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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Student’s Experiences in GWU School of Divinity Equip Her To Serve

Office of University Communications

After surviving a diagnosis of melanoma in 2011, Christi Hollifield, a student in the School of Divinity at Gardner-Webb University, began to earnestly seek God’s plan for her life. She asked herself, “What does God want me to do?” And, “Why did he chose me to continue on?” She found the answer while homeschooling her children and helping at church.
Gardner-Webb Signs Nursing Agreement Between Community Colleges and Independent Universities

Office of University Communications

Representatives from Gardner-Webb University recently participated in signing a nursing articulation agreement between the N.C. Community College System (NCCCS) and N.C. Independent Colleges and Universities (NCICU). The arrangement will streamline the process for registered nurses with associate degrees to obtain bachelor’s degrees at Gardner-Webb or another NCICU school. Dr. Ben Leslie, GWU Provost and Executive Vice President, and Dr. Catherine Burr, GWU Associate Provost for Adult and Distance Education, signed the agreement along with NCCCS Acting President Jennifer Haygood and NCICU President Hope Williams.
Gardner-Webb Alumnus Recognized for Exceptional Military Service

Office of University Communications

As North Korea tests missiles and increases threats against the United States, an alumnus of Gardner-Webb University is working to keep America safe. Capt. Jason Brewer, ’95, is the operations officer in charge of the 100th Missile Defense Brigade in Colorado Springs, Colo. For his critical role in protecting the country, Brewer was recently named the 2017 United States National Guard Missile Defender of the Year.
GWU School of Divinity Classes Challenge Pastor to Live her Faith Beyond the Pulpit

Office of University Communications

During all but one of her 18 years in ministry, Pastor Paulleatha “Paula” Bruce has also worked as an educator. In 2008, she became the lead pastor of Freedom Baptist Church in Greenville, S.C., but continued to work as a school administrator for nine years. Despite her practical experience, she wanted to further her theological education and enrolled in the School of Divinity at Gardner-Webb University.
Gardner-Webb Helped Alumnus Earn Degrees in Music Education and Composition

Office of University Communications

Peter Strickland, a 1997 alumnus of Gardner-Webb University, is an educator because of an intuitive professor at a state college. He was a music business major, but the professor said he was “too giving” when role-playing contract negotiations. “I was more concerned about the people in the room than I was about getting the best deal,” Strickland recalled. “My professor pulled me to the side and asked me if I had ever thought about being a teacher.”
Successful Internship Leads to Full-Time Job for Gardner-Webb Alumnus

Office of University Communications

When Mason Womack received his diploma from Gardner-Webb University in 2017, he had two reasons to celebrate. He had completed his bachelor’s degree in business administration, and he was going to work in the Shoe Show corporate office in Concord, N.C. He was offered the job after working as an intern there.
Gardner-Webb Professors Equip Alumna with Skills to be a Lifelong Learner

Office of University Communications and Chelsea Snydor

Hailey Spearman ’09 knew from a young age that she wanted to be a teacher, even from playing school with her younger cousins as a child. Gardner-Webb University’s Department of English Language and Literature and the School of Education helped Spearman prepare for her career. “Dr. Shana Hartman, Dr. Jennifer Buckner, Dr. June Hobbs, Dr. Janet Land and the entire faculty led by example and provided opportunities for learning and reflection,” Spearman assessed.
Gardner-Webb Student Club Fights Human Trafficking Through Annual Awareness Week

Office of University Communications

An estimated 5.5 million children have been abducted, sold, or forced into slavery, and around 21 million people worldwide are considered victims of modern-day slavery. In an effort to bring awareness to the global tragedy of human trafficking and empower members of the community to stand against it, the Gardner-Webb University club “Release the Captives” will host its annual anti-Human Trafficking Action Week (aHTAW) from Feb. 26-March 2, featuring a range of events highlighting the issue. Planned by students, several activities are scheduled to take place throughout the week.
Group Prepares to Represent GWU at Statewide Event

