winter-2025

“1892” is published twice annually by North Greenville University, a private Christian liberal arts university often recognized as one of the most notable in the Southeast. Whether learning at our campuses in Tigerville, SC, Greer, SC, Pine Mountain, GA, or online from anywhere in the world, NGU students become equipped to serve as transformational leaders for church and society.

EDITOR Billy Cannada (’11)

CONTRIBUTORS

Dr. Gene C. Fant, Jr.

LaVerne Howell

Marty O’Gwynn

Ashley Merck (’19)

ADVISORS

Dr. Gene C. Fant, Jr.

Rich Grimm

Marty O’Gwynn

Chad Peters

PHOTOGRAPHER Steven Guersch

4C ’s

Choosing a college – whether as a student, a fan, or a donor – is a complicated process. Such choices often come down to the institution’s context and what makes that particular community truly unique.

We speak often about the unique context of North Greenville’s founding in 1892 as a school for students in the Dark Corner. Today, that school birthed and nurtured in Tigerville also offers study in Greer, in Pine Mountain, GA, and around the world through online courses. But our context is still unique. While the physical community has expanded, the core of the NGU community has blossomed into an environment where the “4 C’s” are manifested through an intentional biblical model. The process of academic, spiritual, and social growth benefits our students, faculty, staff, and graduates, along with those they serve.

A Community was formed here around 1800, by trailblazers who settled in the region along Native American foot trails and paths that connected larger towns. Today,

the community connects us as we focus on our Christ-first foundation.

Our community overflows into one of the most powerful resources available: a sense of Calling. It is not merely what we do for work or ministry, but how we live as we follow Christ and seek His face. Calling is the distinctive sense of alignment between God’s will and your life.

If you have a community that surrounds you and a calling that comes from God, you will find that you have the Courage to do whatever God calls you to do: going boldly, acting bravely, thinking strategically as you align your life with God’s plan for His creation.

And if you have courage, you will find that the great heart that God will give you will find a particular overflow in Compassion, as you align your heart with God’s own heart for His people and His creation. You will find that you love and act in a particular way as you do your work,

live in your community, and serve your church and your culture.

This issue of 1892 highlights alumni who are living out the “4 C’s.” They represent a host of people who have had their lives strengthened through engagement in the NGU community. It is a holistic way to follow God’s design for human flourishing. It is rooted in the challenge Christ laid out for His followers in Mark 12:29-31, explaining the Greatest Commandment:

“The most important is Listen, Israel! The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is, Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other command greater than these.”

Thank you for being part of our community.

Dr. Gene C. Fant, Jr. President North Greenville University

444C ’s

When you combine community with a strong sense of calling and an overwhelming amount of courage, you get leaders who serve with compassion. These “4 C’s” define the traits embodied by NGU difference makers.

COMMUNITY

In September 2024, disaster struck Western North Carolina and many communities in South Carolina’s Upstate.

Hurricane Helene brought widespread flooding, power outages, and structural damage to an area that rarely experiences severe tropical weather.

“A lot of times you’ll hear about disasters, but they don’t end up impacting you,” said Donny Baker, who organized volunteer efforts with the football team. “But this time, we had players who lived in Western North Carolina. Their communities were struggling. It affected us and a lot of other people. We knew when we returned to campus, we had to do something.”

Many NGU athletic teams found ways to assist their neighbors in the days following the storm.

“Our men’s soccer team was able to help

an organization in Spartanburg that was trying to set up a feeding center, and they got there at exactly the right time,” said Andy Ray, senior director of enrollment engagement. “What was done there would not have been possible without the young men that came to help get meals going in the Upstate.”

Jason Ross, director of development and corporate relations, who assisted with hurricane relief in Georgia, North Carolina, and Greenville, said disaster situations have a way of bringing communities together.

“Something of this magnitude will always bring people together. You have to become a big family and help one another get through it,” Ross said. “Praying together, crying together – there was a lot of that going on.”

“Every church in our area was doing something,” added Ray, who served with the South Carolina Baptist Disaster Relief team, along with several other NGU faculty and staff members. “There were so many who mobilized so quickly.”

Brett Plyler, student ministry coordinator at NGU, helped organize a group of more than 100 NGU students to travel to Biltmore Church in Western North Carolina to assist with hurricane relief.

“A couple of us went to Bat Cave Baptist and drove through Black Mountain,” Plyler said. “We saw complete roads missing, powerlines down, houses completely removed from their foundation, and cars in the river.”

“It was truly devastating,” he continued. “It reminded me of all the things I had to be grateful for, and the verse in Job that says

‘The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.’”

