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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 University to Hold Spring Commencement Exercises on May 12-13

Office of University Communications

Gardner-Webb University will award more than 600 degrees during the 2017 spring commencement exercises to be held May 12-13. Ceremonies are planned for 7 p.m. on Friday, as well as 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday in the Paul Porter Arena of the Lutz-Yelton Convocation Center, located on the campus of Gardner-Webb University. Of the three ceremonies planned, the ceremony at 7 p.m. on May 12 will celebrate the achievements of close to 250 students in GWU’s graduate programs.
First-Year Law Student Sharpened Research and Writing Skills at GWU

Office of University Communications

Although Lindsay Frazier ’16 had dreamed of becoming a lawyer when she was younger, she began her studies at Gardner-Webb University as a secondary history education major. In her junior year, she took a class on the Civil Rights Movement with Dr. Joseph Moore. Researching and writing class assignments gave her confidence in her abilities, and she realized law school was a definite possibility.
Gardner-Webb Honors Trustee for Contributions to University

Office of University Communications

A Mooresville, N.C., businessman has been recognized for his exemplary giving and service to Gardner-Webb University. Randall “Randy” L. Marion received the N.C. Baptist Heritage Award on April 25 in a ceremony sponsored by the North Carolina Baptist State Convention and the N.C. Baptist Foundation. Marion serves Gardner-Webb as a trustee and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Gardner-Webb in December 2012.
Gardner-Webb University Awards Prestigious R.W. Andrews Scholarship

Office of University Communications

A senior from Kings Mountain (N.C.) High School will receive a financial aid package that provides full tuition, room and board for four years of study at Gardner-Webb University. Jaylen Garvin has been awarded the R.W. Andrews Scholarship Fund established in 1998. The scholarship’s namesake, Ralph W. Andrews, was a Cleveland County, N.C., native who worked as a publisher in New York and San Francisco.
GWU Student Pursues Career in Medicine to Help People Make Healthy Choices

Office of University Communications

Gabby Cortese ’18 of Palm Bay, Fla., is the middle child of nine. When it came time for her to consider colleges, she didn’t want to follow in her older siblings’ footsteps. “I felt the Lord calling me to take a leap of faith and look for a college out of state,” Cortese stated.
Gardner-Webb University Annual Fund Match Day Breaks Records

Office of University Communications

Officials at Gardner-Webb University are thanking supporters for their part in the record-breaking success of a recent dollar-for-dollar matching fundraiser to benefit the University’s Annual Fund for student scholarships and financial aid. Held on April 19, “#DoubleDawgDay” raised $86,738—a 25-percent increase over last year’s total. The number of donors grew by 31 percent, with 217 individuals participating, the most ever involved in this fundraising effort.
GWU Exercise Science Majors Participate in Service-Learning Experience

Office of University Communications

A group of exercise science majors at Gardner-Webb University gained hands-on experience this semester by working with patients at a local hospital. As part of their service-learning requirements, the juniors and seniors spent six weeks working in cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation at Carolinas Healthcare System Cleveland in Shelby, N.C. “The students interacted with the patients and led a short educational program,” shared Dr. Jeff Hartman, associate professor of Exercise Science and department chair.
Gardner-Webb University Choral Students Prepare for “Concert for a Cause” on May 3

Office of University Communications

Hungry community members will benefit from an upcoming musical performance being offered by Gardner-Webb University students. On May 3, “Concert for a Cause” will feature the Gardner-Webb Chorale, Vocal Chamber Ensemble, and the Old Time Ensemble. The repertoire will be vast and will include selections from the Beatles, Bluegrass, Celtic, and original works by student composer Nathaniel W. Parks.
Gardner-Webb University School of Education to Cohost Children’s Book Illustrator

Office of University Communications

A well-known children’s book illustrator will visit the campus of Gardner-Webb University to share insights with education majors, current teachers, and second-grade students in Cleveland County on April 27-28. Katie Kath has illustrated several children’s and middle-grades books including the updated edition of the Dr. Seuss classic “Come Over to My House.” Her latest book, “My Kicks,” written by Susan Verde, was released on April 11.
Gardner-Webb Publication Receives Third Consecutive Hermes Creative Award

