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Gardner-Webb NewsCenter Archive

This is the archive for Gardner-Webb's Newscenter, which is your source for updates and events happening on campus, as well as interesting stories about GWU students, faculty/staff and alumni. You'll also find stories about academic accomplishments and community service projects.

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Gardner-Webb President Dr. William Downs Elected Big South President

Office of University Communications

The Big South Conference Council of Chief Executive Officers unanimously approved the league’s Executive Committee for the next two academic years. With this action, Gardner-Webb University President Dr. William M. Downs has been elevated to Big South President for 2023-24 and 2024-25.
Gardner-Webb: The Only Division I University in N.C. with Championships in Football, and Women’s and Men’s Basketball Since 2019

Office of University Communications

With its championship wins this year, Gardner-Webb is the only D-I school in North Carolina to earn titles in football, women’s basketball and men’s basketball since 2019. On their way to the championships, the programs and student-athletes also set records.
Gardner-Webb: The Only Division I University in N.C. with Championships in Football, and Women’s and Men’s Basketball Since 2019

Office of University Communications

With its championship wins this year, Gardner-Webb is the only D-I school in North Carolina to earn titles in football, women’s basketball and men’s basketball since 2019. On their way to the championships, the programs and student-athletes also set records.
Gardner-Webb PA Students Travel to Kenya for Final Clinical Experience Before Graduation

Office of University Communications

For their final elective clinical practice experience in the Master of Physician Assistant (PA) Studies Program at Gardner-Webb University, three May 2023 graduates decided to test their skills in another country. Myah Harrison of Belmont, N.C., April Evans of Spartanburg, S.C., and Sarah Hiscocks of Bullock, N.C., flew nearly 18 hours and paid out-of-pocket to work in Kenya.
Gardner-Webb Recognizes Those Who Paid the Ultimate Price During Memorial Day Service

Office of University Communications

Faculty, staff and community members gathered on May 25th at Gardner-Webb University to honor the brave men and women who gave their lives in defense the United States while serving in the armed forces. “Memorial Day is our solemn responsibility to carry out our lives in ways that would have made those who lost theirs proud,” proclaimed Gardner-Webb University President William Downs.
Gardner-Webb Honors Experience Introduces Qualified High School Students to College Life

Office of University Communications

While experiencing life on the Gardner-Webb campus, high-achieving high school students attending this summer’s Honors Experience can learn about writing with sound, the physics of everything, or other topics. More importantly, the program will incorporate scholarship and service by involving students in activities to help neighbors in need.
Dr. Crystal L. Hill, GWU Alumna, Named Superintendent of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools

Office of University Communications

Dr. Crystal L. Hill, an alumna of Gardner-Webb University, was named superintendent of Charlotte-Mecklenburg (N.C.) Schools (CMS) on Friday, May 19. She was hired after a three-month national search, during which Hill served as the system’s interim superintendent. She’s the first Black female superintendent in the district’s history.
Gardner-Webb Baseball Plays Thursday, May 25, in Big South Championship Opening Round

Office of University Communications

Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs baseball will play on Thursday, May 25, in the opening round of the 2023 Big South Baseball Championship in High Point, N.C. (Truist Point).

The double-elimination tournament is scheduled for May 25-27, and will feature the top four teams in the final standings. The winner of the tournament will receive the Big South Conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Regionals.
Gardner-Webb Hosts Memorial Day Observance on May 25

Office of University Communications

The Gardner-Webb Community Memorial Day Observance and Prayer Gathering will be held on May 25 at 9:30 a.m. in front of Hamrick Hall. Employee Support Manager and Lead Chaplain for Cleveland County Dr. Eric Davis, a GWU alumnus, is the guest speaker.
Gardner-Webb to Take on Charleston Southern Friday at 3 p.m. with Big South Tourney in Sight

Office of University Communications

Gardner-Webb and Charleston Southern will meet again at the mound on Friday afternoon. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. (ESPN+) on Bill Masters Field located at John Henry Moss Stadium. Fans are encouraged to come out for Dollar Day for the Dawgs, where everyone can get in for $1 instead of the usual $5 gate entry.

Gardner-Webb got strong pitching Thursday night and pulled out a 1-0 win over Charleston Southern in a critical Big South series opener.
Victor Putter, GWU Men’s Tennis, is Among Eight Recognized with Big South Conference’s Award for Academic Excellence

Office of University Communications

Victor Putter of the Gardner-Webb University men’s tennis team is one of eight student-athletes awarded the Conference’s prestigious George A. Christenberry Award for Academic Excellence. He majored in mathematics at Gardner-Webb and completed his undergraduate with a perfect 4.0 GPA.
GWU Alumni and Professor Share Byline for Research Published in Scholarly Volume

Office of University Communications

A common goal shared by the faculty at Gardner-Webb University is to offer opportunities for undergraduate research. Students learn how to conduct an intensive study through initiatives such as Life of the Scholar, a committee established in 1977 to promote individual scholarship, and the Undergraduate Summer Research Scholars program, which provides grants for research.
Gardner-Webb Announces Spring 2023 Graduates and Academic Accolades

