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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 Begins Academic Year with Fall Opening Convocation

Office of University Communications

Gardner-Webb University marked the start of the academic year with the Guest bagpiper, retired U.S. Air Force Maj. Phillip McDevitt provided the processional and recessional music. Fall Opening Convocation. A time for faculty, students and staff to rea!irm their commitment to scholarly pursuits, the annual event also welcomes first-year students and celebrates GWU’s newest scholarship recipients. The featured speaker, Assistant Professor of Physics Dr. Wilson Hawkins, challenged students to “Make. It. Count!”
Gardner-Webb Remembers Tom Watson

Office of University Communications

The Gardner-Webb University community mourns the loss of Tom Watson, a beloved alumnus, former trustee, and tireless advocate for education, who passed away peacefully on August 22, 2024, at the age of 81. Watson’s life was marked by a deep commitment to Gardner-Webb, where he – competed as a student-athlete on a championship squad, served as a dedicated member of various boards, and was a constant presence in the university’s athletic and academic circles.
Gardner-Webb University Caf Serves up Tropical Delights to Celebrate Grand Reopening

Office of University Communications

With the smell of meat smoking and a feast waiting inside the new Caf, Gardner-Webb President Dr. William M. Downs noted to those gathered for the ribbon cutting the most important feature of the building. “There’s a cross on that glass façade that means a lot to us,” he asserted. “It’s very special. It’s important. It reminds us that first and foremost, this is a place that nourishes souls. This is, and shall forever be, a Christian university.”
Summer Fellow Reese Jones Analyzes Metal Contaminates in Old Books

Office of University Communications

For her Summer Scholar Fellowship, Gardner-Webb University senior Reese Jones learned how to use the new X-Ray Fluorescent (XRF) Spectrometer in the Department of Natural Sciences. The instrument was purchased recently with a grant from the Cannon Foundation. Working with her mentor, Professor of Chemistry Dr. Venita Totten, Jones gained valuable experience for the next steps in her educational journey to become a pediatrician.
Two-Time Reigning Football Champs Begin 2024 Season on Aug. 29 in Spangler Stadium

Office of University Communications

The two-time reigning conference champion Gardner-Webb football team opens its 2024 season poised to build on a winning legacy that spans over a century. The first football team took the field in 1920. Since then, the program has earned 18 conference titles. Four of those titles came in Division I play—2002, 2003, 2022 (Big South) and 2023 (Big South-OVC).
Gardner-Webb Football’s First Victory Day An Evening to Remember

Office of University Communications

Backed by a line of Gardner-Webb football players, the quarterback crossed into the end zone. The crowd erupted into cheers. The GWU Band blasted the fight song— and many parents and spectators smiled while holding back tears.
Summer Fellow Caleb Roten Studies How to Improve Social Interactions

Office of University Communications

In a digital society where most people communicate via text and social media, Gardner-Webb University student Caleb Roten wants to improve face-to-face communication. With a Summer Scholar Fellowship, the senior psychology major spent the second summer session on campus interviewing individuals and studying their body language and nonverbal behavior.
Gardner-Webb Summer Fellow Kyndal Jackson Furthers Research on Antimicrobials

Office of University Communications

Through a Summer Scholar Fellowship, Gardner-Webb University senior Kyndal Jackson extracted essential oil from ground caraway seeds. A meticulous process, her research could someday play a role in helping scientists discover purified compounds that inhibit bacterial growth (antimicrobials). The project is part of an ongoing set of experiments conducted by students in the Department of Natural Sciences.
Doctor of Nursing Practice Program at Gardner- Webb Equips Nurses for Advance Practice Roles

Office of University Communications and Avery Copeland

Gardner-Webb University’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program o!ers transformative learning experiences for nurses seeking advance practice roles in healthcare. Taught through a Christian lens, this program is dedicated to improving patient care and making a meaningful impact on the industry by integrating Christian principles into medical practice.
Gardner-Webb Alumna, Dr. Sarah Curry, Testifies at House Committee Hearing

Office of University Communications

Dr. Sarah Curry defended her dissertation for the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degree at Gardner-Webb in 2021. Since then, she has used her education as a researcher in fiscal and economic public policy. Recently, her research topic, “E!ects of Advance Refunding Municipal Bonds After the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA),” gained the attention of the U.S. House Means and Ways Committee.
Celebrate the New Gardner-Webb Expanded Caf at Ribbon Cutting on Aug. 21

Office of University Communications

The Gardner-Webb Caf has been reopened for nearly a month and now it’s time to celebrate all the improvements with a Grand Reopening and Ribbon Cutting. The entire campus is invited to the event on Wednesday, Aug. 21, at 10:45 a.m.
Gardner-Webb Men’s Soccer Ranked 3rd in Preseason Poll, Placing Two on All-Conference List

Office of University Communications

Heading into the 2024 season, the Gardner-Webb University men’s soccer team has earned two honors. The team was voted third in the Big South Preseason Coaches’ Poll, as released by the Big South on Aug. 14, picking up 48 total points. In addition, the Runnin’ Bulldogs placed a pair of defenders on the 2024 Big South Preseason All-Conference list.
Gardner-Webb Volleyball Ready for 2024 with New Coaching Staff, 6 Returning and 11 New Players