Office of University Communications

Gardner-Webb The Magazine and its production team is once again being recognized for national and international excellence among marketing and communications publications. The magazine was named a Platinum Winner for the third consecutive year in the annual Hermes Creative Awards competition, administered by the Association of Marketing & Communications Professionals (AMCP), which is based in Dallas, Texas. The GWU Office of Communications and Marketing earned platinum status for the print edition of Gardner-Webb The Magazine (Vol. 51, No. 2, 2016).
GWU Godbold School of Business to Host Nationally-Recognized Entrepreneur

Office of University Communications

Inspirational speaker Phil Black will visit Gardner-Webb University on April 20 to share his experiences and the keys to his professional successes in a program sponsored by the Center for Ethics and Entrepreneurship. The event is free and open to the public. Black is a Harvard Business School graduate, former Goldman Sachs investment banker, Navy SEAL officer, firefighter, and an entrepreneur who appeared on the ABC television network show “Shark Tank.”
GWU Graduate Students Participate in School Board Simulation as Part of Education Course

Office of University Communications

An activity involving current and former members of the Cleveland County Board of Education assisted Gardner-Webb University graduate students in a uniquely tangible way during a school board simulation recently in Shelby. Dr. Bruce Boyles, associate professor of education at GWU, teaches the Organizational Behavior Module graduate-level course, which surveys historical and contemporary issues in law and ethics in relationship to the educational setting. “One of the goals of the School of Education has been to develop meaningful opportunities for students to use simulations for assessing their readiness to assume positions of greater leadership in school districts,” Boyles shared.
Gardner-Webb University Alumnus Named Recipient of Prestigious Grant

Office of University Communications

An award-winning author with ties to Gardner-Webb University and Boiling Springs, N.C., is being honored for demonstrating exceptional creative ability in the arts. Poet, novelist, and Gardner-Webb University alumnus Ron Rash has been named a Guggenheim Fellow for 2017. Guggenheim Fellowships are grants awarded to selected individuals with the purpose of providing Fellows with blocks of time in which they can work with as much creative freedom as possible.
GWU Forensics Expert Discusses the Physical Death of Jesus from Medical Examiner’s Perspective

Office of University Communications

On Easter Sunday, observed this year on April 16, Christians around the globe will celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Gardner-Webb University Instructor of Biology Jay Zimmer believes that medical science can offer a revealing perspective into aspects of Christ’s suffering that aren’t typically pondered by believers. “In the Protestant faith, we often don’t spend much time really delving into the immense suffering Jesus endured. I think we would much rather gloss over it,” Zimmer reflected.

WGWG: The death of Jesus from a medical examiner’s perspective
Gardner-Webb’s Dollar-for-Dollar Financial Match Annual Fund Event Set for April 19

Office of University Communications

Supporters of Gardner-Webb University will have a unique opportunity to extend the reach of their monetary gifts to scholarships and financial aid with “Double Dawg Day,” planned for Wednesday, April 19. On that day only, donations to the GWU Annual Fund will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to the matching donor’s limit. According to Sara McCall, director of GWU’s Annual Fund, this is the second year the University is offering Double Dawg Day.
GWU Hunt School of Nursing Provides Opportunities for Students to Serve

Office of University Communications

While receiving an exceptional healthcare education, students in the Gardner-Webb University Hunt School of Nursing have several opportunities to serve communities close to home and far away. Besides arranging international mission trips, the faculty coordinates an annual event to connect students with local people who have limited access to health care. “It is the school of nursing’s heart to help people who have the most needs, and this is one way for us to do that,” shared Dr. Sharon Starr, Dean of the Hunt School of Nursing.
Gardner-Webb University Student to Host Book Release Party on April 6

Office of University Communications

Gardner-Webb University Senior Jen Guberman will host a release party and autograph signing for her second book, Fortitude, on April 6 in Gardner-Webb’s Tucker Student Center lobby, beginning at 6:30 p.m. A meet and greet, book signing, raffle, photo booth and pudding bar will be included in the festivities. “I’m excited to see everyone come out to celebrate the release of the second book, and I’m looking forward to speaking with the people who enjoyed the first book and meeting people who haven’t read the series yet,” Guberman said.
GWU Celebrates 20th Anniversary of Event Showcasing Student Research

