Gardner-Webb NewsCenter Archive

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  Gardner-Webb University to Hold Expanded Spring Commencement on May 7 and 8

  Office of University Communications

  Officials at Gardner-Webb University are pleased to announce a return to in-person commencement services for the Class of 2021. Two days of celebrations are planned for May 7 and 8 in Spangler Stadium. In addition, students who graduated during virtual celebrations— held May 2020, August 2020 and December 2020—are invited to participate in the face-to-face events.

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  Gardner-Webb Physician Assistant (PA) Class of 2022 Honored with White Coat Ceremony

  Office of University Communications

  The Gardner-Webb University Physician Assistant (PA) Studies Class of 2022 received their white coats during a ceremony held recently.

  The donning of the white coats symbolizes their readiness to see patients after completing four grueling semesters of didactic education. The PA students will begin their clinical rotations in late May. This next phase of their education is three semesters long, and they will graduate the following May.

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  GWU Campus Community Invited to Webb Connections Panel Discussion on April 20

  Office of University Communications

  Gardner-Webb President Dr. William M. Downs invites the campus community to attend the final Webb Connections event for the semester, “A Revival in Christian Higher Education: Building A Bigger Tent.” Webb Connections is an informative series hosted by Downs and featuring a panel of experts discussing topics of national, regional and local interest.

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  Gardner-Webb Alumnus Honored with Prestigious Research Award

  Office of University Communications

  Biology and chemistry graduates from Gardner-Webb University, such as Dr. David Podgorski, ’07, make an impact around the world—studying in prestigious graduate schools, publishing in top chemistry journals, researching the COVID-19 virus, and serving in healthcare fields. They leave GWU prepared for the next step, whether that’s beginning a career or pursuing a graduate degree.

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  GWU College of Education Programs Achieve Perfect Score for Four Consecutive Semesters

  Office of University Communications

  For four consecutive semesters, the Gardner-Webb University College of Education and its education programs have received a perfect—100 percent pass—rate on the edTPA. This performance-based, subject-specific assessment and support system is used by teacher preparation programs throughout the United States. Success on the edTPA demonstrates a student candidate’s readiness for a full-time classroom teaching assignment.

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  Gardner-Webb College of Health Sciences Receives $150,000 from The Cannon Foundation

  Office of University Communications

  Throughout North and South Carolina, the healthcare industry is experiencing unprecedented growth. The high demand for skilled professionals requires that Gardner-Webb University’s College of Health Sciences (CoHS) work diligently to keep pace with the growing demand for healthcare professionals. To meet this need, the CoHS received a $150,000 grant from The Cannon Foundation designed to strengthen the educational experience for students in the Hunt School of Nursing (HSON), Department of Physician Assistant Studies and the Department of Exercise Science.

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  Student Finds Concepts in Gardner-Webb’s 10- Month MBA Classes Immediately Useful

  Office of University Communications

  Christian Rocker, of Mt. Holly, N.C., entered the 10-Month Master of Business Administration (MBA) program at Gardner-Webb University to enhance his skill set and produce opportunities for career growth. Not only has the comprehensive program provided him with knowledge to advance in his company, he’s gained valuable insight that helps him in his current role.

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  Gardner-Webb Event Invites Two Faculty Members to Discuss Relationship Between Science and Faith

  Office of University Communications

  In the third program in Gardner-Webb University’s “Webb Connections” series, President Dr. William M. Downs is joined by two faculty members to discuss “Science and Faith: Not Mutually Exclusive.” While this topic has been examined and debated for centuries, it remains relevant to today, and especially on the campus of Gardner-Webb, a private Christian liberal arts university, where conviction and critical thinking meet every day.

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  Gardner-Webb and Cleveland County Public Health Center Provide Campus Vaccine Clinic

  Office of University Communications

  Gardner-Webb University and the Cleveland County Public Health Center in Shelby, N.C., are collaborating to provide a COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic on campus in the Lutz-Yelton Convocation Center. The first dose of Pfizer’s vaccine will be available on April 7 to University students, faculty and staff in time slots between 2 and 5 p.m. A second dose is required in three weeks. Participants will automatically be scheduled in the same location and same time slot to receive their second dose on April 30. In addition, vaccine appointments will be available to members of the community until 2 p.m. on both days.