Office of University Communications

Coming off its best Division I season finish in program history—third in the Big South—the Gardner-Webb Volleyball team is eager to make its own records in 2024. A new coaching staff, six returning players and 11 new Runnin’ Bulldogs are set to take the court this week with a scrimmage on Aug. 23 at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, N.C.
Dr. Iva Naydenova Receives the Gardner-Webb 2023- 2024 Excellence in Teaching Award

Office of University Communications

The winner of the Gardner-Webb 2023-2024 Excellence in Teaching Award began teaching at the University nearly 15 years ago. Dr. Ivelina “Iva” Naydenova, chair and professor in the Department of Psychological Science, was recognized at the 2024 Faculty Assembly as an exceptional faculty member who displays academic rigor, designs e!ective courses, and is dedicated to her students’ success.
Gardner-Webb Faculty Honored for Teaching Excellence, Service and Scholarship

Office of University Communications

The Gardner-Webb 2024 Faculty Assembly opens the academic year by introducing new faculty and celebrating the achievements of returning colleagues. President Dr. William M. Downs began the program with his welcome.
Gardner-Webb Welcomes 560 New Students for 2024 Fall Semester

Office of University Communications

Gardner-Webb University’s new student enrollment continues its upward climb for the 2024 Fall Semester. Administrators, faculty and staff are set to welcome 560 first-time freshmen and transfer students, a 6.6 percent increase over last year’s incoming cohort. The newest Runnin’ Bulldogs are from all corners of North Carolina, 33 states and Puerto Rico, and 18 countries around the globe.
Nine New Gardner-Webb Faculty Members Welcomed at 2024 Faculty Assembly

Office of University Communications

Gardner-Webb University welcomes new faculty members in the College of Education, College of Health Sciences and the College of Arts and Sciences. They were introduced at the Faculty Assembly today (Aug. 13).
Gardner-Webb Celebrates New Year and New Faces with Fall Opening Convocation

Office of University Communications

The beginning of the academic year and the addition of new faces on the Gardner-Webb campus is a time for celebration. The University recognizes the importance of the occasion with the Fall Opening Convocation on Aug. 22 at 9:25 a.m. in Lutz-Yelton Convocation Center (LYCC).
Gardner-Webb University Orchestra Accepting New Members

Office of University Communications

The Gardner-Webb University Orchestra is accepting new members. All advanced players are welcome—students, faculty and staff at other universities and high schools, and community members.
Gardner-Webb Affirmed by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools; Music Department Receives Additional Accreditation

Office of University Communications

Gardner-Webb recently submitted the required Fi!h Year Interim report to its accrediting body, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC (https://sacscoc.org/)) and is deemed in full compliance. The University is accredited to award associate, baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral degrees. Gardner-Webb also may o"er credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels.
Gardner-Webb Baseball Earns Team Academic Excellence Award From American Baseball Coaches Association

Office of University Communications

For the ninth straight year, the Gardner-Webb baseball team has earned the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Team Academic Excellence Award. The honor highlights programs coached by ABCA members that posted a GPA of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale for the entire 2023-24 academic year.
Gardner-Webb Women’s Soccer Announces 2024 Schedule

Office of University Communications

The Gardner-Webb University women’s soccer team has announced the schedule for the 2024 season. GWU Head Coach Erik Solberg announced that Gardner-Webb will play 19 matches total including 11 nonconference games and an eight-game Big South slate.
Gardner-Webb University Recognized for Commitment to First-Generation Success

Office of University Communications

Gardner-Webb University is excited to announce its inclusion in the 2024-25 FirstGen Forward Network (https://firstgen.naspa.org/programs-and-services/firstscholars- network). Powered by FirstGen Forward (https://firstgen.naspa.org/), formerly known as the Center for First-generation Student Success, this initiative is committed to transforming and advancing the experiences and outcomes of first-generation students. Gardner-Webb has received recognition for empowering and fostering growth in these students.
Through Gardner-Webb Honors Experience, High School Students Engaged in Campus Life and Community Service

Office of University Communications

Marnina Krist, a rising high school senior from Fuquay Varina, N.C., was one of 22 students who attended The Honors Experience at Gardner-Webb University this summer. Like some of the others, Krist had toured the GWU campus before, but wanted a chance to see for herself what the environment is really like. The immersive week introduced her to all aspects of life on the University’s campus—from going to class and chapel to dining and volunteering in the community.
Gardner-Webb Football Hosts its First Victory Day Celebration on Aug. 17

Office of University Communications

Gardner-Webb Head Football Coach Cris Reisert is eager to introduce his players and the community to a tradition that he first observed in 2019—Victory Day. Partnering with Cleveland County Special Olympics and North Shelby School, Reisert invites everyone to come out to the celebration on Aug. 17 at 7:30 p.m. in Spangler Stadium. The event is free to attend.