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 Distinguished Artist Series Hosts Kennedy Center Music Education Director

Office of University Communications

The next program in the Distinguished Artist Series at Gardner-Webb University features a lecture by a music industry professional. Jennifer M. Bowman, director of Music Education at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., will share insights from her experience in arts management. The presentation is free and open to the public and will be held on April 12 at 8 p.m. in Hamrick Hall’s Blanton Auditorium on GWU’s main campus.
GWU Department of Music Presents ‘Night of Staged Scenes’

Office of University Communications

The Gardner-Webb University Department of Music presents a “Night of Staged Scenes” April 5 at 8 p.m. Under the direction of Associate Professor of Music Dr. Stafford Turner, the performances will be in Blanton Auditorium, located in Hamrick Hall. The event is free and open to the public.
Nicole Braddock Bromley to Speak at GWU Dimensions

Office of University Communications and Alice Byrd

Gardner-Webb University welcomes Nicole Braddock Bromley, founder of OneVOICE and executive director of OneVoice4freedom, to speak at the Dimensions program on Tuesday, April 3. This event will be held at 9:25 a.m. in Stewart Hall of Tucker Student Center on GWU’s main campus and is free and open to the public. Bromley breaks the silence about sexual abuse while sharing her personal story.
GWU Hosts 21st Annual Academic Conference

Office of University Communications and Chelsea Snydor

Gardner-Webb University students presented their undergraduate and graduate research recently at the 21st annual Life of the Scholar Multidisciplinary Conference (LOTS-MC). More than 50 students gave presentations, making this year’s conference the largest ever. Presentations featured a variety of topics, including: fiction writing, sustainability, nutrition, genetics, social media, politics, pedagogy, physical therapy, psychology and other subjects in science, music, political science, religion, entertainment and language.
Gardner-Webb’s Tucker Gallery Exhibits ‘Once Around The Block’

Office of University Communications and Alice Byrd

An exhibit in Tucker Student Center at Gardner-Webb University features pictures of everyday items that often go unnoticed. “Once Around The Block” by Richard Horsley is on display in Tucker Gallery through March 23 and is free and open to the public. The collection consists largely of graphite impressions of manhole covers and metal plates ordinarily found in streets and sidewalks.
GWU Theatre Department Presents an Adventure for All Ages

Office of University Communications and Alice Byrd

Gardner-Webb University’s Department of Theatre Arts will present its latest production next month. Rick Elice’s play, “Peter and the Starcatcher,” will be performed in Dover Theatre in the Lutz-Yelton Convocation Center, located on the GWU main campus. Performances will be held April 12-15. A matinee performance will be scheduled for school groups who pre-register.
Gardner-Webb University’s Online Master of Arts in English Degree Earns National Honors

Office of University Communications

Gardner-Webb University’s online Master of Arts in English degree has been named among the best in the nation by an education information website, a distinguished honor for GWU’s recently-revamped English master’s degree program. OnlineU, an online source for college and career information, honored Gardner-Webb as No. 4 in the U.S. on its “2018 Most Affordable Online Colleges for a Master’s in English” list, a resource produced to help current and future students make smart choices about advancing their education and careers. The ranking earned GWU a placement among schools like Texas Tech (Lubbock, Texas), Valdosta State University (Valdosta, Ga.), and Arizona State University (Tempe, Ariz.).
Gardner-Webb Adds Doctor of Business Administration Degree

Office of University Communications

The Godbold School of Business at Gardner-Webb University will offer a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degree in fall 2018. The new program will meet at the GWU Charlotte Campus, located at 8030 Arrowridge Boulevard. Courses will be held online and offer required residencies of four to five days per semester.
Degree in Religious Studies and Philosophy Gave GWU Alumnus Foundation for Graduate School

