Lees-McRae College
Encyclopedia
Lees-McRae College is a private four-year college
in Banner Elk, North Carolina
affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA)
. Lees-McRae College has the highest elevation of any college or university in the United States east of the Mississippi River at 3720 feet (1,133.9 m) above sea level. It is one of the few colleges to be named after two women, Suzanna Lees and Elizabeth McRae. In 2005, Lees-McRae became the first expansion site for New Opportunity School for Women, a program that helps educate and employ women in Appalachia.
in 1899 by Reverend Edgar Tufts, a Presbyterian minister. He named the school The Elizabeth McRae Institute after a well-respected educator in 1900. School benefactor Suzanna Lees' name was added in 1903 and the school's name became the Lees-McRae Institute when the school was chartered by the state in 1907.
An all-male branch was founded during 1907 in Plumtree, North Carolina
. The Plumtree facility was destroyed in a 1927 fire, leading the two campuses to merge at the Banner Elk site. After the merge, the high school program was phased out and the institute was renamed in 1931 to Lees-McRae College, an accredited, coeducational junior college
.
Lees-McRae began moving toward offering a four-year program in the late 1980s and the school's president made the recommendation to the board of trustees in 1987. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
granted Lees-McRae status as a four-year college in 1990.
The College's Bookstore, named The Exchange, accepted chickens, pigs, grain, other crops and livestock in exchange for education costs in the early years of the college's history.
In 2003, the college saw its first major construction in 20 years with the opening of the Arthur-Lauritsen-Sanders Track and Field Venue.
In 2008, the William Reynolds Gymnasium, originally built in 1938 with the aid of students, was renovated as part of the new Carol and Glenn Arthur Student Recreation Complex.
Tennessee and Virginia dorms were constructed from stones from those states.
During its junior college days, the College awarded the AA (Associate of Arts) or AS (Associate of Science) degree. Beginning in 1990 the Associate degree programs were abandoned and students began courses of study for Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degrees.
The college offers degree completion programs in elementary education, criminal justice, and nursing at four community college sites in Western North Carolina.
The Performing Arts Department offers a BFA degree in Musical Theatre, which is a part of the National Accreditation of Schools of Theatre (NAST)
The Performing Arts Department also supports the National Dance Association (NDA) and Alpha Psi Omega (APO), both are Honorary Fraternities.
Several programs are available to students interested in leadership, service and the outdoors. These programs range from the school's own Campus After The Class Hours (CATCH), KIBO Emerging Leaders, and Outdoor Programs to national programs like AmeriCorps Bonner Leaders.
Student groups on campus include:
The Lees-McRae Bobcats compete in NCAA Division II and play in Conference Carolinas
. All athletic teams are eligible for athletic scholarships. The College is also home to a cycling team which competes in Division I and holds national championships. Also the Men's Soccer Team is currently number two in the nation. Our varsity sports teams are listed below.
Male Sports
Female Sports
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
in Banner Elk, North Carolina
Banner Elk, North Carolina
-Attractions:During summer time there is hiking, whitewater rafting, fishing, and other activities. The largest lake in the area, Watauga Lake, is a favorite spot just 30 minutes away for boating, fishing and wake boarding. In the winter the main event is skiing and snowboarding. There are two...
affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA)
Presbyterian Church (USA)
The Presbyterian Church , or PC, is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination in the United States. Part of the Reformed tradition, it is the largest Presbyterian denomination in the U.S...
. Lees-McRae College has the highest elevation of any college or university in the United States east of the Mississippi River at 3720 feet (1,133.9 m) above sea level. It is one of the few colleges to be named after two women, Suzanna Lees and Elizabeth McRae. In 2005, Lees-McRae became the first expansion site for New Opportunity School for Women, a program that helps educate and employ women in Appalachia.
History
Lees-McRae College was founded in Banner Elk as an all-female high schoolHigh school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
in 1899 by Reverend Edgar Tufts, a Presbyterian minister. He named the school The Elizabeth McRae Institute after a well-respected educator in 1900. School benefactor Suzanna Lees' name was added in 1903 and the school's name became the Lees-McRae Institute when the school was chartered by the state in 1907.
An all-male branch was founded during 1907 in Plumtree, North Carolina
Plumtree, North Carolina
Plumtree is an unincorporated community in Avery County, North Carolina, United States. The community is located along US 19-E, between the communities of Roaring Creek and Ingalls.-See also:* Grassy Ridge Bald* Little Yellow Mountain* North Toe River...
. The Plumtree facility was destroyed in a 1927 fire, leading the two campuses to merge at the Banner Elk site. After the merge, the high school program was phased out and the institute was renamed in 1931 to Lees-McRae College, an accredited, coeducational junior college
Junior college
The term junior college refers to different educational institutions in different countries.-India:In India, most states provide schooling through 12th grade...
.
Lees-McRae began moving toward offering a four-year program in the late 1980s and the school's president made the recommendation to the board of trustees in 1987. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools is one of the six regional accreditation organizations recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation...
granted Lees-McRae status as a four-year college in 1990.
Campus
Landmarks on campus include the historic Rock House, built in 1920 of native stone; Tufts Tower, a former water tower that houses the campus chimes; and the North Carolina Building, completed in 1922 and one of three permanent buildings planned by the college's founder. Also, there is Tate Dorm which was originally the town hospital. There are other campus images in the gallery below.The College's Bookstore, named The Exchange, accepted chickens, pigs, grain, other crops and livestock in exchange for education costs in the early years of the college's history.
In 2003, the college saw its first major construction in 20 years with the opening of the Arthur-Lauritsen-Sanders Track and Field Venue.