Office of University Communications and Chelsea Snydor

Four Gardner-Webb University students will compete at the Ethics Bowl hosted by North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (NCICU). Teams from 24 private colleges and universities will participate in the event, which will be held Feb. 16 and 17 at the Legislative Complex in Raleigh, N.C. The GWU team includes senior Harley Burgess of Forest City, N.C., as well as freshmen Destiny Neesmith of Kings Mountain, N.C., Carlee Winstead of Jacksonville, N.C., and Darby Yates of Hickory, N.C.
GWU Department of Theatre Arts to Present ‘Eleemosynary’

Office of University Communications and Alice Byrd

Gardner-Webb University’s Department of Theatre Arts presents its first production of the spring semester, “Eleemosynary,” Feb. 22-24 at 7:30 p.m. and Feb. 25 at 2:30 p.m. Written by Lee Blessing and directed by Dr. Chris Nelson, GWU assistant professor of theatre arts, the play follows the relationship between the women in one family. Performances will be in the Millennium Playhouse, located behind the GWU Communications Studies Hall on Main Street in Boiling Springs.
Gardner-Webb and RichmondCC Partner for RN to BSN Pathway

Office of University Communications

Gardner-Webb University and Richmond Community College recently signed an agreement to benefit nursing students seeking advanced degrees. The partnership will allow RichmondCC graduates of the Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from Gardner-Webb. This articulation agreement is the first of its kind that Gardner-Webb has developed with a community college.
Gardner-Webb Alumnus Pitches Small Business to Fellow Entrepreneurs

Office of University Communications and Chelsea Snydor

A Gardner-Webb University alumnus recently represented the University of Nebraska and his start-up company in a recognition ceremony for entrepreneurs. William Payne (’14) presented his small business, Simple Vet Solutions (SVS) at the Pipeline Innovators Awards in Kansas City, Mo. Pipeline is an organization of entrepreneurs paired with a global network of advisors and mentors.
Gardner-Webb Hosts Former Obama Staffer Michael Wear Feb. 26-27

Office of University Communications and Alice Byrd

Gardner-Webb University will host former White House staffer, Michael Wear, for two presentations on campus. He will be speaking at 7 p.m. Feb. 26 and at 9:15 a.m. Feb. 27 for Dimensions. Both events will be held in Tucker Student Center and are free and open to the public.
Gardner-Webb Alumnus Serves as Administrator with N.C. State Highway Patrol

Office of University Communications

Brian Regan, a 2008 alumnus of Gardner-Webb University, has served nearly three decades with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol (NCSHP). In 2017, he was appointed as Major/Director of Professional Standards. Regan’s respect for the vocation began when he was 10 years old, and a state trooper came to his house. The trooper had the difficult job of telling them that Regan’s father had died in a motor vehicle crash.
Gardner-Webb Divinity Student Preparing to Serve in Youth Ministry

Office of University Communications

Will Raybon, a student in the School of Divinity at Gardner-Webb University, serves with the Baptist Student Fellowship at the University of North Carolina at Asheville (UNCA). As he connects with and ministers to students on the campus, he appreciates the relevance of his GWU studies. “I am responsible for the students’ exploration of the Bible every time we meet,” Raybon ’19 affirmed. “When one of them is facing a hardship or experiencing overwhelming anxiety, I provide pastoral care. Every spring break and throughout the semester, I help plan mission trips. Above all, I feel that I am able to help them grow in their spiritual formation.”
Biology Student Explores Forensic Science Through Internship

Office of University Communications and Chelsea Snydor

A Gardner-Webb University senior is taking her classroom experience into the field this semester as an intern for the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Department in Spindale, N.C. Michaela Mays (’18) of Reidsville, N.C. will spend three hours each week at the sheriff’s department and write a blog about her professional journey. She will present the experience as part of her Biology seminar April 27.
Gardner-Webb University’s Life Of The Scholar Multidisciplinary Conference Set for March 3

