Warren Wilson College, located in the bucolic Swannanoa Valley, has been called a lot of things in its 121-year existence. The liberal arts college has even marketed itself as being “not for everyone” in the past. But now it can add “place of meditation and intuition” to its resume, according to a new ranking.
The small liberal arts institution has been included in a list of the top ten “Zen” schools compiled by Her Campus, an online global community for college women. The online college life forum ranked Warren Wilson fifth on their list of schools providing “activities, classes and programs to help students de-stress,” according to a press release from Warren Wilson.
“Originally founded as a farming school, it’s no wonder Warren Wilson is so committed to healthy living!” Her Campus says in its profile of the work college. “The student-run farm still operates today and makes a point of producing meat and vegetables through sustainable practices.”
Her Campus, which features work from over 7,000 college-age journalists from across the world, cites Warren Wilson’s innovative Wellness Center and campus offerings such as “classes in yoga, vegetarian cooking, and workshops on topics such as herb identification, gender-specific health, healing arts, meditation and Earth skills,” as well as it’s student-run farm and Apothecary Crew as reasons for its inclusion on the list.
Warren Wilson is the only institution located in North Carolina to make the list and is the highest ranked college in the South. Other colleges cited by Her Campus include Lewis & Clark College, Hampshire College, The University of Vermont and several others.
Speaking to one of the campus’ most popular student life programs cited by Her Campus, Warren Wilson College Wellness Director Charlie Wright says that “The Wellness Center aims to help our students, staff and faculty members establish and pursue a wellness-centered lifestyle.” The crew is student-driven, according to Wright, who adds that “it’s amazing to know others are recognizing its significance.”
For more information about Warren Wilson’s inclusion as a top ten “Zen” school, how the list was compiled and what other schools were included, check out the press release below or visit hercampus.com/life/campus-life/most-Zen-schools. To learn more about Her Campus’ mission and community, visit hercampus.com.
Official Press Release:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Warren Wilson College is one of the “Most Zen Schools”
Asheville, North Carolina – Sept. 4, 2015 – Warren Wilson College is one of the “Most Zen Schools,” according to the website Her Campus, which describes itself as “the #1 global community for college women” with a “mission of serving college women across every platform.” Her Campus ranks the private, liberal arts college fifth out of 10 schools providing activities, classes and programs to help students de-stress. Warren Wilson College is the highest ranked Southern college, and the only one located in North Carolina. The University of Vermont, Lewis & Clark College, Hampshire College and the University of Washington, among others, also made the list.
“Originally founded as a farming school, it’s no wonder Warren Wilson is so committed to healthy living!” the Her Campus Team wrote. “The student-run farm still operates today and makes a point of producing meat and vegetables through sustainable practices.”
Her Campus credits Warren Wilson College’s Wellness Center, which provides students with “classes in yoga, vegetarian cooking, and workshops on topics such as herb identification, gender-specific health, healing arts, meditation and Earth skills,” with establishing a Zen-like atmosphere on campus. The Wellness Center is also home to the Apothecary Crew where students aim to empower the community to use homeopathic products to their full potential to heal their bodies and enhance their lives. The Her Campus Team added, “Sounds pretty Zen to us!”
“The Wellness Center aims to help our students, staff and faculty members establish and pursue a wellness-centered lifestyle,” said Charlie Wright, wellness director. “This is a student-created and student-driven program, and it’s amazing to know others are recognizing its significance.”
Her Campus is “written entirely by the world’s top college journalists – with 7,000+ contributors and counting – HerCampus.com features national Style, Beauty, Health, Love, Life, Career, LGBTQ+, High School, and Real World content supplemented by local content from 280+ campus chapters nationwide and in seven countries,” according to its website.
“We wanted to turn the traditional college rankings on their head and put a fun, decidedly ‘collegiette’ spin on them,” said Her Campus Co-Founder, CEO & Editor-In-Chief Stephanie Kaplan Lewis. “The college experience is about so much more than just academics, and these rankings take a critical, multi-faceted look at our nation’s colleges and all they have to offer in and outside the classroom, while having (more than) a little bit of fun, too.”
For more information, visit http://www.hercampus.com/life/campus-life/most-Zen-schools.
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