Office of University Communications

Gardner-Webb University officials are pleased to announce the 2023 Spring graduates and academic achievements.
Gardner-Webb Community Remembers Professor Emeritus Dr. Glenn Bottoms who Passed Away at 76

Office of University Communications

Dr. Glenn Bottoms, professor emeritus of economics and management, passed away on May 12. He retired from Gardner-Webb University in 2018 after more than three decades as a professor of economics and management information systems. Before moving to Boiling Springs in 1985, Glenn taught in Canada, Georgia, and Cullowhee, N.C. He valued the relationships and Christian environment that Gardner-Webb offered. “That’s why I wanted to teach,” he once commented. “I wanted to know the students.”
Gardner-Webb Students Receive Academic and Service Awards

Office of University Communications

Gardner-Webb University recently recognized students for academic excellence and community service. Winners of these awards exemplify the University’s core values of faith, service and leadership in their classrooms and communities.
Gardner-Webb Officials Announce New Director of Academic Innovation and Digital Learning

Office of University Communications

An experienced educator and administrator has been hired as Director of Academic Innovation and Digital Learning at Gardner-Webb University. Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Karen Aubrey announced that Dr. Wendy Athens begins her role on May 22.
Gardner-Webb Faculty Members Achieve Promotions and Tenure

Office of University Communications

Gardner-Webb University officials recently announced promotions for seven faculty members and tenure for five. Promotions and tenure are awarded after an extensive application and review process that includes evaluations by the appropriate dean or department chair, the provost, and the president.
Gardner-Webb Alumna Molly Law, ’14, is Former Editor of Christianity.com

Office of University Communications

At Gardner-Webb University, 2014 alumna Molly Law discovered her writing talent and her interest in a scholarly examination of the Bible. As editor of Christianity.com, she recalled topics discussed in her religion classes to propose article ideas or to occasionally write articles and devotions for the website.
Gardner-Webb Awards Degrees in Spring Commencement Ceremonies on May 4 and 5

Office of University Communications

Officials at Gardner-Webb celebrated with over 500 graduates at the University’s formal Commencement on Thursday, May 4, at 7 p.m. Former N.C. Secretary of Commerce Sharon Decker was the guest speaker for the ceremony held in Spangler Stadium. The celebrations continue today with separate recognition ceremonies for the University’s four colleges and the School of Divinity.
Bob Shepherd Remembered for his Pastoral Ministry and Service to Gardner-Webb and School of Divinity

Office of University Communications

Bob D. Shepherd, a pastor and former vice president for development at Gardner-Webb University, passed away on April 30. Shepherd, 93, touched and enriched countless lives through his work in ministry for over 60 years. He also served two terms on the GWU Board of Trustees, 2011-2014 and 2016-2018, and was recognized as a trustee emeritus in 2020.
Gardner-Webb Teams Prepare to Serve People in Kentucky, Greece and Kenya

Office of University Communications

The mission of Gardner-Webb University is to prepare graduates for leadership and service in their professional careers and personal lives. To fulfill this vision and the University’s motto, Pro Deo et Humanitate (For God and Humanity), the Office of Christian Life and Service sponsors mission trips each year. In response to needs in America and internationally, three groups will be embarking on mission trips during May to provide medical care, clothing, food and shelter to those in need.
Gardner-Webb Hires Assistant Professor for Cybersecurity Program

Office of University Communications

Gardner-Webb’s administration has announced the hiring of a new lead faculty member for cybersecurity. Oscar Gonzalez will serve as assistant professor of computer science in the Department of Mathematical and Computer Sciences. He has 22 years of experience teaching information technology, which includes eight years in the cybersecurity field. The University began offering the cybersecurity concentration in January to prepare graduates for this field that is expected to have 3.5 million job openings in 2025.
End-of-Year Reception Honors Top Gardner-Webb Club, Advisor and Event

Office of University Communications

The Gardner-Webb University Office of Student Engagement hosted its first Clubs and Organizations End-of-Year Reception recently. The event also included several first-time awards to recognize the Club of the Year, the Advisor of the Year and the Event of the Year.
Kendall Massey, of Gastonia, N.C., Wins First Dawg House Pitch Competition

Office of University Communications

Kendall Massey of Gastonia, N.C., won first place in the first Dawg House Pitch Competition sponsored by the Entrepreneurship Club at Gardner-Webb University. Massey, a management major, pitched expansion of his business, Massey Landscaping and won $2,000.
Longtime Adjunct Art Instructor Gary Freeman Donates Two Murals to Dover Library

Office of University Communications

Gary Freeman, longtime adjunct art instructor for Gardner-Webb University, recently donated two large murals to Dover Library. A working artist for more than 30 years, Freeman is known for his landscape paintings and architectural and nature studies. Both paintings depict churches in mountain scenery and represent actual places in the North Carolina Appalachian Mountains between Boone and Glendale Springs in Watauga and Ashe counties.