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 Awards Full-Tuition Ignite Scholarship to Eight Students

Office of University Communications

Gardner-Webb University recently presented its full-tuition eightsemester Ignite Scholarship to eight students from North Carolina, South Carolina and California. They rose to the top among the 293 qualified applicants who interviewed for the scholarship. The finalists had an average unweighted GPA of 3.79, and were from 18 states, including California, Maine, Texas and Wisconsin. Everyone who interviewed is eligible to receive $2,000 per year at GWU.
Hitting the Right Notes: Corwin Stanley Balances Music, Ministry, and Entrepreneurship

Office of University Communications and Makella Knowles

Corwin Stanley, a sophomore music worship major with a double primary in trumpet and voice, has exciting goals for his future. Growing up in Mooresville, N.C., Stanley was familiar with Gardner-Webb early on, initially hearing about the school from his elementary school piano teacher. He was drawn immediately to the church music program and explains how “as the child of a music minister, my home was always filled with music and ministry, shaping my passion from an early age.”
Gardner-Webb Officials Announce Speaker for Spring Commencement

Office of University Communications

A local pastor with ties to Gardner-Webb University will be the featured speaker for commencement on May 8 at 6:30 p.m. in Spangler Stadium. Skip Allen a lead pastor at Hope Community Church in Shelby, N.C., will address graduates and their families and friends.
Countdown: Less Than 30 Days Until WebbStock is Back with Music, Food and Fun

Office of University Communications

Gardner-Webb University, in collaboration with the Town of Boiling Springs, will host the fourth annual Webbstock Music Festival on Saturday, April 12. The festival is free and open to the public, offering a full day of music, art, food, and community activities.
Gardner-Webb College of Education Hosts Open House, Registration Events for New Bachelor of Science in Exceptional Child Education

Office of University Communications

The Gardner-Webb College of Education will host two opportunities for teacher candidates to learn more, apply, and register for its new fully-online bachelor’s program in Exceptional Children Education (ECE) that begins this summer. The open house, one-stop sessions will be o!ered on March 29 and April 5 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the GWU Charlotte Campus Center, 8030 Arrowridge Blvd., Charlotte, N.C. Registration is suggested.
Assistant Professor Still Learning After Nearly Four Decades of Experience

Office of University Communications

Dr. Stephen Gambill, an assistant professor of criminal justice administration at Gardner-Webb University, enriches his courses by including his own experiences from nearly 40 years of practicing law. He can share from his work with law enforcement officers as well as court, city, county, state and federal officials. Despite his own practical knowledge, Gambill challenges his students to teach him, understanding that he does not have all the answers. “I am somewhat pleased when a student does ‘stump’ me, and I hope the students are as well,” he reflected. “I am also influenced very much by the life stories that the students have to tell.”
Gardner-Webb Alumnae Gain Respect in Strength and Conditioning Field Dominated by Men

Office of University Communications

In a field dominated by men, four recent Gardner-Webb University alumnae are changing perceptions and gaining respect. As graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science and Master of Science in Strength and Conditioning (S&C) programs at Gardner- Webb, they join the small percentage of women in America who are employed in top-level S&C jobs.
Donations on Double Dawg Day Contribute to Men’s Soccer Big South Tournament Championship

Office of University Communications

In April 2024, a state-of-the-art Soccer Field House opened on the campus of Gardner-Webb University. This new facility was funded by generous donations from GWU supporters—many who donated on Double Dawg Day. By November 2024, the men’s soccer team was celebrating its first-ever Big South Tournament Championship.
Celebrating Alumni – Heather Banfield Earns Licensure as an Associate

Office of University Communications

Heather Banfield, an alumna of the Gardner-Webb Clinical Mental Health Counseling program and one of the first students to graduate with the Marriage, Couples and Family Counseling concentration, is now a licensed marriage and family therapist associate. Banfield successfully passed the marriage and family therapy exam and met the requirements for licensure as an associate. She will continue to work on the requirements to become fully licensed as a marriage and family therapist.
Kylee Morris, of Morehead City, N.C. Crowned Miss Gardner- Webb 2025

Office of University Communications and Chloe Cloutier

Kylee Morris, a junior biology major, was recently crowned Miss Gardner- Webb 2025 for her outstanding musical ability and stage presence. Performing a four-mallet marimba solo of “Ghost Garden,” by Adam Hopper, she impressed the judges and audience.
Gardner-Webb University Chorales Invite Audience to ‘Come and See’

Office of University Communications

The University Chorales concert on Thursday, March 6, opens with “Come and See,” a piece composed by J. Reese Norris, which sets the theme for the entire program. Set for 7 p.m. in Dover Chapel, the free performance features two ensembles—The Gardner Singers and The Webb Chorale.
Gardner-Webb Alumna Honored with Prestigious Fulbright Award

Office of University Communications

A Gardner-Webb University alumna, scholar, and poet is living her dream in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Dr. Alana Dagenhart is a 2025 Fulbright U.S. Scholar. An esteemed faculty member of English in the College of Arts and Sciences at Johnson & Wales University (JWU), Dagenhart will study and teach poetry at the Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen’s University Belfast for the next year.
Gardner-Webb University Provost Dr. Karen Aubrey Resigns