The group helped organize donations at Biltmore Church, unloading trailers and organizing the flow of traffic in what has become a supply distribution center.

“NGU has great relationships with local churches, and we utilized connections to see how we could be help and mobilize our students,” Plyler said.

NGU President Dr. Gene C. Fant, Jr. said the community’s response will be one of the lasting impacts of the storm.

“For a generation, students will now talk about ‘that hurricane’ and their experiences during the following days,” he said. “That means that for a generation, students will recount how well their faculty mentors and staff leaders helped them to navigate

CALLING

“When I went to North Greenville, my goal was to be an international missionary,” said Will Broadus, 2012 Interdisciplinary Studies alum who concentrated in Christian Studies and Business Administration.

Broadus’ passion for missions and ministry developed during his high school years and grew deeper at NGU.

“When I learned about the ideas of an unreached people group, people who have never heard about Jesus, that just really stuck out to me,” he said. “The reason I did interdisciplinary studies was because I took a missions class my first semester and we were talking about a lot of the countries where there’s unreached people, you can’t get in on a missionary visa, you have to have some other platform, so I felt like it was definitely honed and crafted there.”

Broadus followed his call and became a missionary overseas after graduating,

“My family and I did go to east Asia as missionaries, but we learned through a series of events that in church planting, there’s not a lot of focus on povertyimpacted areas,” he said. “In some ways, poverty-impacted areas are unreached.”

Broadus is now living and serving on

difficult circumstances and showed the love of Christ to them in specific and tangible ways.”

NGU’s Tigerville campus also received relief help following Helene.

A team from North Carolina Baptist’s Turett Camp traveled more than three hours to help cut trees and clear debris on campus. Other local ministries provided funds to feed teams that were helping with the clean-up.

“The care, professionalism, and selfless service of individuals too numerous to name gives testimony to their love and commitment to NGU. We are overwhelmed with gratitude for each person,” said Executive Vice President Rich Grimm, who coordinated the university’s response to the September storm. “Many in the community

sprang into action, even during Helene’s strongest winds and rains.”

Dr. Jared Thomas, NGU’s Vice President of Campus Ministries and Student Engagement (CMSE), said the students who stepped up during the storm provided a Christ-like example of what it means to love your community.

“What stood out as a constant encouragement was the selfless commitment seen in the CMSE student leadership team,” he said. “I could not be more proud of and grateful for these student leaders. They proved that they are here to serve our student body in both the good and the bad. More importantly, they served in a way that, I believe, followed the humble and sacrificial example seen in Christ (Philippians 2).”

mission in a poverty impacted area of Greenville as a church planter and pastor at Reconcile Church.

“Even from secular statistics, religion is declining the fastest among the poor and I felt burdened by that, so when we moved back, I knew I wanted to essentially try to be a missionary in a poverty-impacted community,” he said.

Broadus planted Reconcile Church in 2018 and has seen God working through the church in many powerful ways over the years but has also experienced some challenges.

“One of the most encouraging things is that we’ve seen people come to the Lord from some very difficult backgrounds, things ranging from drug addiction to legal troubles,” he said. “There’s been some cool cases of the Lord saving people who are far away from Him and He’s done that not just through one person, but through the witness of the church as a whole.”

“A person gets in the orbit of our church, and they get these multilayer relationships, and I think a lot of that they can see God’s love uniquely through multiple people and it usually happens over time,” Broadus said. “It’s not like day one and they become a Christian, but they get involved

in our community and slowly the Lord works on their heart so that’s been super encouraging.” Cultivating relationships in the community is essential for Broadus’ ministry. Though it is a blessing to live in and grow a strong community of believers, there also is hardship for those who live in poverty-impacted areas, which can make intentional discipleship challenging.

“There are addictions, and some people

don’t have savings, so if they lose a job, it just really hits them hard. We can be building a relationship with folks for years and then on a drop of a dime, they’re not around,” he said.

Broadus recounted a recent situation involving a young man he was able to baptize, and then the week after the baptism, the young man moved away.

“It went from celebration to mourning,” Broadus recalled.

Through his experience, Broadus brings his wisdom and passion for church planting among poverty-impacted areas through the platforms of the South Carolina Baptist Convention and the Greenville Baptist Association to help equip churches in their pursuit of such ministries.

“I feel like our little efforts here, by God’s grace, will be multiplied because we’re able to raise awareness,” he said.

There’s no doubt that ministering requires much faith and courage to share the gospel with others (especially in impoverished communities), but Broadus encourages others to go out and be bold for Christ regardless of the conflict that may ensue.

