Gardner-Webb Recognizes Students for Service and Volunteerism

Winners Honored for Leadership in Classroom and Community

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—Gardner-Webb University recently held a ceremony to recognize Student Leadership, Service, and Volunteerism. Winners of these awards exemplify the University’s core values of faith, service and leadership in their classrooms and communities.

In recognition of the award presentation, each student may choose one book for purchase by Gardner-Webb’s Dover Memorial Library. The book will be inscribed with the student’s name and the date of the award presentation.

Academic Service Awards

Jessica Alley, a senior biology major from Forest City, N.C., is the recipient of the Biology Service Award.This honor recognizes the student who has demonstrated diligence and excellence of work as a laboratory assistant for the Biology program. 

Jaylen Garvin, a senior biology major from Kings Mountain, N.C., and Madison Maynard, a senior biology major from Indian Trail, N.C., received Chemistry Service Awards. These honors are presented to the students who have demonstrated diligence and excellence of work as a laboratory assistant for the Chemistry program.

Seniors Calee Lance, of Rosman, N.C., and Kurt Everett, of Medina, Ohio, were honored with the Criminal Justice Administration Leadership Award. They were recognized for displaying leadership in the classroom and criminal justice related activities, potential for success in the field of Criminal Justice, and service to the community and the Department of Public Service.

Seniors Aaryn Fleming, of Soledad, Calif., and Tori Birks, of Sterling, Va., were honored with the Exercise Science Award, which recognizes students who have exhibited exemplary self-motivation, professionalism, dedication and service.

Eliza Gunson, a senior global studies major from Matthews, N.C., received the Global Studies Award for Humanitarian Service.In the spirit of Gardner-Webb’s motto, “For God and Humanity,” the Global Studies major each year recognizes one of its students who has made an exceptional commitment to serving others. 

Linda Gelzer, a senior American Sign Language major from Bellevue, Wash., was honored with the Peer Leader Award in recognition of her excellence in leadership as a Peer Leader.

Rob Elovecky, a senior youth discipleship studies major from Clyde, N.C., was honored to receive the Religious Studies Association Service Award.  This award is given annually to a student who has provided exemplary leadership in the student-led Religious Studies Association.

The 2021 Alfred & Shirley Wampler Caudill Service-Learning Award

Dr. Donald W. Caudill endowed the Alfred & Shirley Wampler Caudill Service-Learning Award in memory of his father and in honor of his mother. This is the 12th year the award has been presented and the honor includes a plaque and $200 cash prize. It is presented to the GWU student who has provided outstanding service to his/her community based on his/her service-related coursework. Six students were recognized as finalists of The Alfred & Shirley Wampler Caudill Service-Learning Award.

The winner and runner-up are chosen by members of the Service-Learning Council: Dr. Bob Carey, Dr. Kemeshia Swanson, Sara McCall, Dr. Sharon Webb, Dr. Shea Stuart, Dr. Paula Qualls, Jessica Herndon, Micah Martin, and Dr. Morgan Soja.

The finalists were:

• Casey Almond, of Dallas, N.C.,
• Paige Butler, of Green Cove Springs, Fla.,
• Luke Beamer of Durham, N.C.
• Nicolos Probosz, of Bradenton, Fla.
• Evan Schenk, of Painesville, Ohio.
• Ian Heath, of Pilot Mountain, N.C.

Almond won the award and received a $200 prize and a large plaque. Butler, a senior American Sign Language major, is the runner up; she receives a $100 prize and plaque. This year, the finalists received a $50 cash prize and a certificate.

Almond is president of the Honors Student Association, and her thesis was on “Quality versus Quantity of Life: Breast Cancer Treatments and Survival Rates.” She has taken the required honors credit hours and classes needed to graduate with honors during her first three years. She was required to complete 90 hours of service during her four years at Gardner-Webb; however, she completed these within the first year. She took opportunities to help others while attending her clinicals in Spartanburg, S.C., Cleveland County, N.C., and Gastonia, N.C. As president of the Honors Student Association (HSA) and Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA), she helped to organize five successful blood drives on campus with each attended by more than 30 donors. Almond has also helped to run and organize river clean outs at the Broad River Greenway and in New Jefferson. She has taken groups to help at the Operation Christmas Child Processing Center in Charlotte, N.C. She has helped pack bookbags with food for the Little Bulldog Backpack Program for children in the local schools. She also volunteered as a big sister during New Student Orientation. Almond volunteers a lot of her time helping with a special needs’ organizations called Camp Joy. She spends about 140 hours each summer helping bathe and feed campers at the camp in Bonclarken, N.C.

Butler is a tireless supporter for the rights of and accessibility for deaf and hard of hearing populations. She served a term as the American Sign Language Club chapter president, as well as held other executive leadership positions. She conducted an Emergency ASL Workshop in October 2019 and 2020. She was a summer scholar in 2020 in which she researched the emergency preparation plans of North Carolina counties. On the basis of her scholarly work, she got an internship with the Deaf Poor People’s Campaign in which she got to work on grant writing. She is grateful for the opportunities she’s been given at Gardner-Webb. “During this time at GWU, I have grown by not only learning a new language and skill but also by being able to understand outside of myself and what it means to be a part of and give back to a community. I have grown to think of others.”