Office of University Communications

Several years before he came to Gardner-Webb University, Brian G. Chilton experienced doubt about his Christian beliefs. Before he could continue serving as a pastor, he had to prove the Bible’s reliability. “I left the ministry for seven years during which time I became fascinated with Christian apologetics,” shared the 2011 GWU alumnus. “My faith was greatly strengthened by studying the works of Josh McDowell, Lee Strobel, Gary Habermas, Ravi Zacharias, and William Lane Craig. In 2007, God called me back into the ministry in a vivid fashion by saving me from a horrible lightning storm. I knew God wasn’t quite finished with me yet.”
GWU Distinguished Artist Series Features String Quartet

Office of University Communications

The Gardner-Webb University Distinguished Artist Series continues March 27 with a performance by the quartet, Chamber Music 4 All. The free concert will be held at 8 p.m. in Blanton Auditorium, located inside Hamrick Hall. The program honors the late Wolfgang Laufer, who was principal cellist with the Israel Chamber Orchestra, the Malmo (Sweden) Symphony Orchestra, the Hamburg Philharmonic and the State Opera of Germany.
GWU Professor to Lead Dimensions Holy Week Service

Office of University Communications and Alice Byrd

Gardner-Webb University will celebrate Holy Week during Dimensions on Tuesday, March 27. Dr. Paula Qualls, GWU professor of religion, will speak at the event, which begins at 9:25 a.m. in Stewart Hall of Tucker Student Center. The program is free and open to the public.
Partnership Creates Expanded Access to GWU ROTC Program

Office of University Communications

Isothermal students will now have access to the Army ROTC program at Gardner-Webb University. Officials gathered Tuesday at Isothermal Community College to sign the participation agreement and memorandum of understanding. The program will allow Isothermal students to take GWU courses in the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) for two years before completing studies at Gardner-Webb and going on to the U.S. Army as a second lieutenant on active or reserve duty.
Gardner-Webb Alumna Serves African Children, Families Through Non-Profit Ministry Founded on Mercy

Office of University Communications and Chelsea Snydor

Gardner-Webb alumna Sarah Hales of Clemmons, N.C., has always felt curiosity and respect for cultural diversity. Since earning her degree at GWU in 1999, she has pursued mission work for African children that has helped her express her love for Christ and passion for justice. After traveling to Uganda in 2009 and seeing the disturbing conditions in a particular orphanage in Bweya Village, Hales founded Ekissa Mercy Ministries—Ekissa is an African word meaning “mercy.”

Vimeo: Ekissa
Gardner-Webb Students Experience “A Day in the Life” During Poverty Simulation

Office of University Communications

An event held at Gardner-Webb University was designed to shed light on the issues of poverty and social work, and organizers say they are already making plans to repeat the exercise later this year. March is National Social Work Month. Many issues being highlighted this month are directly connected to themes that emerged among students, faculty, and staff during the inaugural “Poverty Simulation” exercise, held last semester on the Gardner-Webb main campus.
School of Divinity Student Experiences Spiritual Renewal in Gardner-Webb Program

Office of University Communications

Chaplain Kevin S. Crowder of Fredericksburg, Va., chose to attend the School of Divinity at Gardner-Webb University because of his past experience with Dr. Doug Dickens, professor of pastoral studies. Crowder respected Dickens and knew he would be involved in an exceptional program. “More than 25 years ago, Dickens was my pastoral care professor at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (Fort Worth, Texas),” Crowder explained. “As an Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE) certified educator, I wanted a doctoral program that had experience with ACPE certified Educators. I got that with Dickens, as he is an ACPE certified educator.”
Ensemble Featuring GWU Faculty to Perform at Don Gibson Theatre

Office of University Communications and Chelsea Snydor

The Don Gibson Theatre will host the next show in Gardner-Webb University’s Distinguished Artist Series. Summit recording artists, Carolina Brass, will perform Thursday, March 22, at 8 p.m. at the theatre, located at 318 Washington St., Shelby, N.C. Trumpeter Tim Hudson, GWU Assistant Professor of Music, founded Carolina Brass in 1997.
Gardner-Webb Hosts Workshops by Award-Winning Violinist Mark O’Connor