CC“All ministry to a certain degree is conflict. Even if you go through the basic sharing of the gospel, you’ve got to tell somebody they’re a sinner,” he said. “I think being prepared to engage in conflict in a Christlike manner, which does not mean being a pushover, but it means having gentleness yet standing firm in your convictions.”

Broadus recalls how courage plays out in Scripture through the book of Acts where the apostles endure conflict with religious leadership, and the apostle Peter responds with “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).

“I think that’s going to hit everybody because as our culture secularizes and people want to become public with their faith, it’s going to be some layer of conflict and they have to be secure in the Lord enough to be able to endure that discomfort,” he said.

The education Broadus received from NGU had a significant impact on the work he is doing to this day. NGU is also where he formed many strong friendships and even met his wife.

“From a ‘studying the Bible’ perspective,

COURAGE

“Faithfulness to God does not promise you an easier life. It doesn’t make you exempt from great loss. You’re going to feel the same pains others feel.”

Those reflections are from Daniel McGaha, a 2012 North Greenville University graduate and current Youth Pastor of Rice Memorial Baptist Church in Greenwood, SC.

McGaha has served his church for 11 years. It has been his only ministry position since earning a degree in Christian Studies from NGU and a Master of Divinity in Student Ministry from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

“I was as prepared for ministry when I left North Greenville as I was when I left seminary,” he said. “North Greenville sufficiently prepared me for the work I was called to do.”

Growing up in Brevard, NC, McGaha attended FUGE Camps at NGU in the summers. That’s where he began to develop a love for student ministry. Equipped by leaders at his home church, he decided to attend NGU to pursue

NGU had profound impacts on the way I study the Bible and preach to this day and understanding how to exegete the text and understanding theology. I still feel that imprint on me,” he said.

Broadus’ involvement with NGU continues to this day as he is currently serving on the Board of Trustees.

As he reflects on how the university has changed since he was a student, Broadus affirms the significant impact NGU President Dr. Gene C. Fant, Jr, has had in ensuring the school is committed to upholding its mission to equipping transformational leaders for church and society.

“I really appreciate Dr. Fant and how thoughtful he is about so many aspects of the university,” he said. “I can see his intellectual rigor transferring for the good of the university.”

“The leadership is very committed to fight mission drift,” he said. “From a leadership perspective, there’s a lot of clarity on being very upfront with new professors and staff about the mission of the school, making sure on the front end that they understand this isn’t just a name, but it’s in function.”

his calling. It was there he met his wife, Brittany Lybrand McGaha (’12) and many other friends that he’s remained in touch with over the past 12 years.

“North Greenville gave me a community. It didn’t just teach me things I needed to know, it taught me how to think. That’s the lasting impact it has had on my ministry,” McGaha said.

“The average tenure of a youth pastor is two and a half years,” he added. “One of the reasons I stay is because it has been statistically proven that it is more harmful to students to have multiple youth pastors than if they had no youth pastor at all.”

Through his work with students at RMBC, McGaha has sought to connect students with access to older believers who can help them in their walk with Christ.

“There’s this feeling among churches that students need a youth pastor who

is cool, relatable and energetic. That is not what students need. Students get all of that in their normal life. They need someone who is holy and stable. They need someone who is present,” he said. “Some youth pastors might feel like they’ve aged out, but that’s not the case. Students need mature adult believers who are going where they want students to go. As a leader, you can’t take people where you’re not going, so you have to have the kind of walk you want your students to have.”

McGaha’s work with students has been marked by many high moments and reasons to celebrate.

It has also been marked by tragedy.

“My sister committed suicide on the Friday of the biggest ministry event that we’ve ever had at our church. There were 430 students participating from more than

20 churches. In the peak of ministry joy, one of the great highlights for our church, here comes deep tragedy,” he said.

“It’s the deepest loss I’ve ever felt,” McGaha said. “But it’s not where I decided I was going to trust God. My perspective on faithfulness to God in calamity and tumultuous times was not formed in that moment, but over years of ministry ups and downs.”

His sisters’ death was followed by the death of his cousin a little more than a year later.

“We were as close as brothers,” McGaha said. “I lost two of my closest family members in 15 months. My grandmother passed away in the middle of all of that. I had to figure out how to minister to my family and how to allow myself to be ministered to.”

Through heartbreak and suffering,

COMPASSION

Partnering with Chosen Children’s Ministry, 12 students and five faculty members from NGU’s Physician Assistant program traveled to Nicaragua earlier this year to provide medical care and reach a community in need.

The PA program has been organizing these trips since 2018, partnering with local churches in Nicaragua. During their most recent trip, the group provided care to about 400 people, distributing around 1,600 prescriptions including antibiotics, blood pressure medication, diabetes medication, anti-parasite medications and more.

