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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GWU Research Scholar Uses Photography Skills to Highlight North Carolina Prison Ministry

Office of University Communications

Gardner-Webb University senior Madison Weavil ‘19 is passionate about photography and prison ministry. The project she proposed as a 2018 Undergraduate Research Scholar was to develop her photojournalism skills while increasing awareness of the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of the children of prisoners. She is one of 13 GWU students who received a grant for dedicated research.
Undergraduate Researcher Begins Writing Fiction Novel to Accurately Portray Mental Illness

Office of University Communications

Quiet and shy is how Gardner-Webb University senior, Kate Vriesema, of Whitinsville, Mass., describes herself. Her writing speaks volumes about the topics that interest her. By sharing her ideas on paper, she gives a voice to others who need to be heard, like individuals struggling with mental illness.
Gardner-Webb Alumna Invites People to Open Their Hearts to God’s Voice

Office of University Communications

Graduates of the School of Divinity at Gardner-Webb University leave knowing their professors or classmates will keep in touch. “Any time I email or call a fellow student or professor to ask for advice or find a good resource for something I am a preaching and teaching, they will respond,” affirmed Merianna Neely Harrelson, who earned her Master of Divinity in Pastoral Studies in 2014. Harrelson is a bi-vocational pastor of a small congregation in Columbia, S.C.
GWU Chemistry and Ecology Professors Inspired Alumnus to Study Wildlife Conservation

Office of University Communications

Two years before Michael Byron, of San Antonio, Texas, was recruited to the men’s basketball program at Gardner-Webb University, he watched the GWU team defeat the Kentucky Wildcats, 84-68, in a televised game. The historic win was on his mind when he decided to visit the GWU campus. “I got along really well with the players and the coaches,” Byron reflected.
GWU Students Compete in Annual Big South Conference Quiz Bowl

Office of University Communications

Six students from Gardner-Webb University competed recently in the annual Big South Conference Quiz Bowl hosted by High Point University. The team finished second in preliminary competition, and Cameron Walters, a junior music composition major from Bessemer City, N.C., had the third highest individual score. The annual Quiz Bowl is organized by the Big South Academic Consortium.
Undergraduate Research Scholar Studies Life of Missionary and Author Elisabeth Elliott

Office of University Communications

Sarah Lauren Traylor, a biblical studies major at Gardner-Webb University, has admired the late Elisabeth Elliot and drawn inspiration from her books for several years. Last year while researching Elliot’s complementarian view of marriage, she was surprised that there was very little biographical information available on Elliott. “She wonderfully exemplifies the motto of Gardner-Webb University, “Pro Deo et Humanitate” (For God and Humanity),” shared Traylor, a native of Staunton, Va.
Alumnus Felt at Home on the Campus of Gardner-Webb University

Office of University Communications

With his outgoing and friendly personality, Dewayne Wray ’16 felt welcome on Gardner-Webb University’s campus. “I was first introduced to Gardner-Webb by my grandmother and a few members of my church who are all alumni,” explained Wray, who lives in Green Creek, N.C. “I chose to attend Gardner-Webb, because it immediately felt like home and like a place where I could really make an impact.”
GWU Nursing Alumna Desires to Serve Her Community by Caring for Others

Office of University Communications

Motivated by her earnest desire to help people, Kaitlynn Watts Smith ’15, of Kannapolis, N.C., chose a career in nursing. When she visited Gardner-Webb University, she experienced a campus that integrated education and Christian values. The school’s motto, Pro Deo et Humanitate (For God and Humanity) aligned with her own ideals.
Gardner-Webb Welcomes Grandson of Billy Graham for Two Programs

Office of University Communications

In recent weeks, abuse within the church has received national and international attention. For the last 20 years, Boz Tchividjian, a grandson of the late evangelist, Rev. Billy Graham, has led efforts to care for the abused and to inform churches about the complexities of child abuse. Tchividjian is the founder and executive director of GRACE (Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment), a ministry that helps Christian communities recognize, prevent and respond to abuse.
GWU Team Competes in Eighth Annual North Carolina Ethics Bowl

Office of University Communications

A team from Gardner-Webb University recently participated in the Eighth Annual Ethics Bowl hosted by North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (NCICU). The two-day event was held at the North Carolina Legislative complex in Raleigh. The GWU students debated topics related to “Ethics and the Environment” and won three out of four rounds.
GWU Student Club Fights Human Trafficking Through Action Week, Feb. 25-March 1

Office of University Communications

According to the National Human Trafficking Resource Center, North Carolina is one of the top 10 states for human trafficking, and Charlotte is the No. 1 city in the state. To bring awareness to efforts to prevent and end this injustice, the Gardner-Webb University club, “Release the Captives,” is hosting Anti-Human Trafficking Action Week (aHTAW) from Feb. 25 to March 1. During the week, club members will highlight the work of “Present Age Ministries,” an anti-human trafficking organization in Concord, N.C., that provides case management, counseling and housing for victims.
Research by GWU Senior Biology Major Establishes Process to Extract Anti-Cancer Compound

Office of University Communications

Sulforaphane, a chemical compound found in broccoli, is known to have antioxidant and anti-cancer properties. As an Undergraduate Research Scholar at Gardner-Webb University, Yuri Kurerov, of St. Petersburg, Russia, developed a method to separate and characterize the substance from broccoli seeds. One of 13 GWU students to receive a grant for focused research, Kurerov worked on his project during both 2018 summer terms.
Dr. William M. Downs Begins His Term as 13th President on July 1