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  Gardner-Webb Officials Announce Winners of Full-Tuition Ignite Excellence Scholarships

  Office of University Communications

  Admissions officials at Gardner-Webb University have announced the 2021 winners of the Ignite Excellence Scholarships. Selected from a field of 200 finalists, each of the eight recipients receive a full-tuition scholarship that honors their exemplary academic achievements. The average Grade Point Average (GPA) of these students is 4.45. The award covers the cost of tuition for fall and spring semesters and is valued at $31,220 per academic year.

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  Gardner-Webb Songwriting Workshop and Concert Scheduled for April 10

  Office of University Communications

  Gardner-Webb University’s School of Performing and Visual Arts and the Department of Music will present the 2021 GWU Songwriting Workshop and concert on April 10, beginning at noon. Co-sponsored by The Alfred & Shirley Wampler Caudill Fund, the event is part of the Distinguished Artist Series and features award-winning songwriters from North and South Carolina.

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  Gardner-Webb Officials Plan Return to Regular Programming for Fall 2021 Semester

  Office of University Communications

  Officials at Gardner-Webb University are preparing for a return to prepandemic operations and schedules for the Fall 2021 Semester. With vaccines being distributed and the number of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations declining, GWU students, faculty and staff are looking forward to returning to a full schedule of face-to-face instruction, and capacity-filled auditoriums, arenas and stadiums.

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  Gardner-Webb Team Explores Ethical Issues Related to COVID-19 in 10th Annual Ethics Bowl

  Office of University Communications

  The 10th annual Ethics Bowl, sponsored by North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities, was a virtual event this year, held via Zoom. The team from Gardner-Webb University was one of 16 to participate in the recent event. Because of the online format, the event was not a competition. Teams were asked to present their positions on two cases, which explored ethical issues relating to the COVID-19 pandemic. While the presentations were not judged, guests who had previously served as judges provided feedback to the teams.

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  Former Gardner-Webb Faculty Members Reflect on 10-year Process to Earn Senior College Status

  Office of University Communications

  To our readers: Gardner-Webb University celebrates a historic milestone in 2021—the 50th anniversary of senior college status. Transitioning to a four-year college in 1971 was the result of 10 years of planning and meeting goals.

  To celebrate this anniversary, Gardner-Webb will publish a series of articles highlighting the stories of former faculty, staff, alumni and supporters who experienced this significant achievement. View the history timeline here. Although first conceptualized in 1961, Gardner-Webb’s transition from a two-year junior college to a four-year senior college was a decade-long process. Much work had to be done, including the hiring of more highly specialized faculty, the formation of higher-level courses, and the addition of new campus buildings. There were both trials and triumphs during this period.

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  Audit Research by Doctoral Student Published in Global Business Journal

  Office of University Communications

  Xing Yin, of Oxford, Miss., is pursuing her Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) at Gardner-Webb University while also working on a doctorate in computer science at another institution. Recently, she was notified that a research article she completed for a class assignment at Gardner-Webb was published in the “Global Journal of Management and Business Research.”

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  Gardner-Webb Online Delivers High Quality Education on Students’ Own Schedule

  Office of University Communications

  Gardner-Webb University, a provider of accessible and affordable online education for more than 20 years, is launching a new portal—Gardner-Webb Online. This easy-tonavigate feature is designed to meet the increasing demand for quality online education, demand that has only increased with the COVID-19 pandemic. Gardner-Webb Online connects students to all of the University’s online offerings in undergraduate degree completion, graduate programs, and Professional and Continuing Education (PACE).

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  Gardner-Webb School of Performing and Visual Arts Hosts Annual Faculty Art Show

  Office of University Communications

  The Gardner-Webb University School of Performing and Visual Arts presents its annual Faculty Art Show in the Ali Pouryousefi Memorial Art Gallery in Tucker Student Center through March 31. The annual event showcases the new works created by several faculty members throughout the University.