“Where we go is very rural and very poor. These families live on $2 a day,” said Dr. Jordan Hairr, Dean of NGU’s College of Allied Health. “They live in family units. They don’t have homes with rooms. What usually hits students the most is how much joy these people still have. If you were to live like that in America, it’s not likely that you’d still have that kind of joy. They are much more thankful and it’s very important for students to see how much can be done, even with very little resources.”

Hairr said the group hosts the clinic in a local church, giving attendees the

McGaha said he relied on the Lord.

“You have to distinguish between what you’re feeling and what’s actually true,” he said. “I feel abandoned by God. I feel angry with God. I feel I deserve better than this. Sometimes you feel like you bear responsibility or guilt or that you should have been able to do something. But that’s not the case. This life is a vapor, and death is not permanent in Christ. I have to live that out. This is difficult now and feels bad. But God is good.”

McGaha said while navigating these tragedies has been difficult, God has provided peace.

“The prayer is that God would comfort you supernaturally,” he said. “It’s not inherent or in your nature to be able to trust in the Lord during times like these. It’s not the way that we’re wired. It has to happen through the work of the Holy Spirit.”

opportunity to interact with pastors and church members.

“We hold the clinic in church, and the pastor is there meeting people he might not know,” he said. “There’s a hope that not only are we helping their physical health but also their spiritual health by getting them connected to a church.”

In addition to clinical care and prescriptions, the team also provided hygiene bags to those they served. Hairr said the trip is a way to show compassion

to communities that don’t have access to basic necessities.

“There’s a big need because health literacy is so low. A lot of these families don’t have access to clean drinking water, so instead of drinking water they drink soda. That causes a lot of medical problems. In America, problems like diabetes and hypertension are due to excess. In Nicaragua, it’s due to not having enough and having to manage with what they have.” ◆

A Full-Circle IMPACT

North Greenville University is carrying out its mission of cultivating transformational leaders for church and society from Tigerville, South Carolina, to Pine Mountain, Georgia.

Since 2020, NGU has partnered with Impact 360 Institute to offer a graduate degree designed to equip

young professionals to be Christ-centered, cultureshaping, servant-leaders in their careers.

Students selected for the two-year Impact 360 Residency pursue a Master of Arts in Leadership at NGU while developing their leadership skills and mentoring others.

“We deeply

value our partnership with NGU

because we share the same mission and purpose. Together, we’re committed to equipping and developing Christfollowing leaders who will make a positive impact in their communities, churches, businesses, and beyond.”

JOHN D. BASIE Director of Graduate Programs and Advancement, Impact 360 Institute

“Everything touched by the Impact 360 Institute is done with excellence and strategic intentionality,” said NGU President Dr. Gene C. Fant, Jr., who serves on Impact 360’s Board of Education. “This partnership is one that benefits both of our organizations by leveraging talented faculty members and their expertise as they connect with these outstanding students in preparation for leadership fields across the country and around the world.”

The Master of Arts in Leadership offers two tracks: Spiritual Formation and Servant Leadership.

“It’s a holistic learning experience,” said Dr. John D. Basie, director of graduate programs and advancement at Impact 360 Institute. “It’s pretty intense, and all residents live on campus for two academic years, diving into studies, work, and handson learning.”

Dr. Nathan Finn, executive director of NGU’s Institute for Faith and Culture, serves as the program director for the Master of Arts in Leadership.

“It is a joy to invest in those younger leaders, who are themselves investing in the teenagers who are part of the Impact 360 Fellows gap-year program,” Finn said. “North Greenville University and the Impact 360 Institute share so much common missional ‘DNA’ that our partnership is natural and strategic. Both organizations are committed to biblical worldview formation, the cultivation of servant-leaders, the pursuit of spiritual maturity, Christ-centered cultural engagement, and obedience to the Great Commission.”

President Fant has been involved with the institute since its founding more than two decades ago. In 20182019, a group of NGU faculty, including Finn, Dr. Larry McDonald, and Dr. Allen McWhite, worked with Basie to design the MA in Leadership curriculum, which was ultimately launched in the fall of 2020.

“Graduate students invest a great deal of time and

energy in their academic programs, and this program is one that definitely elevates their professional development,” Fant said. “We already are seeing alumni from the program serving in corporate, nonprofit, and educational leadership roles, and we look forward to seeing many more success stories in the future as the program matures.”