Other Service Awards

Makayla Jibben, of Green Valley, Ill., a freshman biology major, received the Student Recruitment Ambassadors Scholarship Award. The Admissions Staff of the Traditional Undergraduate Program presents this award annually to recognize students who volunteer their time to take prospective students and their families on tours and serve as wonderful representatives of the University.

Gracie Chapman, a senior psychology major from Taylorsville, N.C., received the Dover Memorial Library Award in recognition of her outstanding service.

Athletic Service Awards

Anna Fish, of Lillington, N.C., a senior biology major, is the recipient of the Pam Scruggs Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Leadership Award. This award is given to a student who embodies the dedication, service and leadership of Pam Scruggs for whom the award is named.

Ben Schade, a senior communication studies major from Apex, N.C., was recognized as an Outstanding Member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee for demonstrating dedication to the organization throughout the academic year. 

Student Development Service Awards

Blake Elizalde, a junior political science major from Matthews, N.C., received the Most School Spirited Award, which recognizes the student with the most school spirit at Gardner-Webb University athletic events.

Caitie Mayo, a senior exercise science major from Fitchburg, Mass., and Blake Elizalde, a junior political science major from Matthews, N.C., received the Outstanding Leadership Award in recognition of their efforts in leading others in serving the campus and community through student organizations.

Casey Almond, a senior nursing major from Dallas, N.C., and Christian Jann, a junior sport management major from Greenville, S.C., were honored with the Residential Service and Leadership Award. This award recognizes two individuals who have shown great commitment to the Gardner-Webb University residential community.

Christian Life and Service Awards

MeKenna Boswell, a senior missiology major from Mocksville, N.C., received The Community Engagement Award, which recognizes students who have gone the extra mile in their commitment to being aware of specific needs in the community and meeting them.

She also received the Pamela Darnell Christian Mission Award, which is presented to the graduating senior who has most exemplified a passionate devotion to the global mission of God.

Kassidy White, a senior missiology major from Elkton, Md., and Noah Blanton, a senior psychology major from Mooresboro, N.C., received The Charles and Sybil Shelton Outstanding Christian Service Award, which recognizes graduating seniors who have most exemplified outstanding servant leadership through student ministry opportunities at Gardner-Webb University. 

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Gardner-Webb University Who’s Who

The 2020-2021 edition of Gardner-Webb University Who’s Who will include the names of students from Gardner-Webb University who have been selected as national outstanding campus leaders. These students were recognized at a special dinner event.

• Sarah Goode, a senior English major from Lenoir, N.C.
• Lindsay Koppel, a senior international business major from Dripping Springs, Texas.
• Holly O’Brien, a senior marketing major from Cornelius, N.C.
• Faith Parandhamaia, a senior business administration major from Accident, Md.
• Grace Burgin, a senior biology major from Iron Station, N.C.
• Zoha Aamir, a senior biology major from Cherryville, N.C.
• Madeline Bame, a senior music education major from Gastonia, N.C.
• Natalie Bond, a senior marketing major from Belmont, N.C.
• Callie West, a senior English major from Arlington, Texas.
• Macie Latham, a senior graphic design major from Advance, N.C.
• Jillian Sward, a senior marketing major from Pompano Beach, Fla.
• Carlee Winstead, a senior global studies major from Hampstead, N.C.
• Molly Joplin, a senior biology major from Granite Falls, N.C.
• Ashadan Forbes, a senior healthcare management major from Hope Mills, N.C.
• Samantha Wilkie, a senior English major from Hendersonville, N.C.
• Jada Newton, a senior business administration major from Woodbridge, Va.
• Timothy Bennett, a senior exercise science major from Fishers, Ind.
• Benjamin Schade, a senior communication studies major from Apex, N.C.
• Austin Evans, a senior economics/finance major from Accident, Md.
• Thomas Manning, a senior communication studies major from Boiling Springs, N.C.
• Noah Blanton, a senior psychology major from Mooresboro, N.C.
• Michael Causey, a senior sport management major from Simpsonville, S.C.
• Marshall Townsend, a senior theatre arts major from Charlotte, N.C.
• Michael Harvey, a senior communication studies major from Matthews, N.C.
• Luke Beamer, a senior exercise science major from Durham, N.C.
• Kurt Everett, a senior criminal justice administration major from Medina, Ohio.
• Malik Stewart, a senior biology major from Parksley, Va.
• Patrick Sastre, a senior business administration major from Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
• Preston Byrd, a senior biology major from Union Mills, N.C.
• Josh Hendley, a junior computer information systems major from Jamestown, N.C.
• Tremayne Booker, a senior political science major from Gastonia, N.C.
• Patrick Wiggins, a senior criminal justice administration major from Gastonia, N.C.

Located in the North Carolina foothills, Gardner-Webb University is a private, Christian, liberal arts university. Gardner-Webb emphasizes a strong student-centered experience and rigorous academics to prepare students to become effective leaders within the global community. Ignite your future at Gardner-Webb.edu.