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  Guest Musicians and Gardner-Webb University Faculty Featured in 2021 Brass Fest

  Office of University Communications

  Jazz trombonist Wycliffe Gordon is the featured performer for Gardner- Webb University’s 2021 Brass Fest on March 21. A masterclass will be held from 2 to 3:30 p.m. in Hamrick Hall’s Blanton Auditorium and the concert will be at 7 p.m. in Dover Theatre. Gordon is the director of Jazz Studies at Augusta (Ga.) University. He performs all over the world and has received several honors and recognitions. Because of COVID-19, social distancing will be observed, and only 100 people will be allowed in the audience for the free concert.

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  GWU Science Alumni Contribute to Discoveries Around the World

  Office of University Communications

  Faculty members in the Gardner-Webb University Department of Natural Sciences work collaboratively to provide students with unique and meaningful opportunities for research.

  These undergraduate experiences give GWU students an edge when applying to graduate school or seeking employment. As a result, biology and chemistry graduates from Gardner-Webb are making an impact around the world—studying in prestigious graduate schools, publishing in top chemistry journals, researching the COVID-19 virus, and serving in healthcare fields.

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  National Alpha Chi Series Features Gardner- Webb Faculty, Alumnus and Broadcaster

  Office of University Communications

  People choose to enshrine, invent or bury their memories, which can affect how they react to various situations and their retelling of history. Recently, Alpha Chi National College Honor Society explored these ideas in a conversation called, “Race and Memory in the South.” The conversation featured two Gardner-Webb University professors and two natives of Shelby, N.C., one who is a GWU alumnus. The program was part of Alpha Chi’s National Series, “… and Justice for All – Seeking Racial Equity.” A recording of the event is available here.

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  Assistant Professor’s Research Focuses on Women’s Roles in China’s Modern Transformation

  Office of University Communications

  Zhang is also working to publish a book this year, titled “Materializing a Gendered Modernity: The Beijing Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) (1927-1937).”

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  Kim Downs, Gardner-Webb First Lady, Sews Pillowcases for Children in the Hospital

  Office of University Communications

  For a child, going to the hospital can be an unpleasant, frightening experience. Volunteers have discovered a way to help ease the fear and tension by donating handsewn, colorful character pillowcases that children can call their own. Joining the ranks of those volunteers is Gardner-Webb University First Lady Kim Downs, wife of president Dr. William M. Downs.

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  Alumni from GWU’s Natural Sciences Department Make a Difference All Over the World

  Office of University Communications

  Biology and chemistry graduates from Gardner-Webb University are making an impact around the world—studying in prestigious graduate schools, publishing in top chemistry journals, researching the COVID-19 virus, and serving in healthcare fields. They leave GWU prepared for the next step, whether that’s beginning a career or pursuing a graduate degree.

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  Gardner-Webb Student-Athletes Share Their Perspectives as Minorities in Sports and Academics

  Office of University Communications

  JeNai Davis, director of Gardner-Webb University Diversity and Intercultural Initiatives, recently sat down with a group of Black student-athletes to discuss the experiences they’ve gone through being a minority in their sport as well as in their academic setting. The full conversation was recorded and is available here. “The purpose of this event is to talk about their struggles, but also to really encourage others on their experiences and what they go through,” Davis explained.

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  First Theatre Majors Appeared on Television Twice During Four Years

  Office of University Communications

  Gardner-Webb University celebrates a historic milestone in 2021—the 50th anniversary of senior college status. Transitioning to a four-year college in 1971 was the result of 10 years of planning and meeting goals. To celebrate this anniversary, Gardner-Webb will publish a series of articles highlighting the stories of former faculty, staff, alumni and supporters who experienced this significant achievement.

  As Gardner-Webb transitioned to a four-year school in 1971, the College had established eight academic divisions and 16 departments for the baccalaureate program. Associate degrees remained in nursing and in the areas of secretarial science and data processing.