Office of University Communications

An award-winning violinist will lead workshops at Gardner-Webb University for students and music educators. Mark O’Connor, four-time Grand Master National Champion and three-time Grammy winner, will teach students of all ages and skill levels on March 24 and conduct a teacher training on April 2-3 on the GWU campus. O’Connor teaches all American styles, from classical orchestral music to bluegrass, country and jazz, said Dr. Patricia Sparti, GWU Professor of Music.
Bachelor’s Degree Prepared GWU Alumnus for Career in Law Enforcement

Office of University Communications

On his 21st birthday in 1985, Graham Atkinson went to work for the Surry County Sheriff’s Department in Dobson, N.C. A four-year degree wasn’t a requirement, and Atkinson was eager to begin working. About a decade later, he enrolled in Gardner-Webb University through what is now called the Degree Completion Program (DCP).
GWU School of Business Classes Provide Foundation for Alumna’s Human Resources Career

Office of University Communications

Tamala Devon Bullard, a 2003 alumna of Gardner-Webb University, began her business career in management but desired to apply her skills to human resources. “I have always had a passion for working with associates,” she reflected. “I knew all the policies and how things should run within the business, so the transition to human resources was smooth.”
Support of GWU Faculty Prepared Alumna for Success in Dental School

Office of University Communications

Dr. Ashley Lowery, a dentist in Spindale, N.C., could have earned prerequisites for dental school most anywhere, but Gardner-Webb University offered her something other schools didn’t. “Gardner-Webb is like a family if you will allow it to be,” she reflected. “While the educational and religious side of GWU is extremely important, it is really more than that to me. It’s a place of happy memories and a time in life where I felt completely supported. The staff and professors will be there for you from your freshman days until graduation.”
Gardner-Webb Team Finishes in Top Four at Annual Ethics Bowl

Office of University Communications and Chelsea Snydor

A team of students from Gardner-Webb University advanced to the semi-finals during this year’s North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (NCICU) Ethics Bowl. Held recently at the State Legislative Complex in Raleigh, N.C., GWU finished among the top four teams from the 24 private colleges and universities that participated. Senior Harley Burgess of Forest City, N.C., as well as freshmen Destiny Neesmith of Kings Mountain, N.C., Carlee Winstead of North Topsail Beach, N.C., and Darby Yates of Hickory, N.C. made up this year’s team.
GWU Classes, Online Student Publication and Internships Prepared Alumna for Journalism Career

Office of University Communications and Chelsea Snydor

A Gardner-Webb University alumna has found a way to combine her lifelong love of reading and writing into a career in journalism. Jennifer Ortiz ’15 had the opportunity to prepare for the field by writing and editing for GWU-Today, Gardner-Webb’s student-run online news publication. According to Ortiz, this experience was beneficial to her because many aspects of journalism and other media careers must be learned by doing.
Erskin Anavitarte to Perform at GWU Dimensions

Office of University Communications and Alice Byrd

Gardner-Webb University will host musician Erskin Anavitarte during the Dimensions hour on Tuesday, March 20. Anavitarte is a singer-songwriter based in Nashville, Tenn., where he lives with his wife and two children. The program will be at 9:25 a.m. in Tucker Student Center and is free and open to the public.
GWU Classes Developed Alumna’s Skills as a Mathematician and Educator

Office of University Communications

Working algebraic equations intimidates some students, but Chasity McCraw, a 2017 alumna of Gardner-Webb University, teaches that math is nothing to fear. McCraw was a teenager when she learned how to solve for x and y. “As soon as I saw the challenges and the giant puzzle that is mathematics, I knew I wanted to share my excitement for the subject,” reflected McCraw, who lives in Shelby, N.C. “Seeing some people dislike and dismiss math as being ‘too hard’ or requiring a ‘math brain’ only fueled my passion. My goal became to show that mathematics is approachable to everyone.”
Skills Developed in GWU Criminal Justice Program Benefit Alumnus Throughout Career

Office of University Communications

Since earning his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Gardner-Webb University in 2000, Terry Sult, police chief of Hampton, Va., has served in four towns, each with different needs. His GWU studies helped him developed the skills needed to adapt to new situations, analyze problems and propose solutions. “The bachelor’s degree provides you with a broader view of the world and lets you look at things from a different plateau,” Sult observed.