In 2008, the William Reynolds Gymnasium, originally built in 1938 with the aid of students, was renovated as part of the new Carol and Glenn Arthur Student Recreation Complex.
Housing
There are several dormitories at Lees-McRae College that provide multiple college living experiences.Tennessee and Virginia dorms were constructed from stones from those states.
- Avery
- Tate
- Tennessee
- Virginia
- Bentley
- Baldwin
- McMillan
- Cannon Cottage (Honors Program)
- The Village
Organization
The college has two academic schools: The School of Arts and Sciences and the School of Professional Studies. The college offers 20 majors, including Wildlife Rehabilitation, Wildlife Biology, Performing Arts Studies, Business, and Elementary Education.During its junior college days, the College awarded the AA (Associate of Arts) or AS (Associate of Science) degree. Beginning in 1990 the Associate degree programs were abandoned and students began courses of study for Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degrees.
The college offers degree completion programs in elementary education, criminal justice, and nursing at four community college sites in Western North Carolina.
The Performing Arts Department offers a BFA degree in Musical Theatre, which is a part of the National Accreditation of Schools of Theatre (NAST)
The Performing Arts Department also supports the National Dance Association (NDA) and Alpha Psi Omega (APO), both are Honorary Fraternities.
Sports, clubs, and traditions
Intramural opportunities are available for several sports. The newest of these is the competitive rock climbing team.Several programs are available to students interested in leadership, service and the outdoors. These programs range from the school's own Campus After The Class Hours (CATCH), KIBO Emerging Leaders, and Outdoor Programs to national programs like AmeriCorps Bonner Leaders.
Student groups on campus include:
- Alpha Psi Omega
- Alpha Alpha Psi
- Backpacking Club
- Beta Omega Kappa
- Chess Club
- Choral Group (The Highlanders)
- Delta Omicron Theta
- Fellowship of Christian AthletesFellowship of Christian AthletesThe Fellowship of Christian Athletes is a non-profit interdenominational Christian organization founded in 1954 and that has been based in Kansas City, Missouri since 1956. It falls within the tradition of Muscular Christianity. Although established by evangelical Protestants, the concept has...
- International Club
- InterVarsityIntervarsityIntervarsity, Inter Varsity or Inter-Varsity may refer to:*All-Asian Intervarsity Debating Championships, now merged to form the United Asian Debating Championships.*Australasian Intervarsity Debating Championships...
/Approaching the Throne - Nu Delta Alpha
- Order of the Tower
- Pep Band
- Performing Arts
- Rock Climbing Club
- SPECTRUM
- Student Ambassadors
- Student Athletic Advisory Committee (SACC)
- Students Against a Vanishing Environment
- Student Government Association
The Lees-McRae Bobcats compete in NCAA Division II and play in Conference Carolinas
Conference Carolinas
Conference Carolinas, formerly known as the Carolinas-Virginia Athletic Conference , is an intercollegiate athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA’s Division II. Conference Carolinas reached its modern incarnation in 1994. Member institutions are located in the southeastern United States in...
. All athletic teams are eligible for athletic scholarships. The College is also home to a cycling team which competes in Division I and holds national championships. Also the Men's Soccer Team is currently number two in the nation. Our varsity sports teams are listed below.
Male Sports
- Basketball
- Cross County
- Cycling
- Golf
- Lacrosse
- Soccer
- Tennis
- Volleyball
- Track & Field
Female Sports
- Basketball
- Cross County
- Cycling
- Lacrosse
- Soccer
- Softball
- Tennis
- Volleyball
- Track & Field
Noted alumni
- Thomas FerebeeThomas FerebeeThomas W. Ferebee was the bombardier aboard the B-29 Superfortress, Enola Gay, that dropped the atomic bomb, "Little Boy", on Hiroshima in 1945.-Biography:...
(1937), bombardier aboard the Enola Gay - Scott A. Church (2001) film director, author of "Key West and Other Heartaches" (Lulu,2007)
- Roy LassiterRoy LassiterRoy Lassiter is a retired American soccer striker, and Major League Soccer's record holder for goals scored in a season, with 27 in 1996.-Early life:...
(1989), major league and US National Team soccer player - John B. StephensonJohn B. StephensonJohn B. Stephenson was a sociologist and scholar of Appalachia, a founder of the Appalachian Studies Conference, and president of Berea College from 1984 to 1994.-Early life and education:...
, former professor at LMC. Wife is a board member. - Joshua WorkmanJoshua WorkmanJoshua Workman is a Canadian political consultant working with Pure Strategy Group. He has ties to the US Republican Party and was elected, at age 19, to attend the 2000 Republican National Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where he was credited as being one of the youngest delegates in US...
, Canadian political consultant. - Chad Browning (1996) North Carolina hunting and fishing record holder.
- Brent Bookwalter, professional cyclist riding for BMC Racing TeamBMC Racing TeamBMC Racing Team is a UCI ProTeam title sponsored by BMC Racing, a Swiss-based bicycle frame manufacturer. The team is co-owned by American cyclist Jim Ochowicz, who founded the 7-Eleven Cycling Team, and is managed by Gavin Chilcott with assistance from directeur sportif John Lelangue.The team...
- Carla SwartCarla SwartCarla Swart was a South African cyclist who won nineteen individual and team cycling titles.Ms. Swart moved to the United States when she was a teenager. She attended Lees-McRae College where she was awarded scholarships in running and cycling.-Career:Carla Swart became the first cyclist to win...
, former professional cyclist riding for Team HTC-High Road