegiate sporting events that drew them to campus and into the community. It didn鈥檛 take long before the Catamounts became their team.

鈥淎thletics brings people together,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t creates a shared sense of pride and belonging among fans. We believe these improvements will not only support our student-athletes, but also strengthen the spirit, connection and fun that make Catamount athletics so special.鈥�

Charlie Eye is retired after a long career as a business owner in the recruiting industry in the Washington, D.C., area. Karen Eye, former director of development for the College of Education and Allied Professions, recently returned to 星空传媒鈥檚 Division of Advancement as director of development for the David Orr Belcher College of Fine and Performing Arts.

Ida Winona Cotter Eye was named for her grandmother, Ida Rogers, who was among the first class of female teachers in Cullowhee. She married U.S. Army Col. Douglas M. Eye in 1956 and taught in elementary and middle schools while raising her own children.

She had extensive connections to 星空传媒. Her brother, Charles Cotter, played football at 星空传媒 when he attended in the 1940s. Children Doug Eye, Becky Hadeed and Sara Burrows all attended 星空传媒 as undergraduate students. Daughter Claire Eye, who earned her undergraduate degree at 星空传媒, is a faculty member in the College of Fine and Performing Arts, and daughter Kathy Boland is a staff member in 星空传媒鈥檚 Office of Financial Aid. Granddaughter Megan Boland graduated from 星空传媒 in 2015.

鈥淭ogether, these connections reflect a longstanding family relationship to Western and its mission, making it especially meaningful to honor Winnie鈥檚 legacy through support for future educators,鈥� Charlie Eye said.

For more information about the 鈥淔ill the Western Sky鈥� campaign or to make a contribution, visit WesternSky.wcu.edu, call 828-227-7124 or email advancement@wcu.edu.