Office of University Communications

The Gardner-Webb University Board of Trustees is pleased to announce Dr. William M. Downs has been named the institution’s 13th president. He currently serves at East Carolina University (ECU) as the dean of the Thomas Harriot College of Arts & Sciences in Greenville, N.C. Board members unanimously confirmed his appointment at a special meeting, capping a highly competitive one-year national search.
GWU School of Performing and Visual Arts Hosts Three Days of Trumpet Programs

Office of University Communications

The Gardner-Webb University School of Performing and Visual Arts is hosting three opportunities to hear from a group of accomplished brass musicians. The programs, which are presented as part of the GWU Distinguished Artist Series, are free and open to the public. The GWU Trumpet Summit on Feb. 10 and 11 is also sponsored by the Alfred & Shirley Wampler Caudill Endowed Fund.
Gardner-Webb Provided Opportunities for Alumna to Serve Others

Office of University Communications

Keanna Caldwell, a 2016 alumna of Gardner-Webb University, was raised by a single mother who taught her the value of serving others and the importance of community. “I don’t know where I would have been if not for the people who supported me all my life,” shared Caldwell, a native of Hendersonville, N.C. “I grew up in a family who was very service oriented. Both of my grandmothers were active in civil rights, so I always knew service was going to be a big component of whatever I did.”
Psychology Degree Helps GWU Alumna Manage Her Own Bakery Business

Office of University Communications

Maya Stewart ’17 took several classes and even read course descriptions in the Gardner-Webb University Catalog before deciding to major in psychology. Taking different courses helped her determine her strengths and interests. When she decided to open her own bakery, she realized that her GWU professors had prepared her for success.
GWU Department of Theatre Arts Presents ‘Sweeney Todd,’ a Musical Thriller

Office of University Communications

The Gardner-Webb University Department of Theatre Arts presents “Sweeney Todd” Feb. 21-24 in Dover Theatre inside the Lutz-Yelton Convocation Center. The musical thriller is directed by Dr. Chris Nelson, assistant professor of theatre and department chair, and Dr. Stafford Turner, associate professor of music. The GWU Orchestra, directed by professor of music Dr. Patricia Sparti, will provide accompaniment.
Madison Square Garden Executive to Visit Gardner-Webb University on Feb. 15

Office of University Communications

An executive from The Madison Square Garden (MSG) Company in New York will visit the Gardner-Webb University campus on Feb. 15. Branden Templeton, vice president of business solutions and marketing partnerships, will speak to students at 9 a.m. in Hamrick Hall’s Blanton Auditorium. Hosted by the Godbold School of Business, the program is also open to the public.
New York Times Best-Selling Author Visits Gardner-Webb University on Feb. 18

Office of University Communications

New York Times best-selling author, Wiley Cash, will be at Gardner-Webb University on Feb. 18 as part of the Darlene J. Gravett Visiting Writer Series. A Gastonia native, Cash will offer a public reading and book signing at 7 p.m. in Stewart Hall, located inside the Tucker Student Center. The program is free and open to the public.
GWU Team Prepares to Compete in Eighth Annual NCICU Ethics Bowl

Office of University Communications

A team of four students from Gardner-Webb University is preparing to compete in the eighth annual Ethics Bowl hosted by North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (NCICU). The event will be held Feb. 8-9 at the North Carolina Legislative complex in Raleigh. The topic this year is “Ethics and the Environment.”
Alumnus Developed His Artistic Talents With Guidance From GWU Art Professors

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Tyler Myers ’17 entered Gardner-Webb University ready to explore his career options. Undecided on a major, he took an art class with Assistant Professor Paula Spangler Casper. “I always loved art, but I hated showing people the art I made,” Myers shared.
International Baritone Soloist in Concert Jan. 24 at Gardner-Webb University

Office of University Communications

Baritone John R. Fulton III will be in concert Jan. 24 at 8 p.m. in Hamrick Hall’s Blanton Auditorium, located on the campus of Gardner-Webb University. Presented by the School of Performing Arts Distinguished Artist Series, the program is free and open to the public. Fulton has been a soloist with the Berlin Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and most recently, the Sydney Symphony.
Scholar Tackles Slimy Project to Improve GWU Environmental Sustainability Practices

Office of University Communications

For his summer research project, one Gardner-Webb University senior enthusiastically tackled a dirty and slimy process. Jacob C. Jackson ’19 chose a socially-responsible research project for the immediate impact it would have on campus waste management. The biology major from Tryon, N.C., decided to expand the work done by a previous undergraduate scholar to improve the University’s environmental sustainability practices.
GWU Alumna Helps Children and Families Deepen Their Relationship with God

Office of University Communications

Allison Benfield, a 2014 alumna of Gardner-Webb University, inspires young and old to hear and explore the stories in the Bible. “I want to help children—and grown-ups—deepen their relationship with God by learning and wondering about God’s story,” shares Benfield, who serves as Minister with Children and Their Families at St. John’s Baptist Church (Charlotte, N.C.) “Stories meet us where we are, and let us take what we need from them at that moment—this is especially true of God’s story. I hope everyone with whom I minister knows that God made them. God always loves them. God loves everyone, and God wants us to love everyone, too.”
Award-Winning International Trumpeter Performs at GWU on Jan. 26

Office of University Communications

An internationally-acclaimed trumpet player from Europe, currently on tour in the United States, is scheduled to appear at Gardner-Webb University on Jan. 26 at 7 p.m. Huw Morgan and his collaborative pianist, Rebecca Wilt, will perform in Blanton Auditorium in Hamrick Hall. The program, which is free and open to the public, is presented by the GWU School of Performing and Visual Arts Distinguished Artist Series.