Office of University Communications

Describing his vision for the Life of the Scholar Multidisciplinary Conference (LOTS-MC) at Gardner-Webb University, Dr. Les Brown, GWU Professor Emeritus in Biology, quoted Nobel laureate and physicist Richard Feynman. The famous scientist once stated, “Study hard what interests you the most in the most undisciplined, irreverent and original manner possible.” Brown and his wife, Dr. Joyce Compton Brown, GWU Professor Emerita in English, are considered the founders of the conference, established in 1997.
Alumna’s Research at GWU Prepared her for Dual Master’s Program

Office of University Communications

The most beneficial course Andrea Thomas ’14 took at Gardner-Webb University was Honors Research and Thesis. Her project examined how sacred stories from Islam, Judaism and Christianity could be beneficial to the coping process for rape survivors of each respective tradition. “I loved being able to immerse myself in my project and create a paper from my own ideas,” she reflected.
Gardner-Webb Alumna Works for United Nations (UN) Women

Office of University Communications

As social media consultant for United Nations (UN) Women in New York City, Mariana Mellado ’16 is living her dream to have a job where she can serve others in need and be a voice for the voiceless. “I’ve always believed and lived by the idea that we are here on this earth to lift each other up, and not tear each other down due to our differences,” Mellado asserted. “I am grateful that I am able to serve people of every gender, socio-economic level, disability, sexual orientation, and religion.”
Gardner-Webb University Helps Sponsor Spring Coat Drive

Office of University Communications and Katie Furr

Gardner-Webb University is partnering to help with the Seventh Annual WLOS/Eblen Charities Spring Clean Coat Drive in Asheville, N.C. Coat collection begins April 3 on the Gardner-Webb campus and will continue through April 19. The community is invited to join GWU in this effort by dropping off new or gently-used coats to collection boxes in the lobby of Tucker Student Center on the GWU main campus. “The coat drive is a way for our students and local community to donate coats to be distributed to all those in need,” shared Micah Martin, Director of Student Leadership Development and Community Engagement.
Gardner-Webb University Godbold School of Business to Host Professional Development Week

Office of University Communications

Gardner-Webb University students will participate in several activities next week—each offering a variety of internship and career development opportunities—from April 3–5 as part of the Godbold School of Business Professional Development Week. On Monday, April 3, the School will host the ‘Professional Women’s Conference: Unlocking the Secrets to Success’ from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Tucker Student Center. Although the event is free to students, there is a charge for non-GWU students.
Gardner-Webb University to Host ‘Everybody Knows Somebody’ 5K on April 1

Office of University Communications

In an effort to encourage the prevention of eating disorders and body image issues, Gardner-Webb University will host the annual “Everybody Knows Somebody” 5K on Saturday, April 1 at 9 a.m. The National Eating Disorders Awareness (NEDA) week is recognized each year in February. NEDA is a collective effort of volunteers, including health professionals, students and educators, who are committed to raising awareness of the dangers surrounding eating disorders and the importance of early intervention and treatment.

WGWG: Eating Disorders Awareness Week: The importance of early intervention and treatment
GWU School of Divinity Student Wants to Prepare for Whatever Future Brings

Office of University Communications

Of all the things vying for his attention—school, work, church and family—Jason East recognizes his role as a father of four is his greatest ministry. His daughter and triplet sons look up to him and need his time and love. Before enrolling in the School of Divinity at Gardner-Webb University, he wondered how he would be there for his children and manage all of his other responsibilities.
Gardner-Webb Students Gain Valuable Experiences Through Expanded Partnership with Local School

Office of University Communications

The Gardner-Webb University School of Education is working with a local elementary school in Cleveland County, N.C., to provide meaningful learning opportunities for future teachers prior to their student-teaching experience. Each week, three GWU classes travel to Washington Elementary School near Waco, N.C., during their normal instructional time on Mondays and Tuesdays. Dr. Lane Wesson’s Language Arts Methods class, Dr. Cindy McKinney’s Fine Arts Integration class, and Dr. Jason Parker’s Social Studies Methods class are each involved in the collaboration, which helps provide much-needed classroom exposure to pre-service teachers well in advance of their 16-week student-teaching experience.