Office of University Communications

Gardner-Webb University will host the Life Of The Scholar Multidisciplinary Conference (LOTS-MC), an annual showcase of students’ undergraduate and graduate research on Saturday, March 3, in Tucker Student Center. This year marks the 21st anniversary of LOTS, which was established in 1997 by Dr. Les Brown, GWU professor emeritus in biology. “The Life Of The Scholar Multidisciplinary Conference is often a student’s first exposure to the kind of professional presentations they may be required to prepare and deliver in their future careers,” said Dr. June Hobbs, a LOTS-MC steering committee member and director of GWU Undergraduate Research.
Love for Literature and Theology Leads Alumnus to Pursue Doctorate in Religion

Office of University Communications

When he graduated from Gardner-Webb University in 2011, Keith A. Menhinick left with more than a diploma. He also took a GWU support network with him to his job as a high school English teacher. “By far, what I valued most about my experience at Gardner-Webb was the community and close relationships I built with faculty and staff,” Menhinick assessed.
Gardner-Webb President Announces Plans to Retire in January 2019

Office of University Communications

Gardner-Webb University’s 12th President, Dr. Frank Bonner, has announced his plans to retire in January 2019. At that time, he will have served Gardner-Webb for more than three decades in total and as president for nearly 14 years. “One year from now, it will be very difficult for me to cease doing what I love,” Bonner shared. “However, my wife, Flossie, and I look forward to more time together, more travel, and more time with six wonderful grandchildren who are growing up before our eyes.”
GWU Alumnus Discovered God Had Different Plan for His Life

Office of University Communications

Rev. Wesley Smith thought he was following God’s will for his life in 2001 when he received his bachelor’s in criminal justice from Gardner-Webb University. However, he became discouraged when he didn’t find a job in juvenile probation and parole and wasn’t sure what to do. Direction came during a church revival service.
GWU Alumnus Volunteers His Time to Demonstrate God’s Love to Disaster Victims

Office of University Communications

Disaster relief volunteers work side-by-side to help people recover from their losses. While cleaning up debris and restoring homes, their focus is on building relationships. Steve Sellers, a 2014 alumnus of Gardner-Webb University, witnesses this truth every time he volunteers with the North Carolina Baptists on Mission.
Research by GWU Alumnus, Jeremy Griffin, Published in Top Chemistry Journals

Office of University Communications

Laboratory work that is tedious to some students fascinates Jeremy Griffin, a 2013 graduate of Gardner-Webb University. Griffin is a doctoral student in chemistry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He will be speaking about his research and graduate school experiences at 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 16, in Room 117, GWU Laboratory Center.
Exercise Science Degree is Foundation for GWU Alumna’s Career and Hobby

Office of University Communications

Taylar Pridgen of Thomasville, N.C., ended her college search after one visit to Gardner-Webb University. The school had everything she wanted: a quality education, the chance to play softball and a close-knit community. “Once I visited the small campus and met the individuals there, I knew that it was home,” Pridgen affirmed. “I made some amazing friends and mentors and some even better memories.”
Experiences at GWU Helped Alumna Gain Admission to Physician Assistant (PA) Program

Office of University Communications

Two factors affected Catherine White’s decision to attend Gardner-Webb University. She wanted to play tennis for a Division I school in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), and she liked the atmosphere on campus. “The size of the school really allows you to get to know the people around you, and truly create a community,” she reflected.
GWU Alumna Praised for Directing Talents on Stage and in Film

Office of University Communications

Theater critics in Washington, D.C., are taking notice of Amber McGinnis, 2004 alumna of Gardner-Webb University. Recent articles in the Washington Post and Broadway World describe McGinnis as “rising through the directing ranks in DC Theater.” The Bessemer City, N.C., native came to GWU to major in religious studies with a missions focus, but adjusted her plans after discovering her interest in theater arts.