Office of University Communications

Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Karen Aubrey has announced her resignation from Gardner-Webb University. She will remain in her role through April 22. Dean Dr. Nicole Waters will serve as interim provost.
Gardner-Webb Women’s Basketball Team Lands Several Big South Postseason Honors Including Player of the Year for Ashley Hawkins

Office of University Communications

The Gardner-Webb University women’s basketball team has landed several postseason awards per release from the league office, with senior guard Ashley Hawkins (https://gwusports.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/ashley-hawkins/10252) being named the 2024-25 Big South Player of The Year.
Gardner-Webb Ready for Big South Championship Battle in Johnson City

Office of University Communications

The Gardner-Webb men’s and women’s basketball teams are ready to take the court in the 2025 Hercules Tires Big South Basketball Championships, set to take place March 5-9 at Freedom Hall Civic Center in Johnson City, Tenn. Both teams are eager to make a deep run in the tournament and battle for the conference title.
Gardner-Webb University Concert Choir Presents ‘You are My Sunshine’

Office of University Communications

The Gardner-Webb University Concert Choir’s Spring Concert, “You Are My Sunshine,” on Tuesday, March 4, is a celebration of music from the world’s various cultures and carnival traditions with selections from New Orleans, Rio de Janeiro, Venice, and others. The free program features folksong arrangements as well as works by Western masters like Robert Schumann and Antonio Vivaldi.
Save the Date: Gardner-Webb’s 10th Annual Double Dawg Day is April 10

Office of University Communications

Gardner-Webb University’s Double Dawg Day on April 10 marks a decade of philanthropic milestones. Beginning in 2015, supporters enthusiastically accepted the 24-hour challenge to fund scholarships, enhance classrooms and labs, and improve athletic facilities and training. Each year, the total has surpassed the previous year with 2024’s donors joining from all 50 states and across the globe to once again break records in single-day gifts and giving.
‘Always a Teacher’: Mindy Jae Brown Drawn to Career in Education From a Young Age

Office of University Communications and Makella Knowles

Mindy Jae Brown had the makings of a teacher from a young age. From playing “teacher” while she was growing up, to interning at an elementary school during her senior year of high school, teaching has been a strong theme in Brown’s life. Now in her second year at Gardner-Webb as a senior elementary education major, Brown is gearing up to begin her student teaching next year. While she didn’t settle on being a teacher until her junior year of high school, she says her mom “always saw me as a teacher” and “everything else was just a phase.”
Coming in March through May: Six Opportunities to Visit the Gardner-Webb Campus

Office of University Communications

A visit to the Gardner-Webb University campus is the best way to determine if it’s the right place for you. During Dawg Day or a Saturday Visit, you’ll meet current GWU students and experience the beautiful 225-acre campus situated in the North Carolina foothills.
Student from Rock Hill, S.C., Winner of the First Godbold Full-Tuition Scholarship

Office of University Communications

A group of 38 sharply-dressed high school seniors attended the first Godbold Scholars Day held on Feb. 12 at Gardner-Webb University. Hosted by the Godbold College of Business, the daylong event included scholarship interviews, campus tours, and presentations by alumnus Ben Campbell and College of Business namesake, John Godbold.
Two Gardner-Webb Nursing Students Receive Hunt Sisters Nursing Scholarship

Office of University Communications

Two Gardner-Webb University nursing students recognized for serving their communities are the recipients of the Hunt Sisters Nursing Scholarship. Juniors or seniors in the traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing program who are actively engaged in volunteer work are eligible to apply for the scholarship. The winners are Lauren Padgett, of Vale, N.C., who will graduate in 2026, and Brianna Payne, of Denton, Texas, who graduates in May.
Gardner-Webb Swimming Closes ASUN Championship with Four Podium Finishes

Office of University Communications

The Gardner-Webb University men’s and women’s swimming teams wrapped up an impressive week at the 2025 ASUN Championship on Feb. 22, hosted at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. The Runnin’ Bulldogs capped off the meet with four podium finishes in the final events, including a championship performance from standout swimmer Luke Weber.
Gardner-Webb Trustees Appoint Interim President

Office of University Communications

The Gardner-Webb University Board of Trustees met today (Feb. 24) and voted to name Nate Evans, University Vice President for Advancement, to serve as Interim University President, effective today.
Gardner-Webb Online Programs in Nursing, Cybersecurity, Human Services, Homeland Security and Criminal Justice Start March 7

Office of University Communications

Obtaining a bachelor’s degree through Gardner-Webb Online offers students access to the University’s highly-qualified professors from wherever they are. Aimee Burgess, of Simpsonville, S.C., earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in December 2024 through the Davis RN-BSN online program. Being out-of-state and online was never a problem for her. “They were so responsive, providing great feedback on assignments and always available by email, phone, or Zoom when I had questions,” she shared.
Miss Gardner-Webb Pageant Set for March 2, Showcasing Talent and Confidence

Office of University Communications

The stage is set for an exciting evening as seven contestants compete in the annual Miss Gardner-Webb Pageant on Sunday, March 2, at 3 p.m.The event, which is free and open to the public, will take place in Dover Theatre and promises a dazzling display of talent, confidence, and camaraderie.