The residents work 25 hours a week discipling teenagers enrolled in the Impact 360 Fellows program. Founded in 2006 by John and Trudy White, Impact 360 Fellows is a Christian gap-year experience that emphasizes biblical worldview formation and servant leadership development. Once the gap year is complete, Fellows alumni can pursue an undergraduate degree at NGU with an Impact 360 scholarship.

Logan Pinalto is an Impact 360 Fellows alumna who is pursuing her undergraduate degree in Tigerville.

Pinalto said she believes her Fellows gap year has uniquely prepared her for success as a new college student and growing leader.

“I plan on implementing the things I learned at Impact 360 into my college experience,” she said. “I look forward to engaging in spiritual conversations with classmates, initiating Bible studies, welcoming questions and exploring them with academic integrity, putting together worship nights, serving classmates and staff members in little and big ways, praying for those who hurt, rejoicing with all, and being plugged into a church.”

Basie said Impact 360 and NGU share a mission that will benefit students for many years to come.

“We deeply value our partnership with NGU because we share the same mission and purpose. Together, we’re committed to equipping and developing Christfollowing leaders who will make a positive impact in their communities, churches, businesses, and beyond,” said Basie. ◆

AthleticsUpdate

Garner Tapped to Lead NGU Football Program

North Greenville University selected Nate Garner as the institution’s new Head Football Coach in January. The former NFL offensive lineman moves to NGU from Limestone University, where he was offensive line coach since 2022.

Garner has coached at high school, college, and professional levels since 2018, following a seven-year career with the Miami Dolphins. He will fill the post held by long-time NGU Head Coach Jeff

NGU President Dr. Gene C. Fant, Jr., said. “He has demonstrated commitment to using his gifts as an athlete, a teammate, and a coach, seeking to honor Christ with the talents he has been given.”

“Guiding NGU’s football program is an absolute dream come true,” Garner said. “I’m honored to inspire our players to excel not only on the field, but also in the classroom and in our community, all while glorifying God in everything we do. Together, we’ll foster a culture of integrity and an unwavering pursuit of excellence to honor Him.”

Garner will lead NGU into the first season of Conference Carolinas competition, as the football team completes a move from the Gulf South Conference. The Trailblazers’ 2025 season begins at Delta State University on September 6, with their home opener against conference foe Barton College on September 13.

Farrington, who stepped away from the program in early December after 12 years at the helm.

“We are excited to welcome Coach Garner to NGU and are looking forward to how he will continue a tradition of helping our student-athletes develop skills for excellence in competitive athletics and excellence as transformational leaders,”

Garner’s coaching career started in a volunteer capacity with the New Orleans Saints in 2018. He also worked with the Arkansas football program in 2018 before becoming offensive line coach at Asa College Miami, a junior college in South Florida. He became offensive line coach at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, FL, in the spring of 2020 and spent two years with the nationally recognized program.

He moved to Limestone University in April 2022 and guided the offensive line to help the Saints average 5,292 yards of

total yardage over his three-year tenure.

“I’m excited for Coach Garner and his next chapter,” said Limestone Head Coach Jerricho Cotchery. “NGU is getting an awesome man, husband, father, and leader. Nate is someone who is going to invest heavily in his student-athletes. I couldn’t be more thrilled to see my former NFL teammate and fellow staff member receive this opportunity. I am certainly looking forward to watching his team compete.”

Reared in Roland, Arkansas, Garner played for Coach Houston Nutt at the University of Arkansas. He was a threeyear letterman as an offensive lineman for the Razorbacks. Arkansas won the SEC West division in his senior year, advancing to the Capital One Bowl. Garner graduated from Arkansas in 2007 with a bachelor of science degree in sociology.

Drafted by the New York Jets in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft, he joined the Miami Dolphins later that year. He played all five offensive line positions over the course of his seven-year professional career.

Garner will look to continue building on the foundation laid by his predecessor.

Farrington compiled a 59-61 overall record at NGU, with a 32-23 home record. He led NGU to the National Christian College Athletic Association Victory Bowl championship in 2014 and the team reached the NCAA Division II playoffs in 2016. Over a three-year span from 20142016, the team compiled a 23-13 mark, going 14-2 at home.

“Jeff Farrington is not only an outstanding coach – he builds young men into transformational leaders,” said Fant. “He and Traci have been a dynamic duo in our community, encouraging so many folks and helping our student-athletes to be focused both on the field and off. He’s one of the finest men I know, and we are grateful for his leadership and commitment to excellence.”

MEET BLAZER!

New Mascot Ignites Trailblazer Spirit

NGU introduced “Blazer” as the official mascot in October. After unveiling the Trailblazer mascot in April, and officially launching it June 15, the university decided on the perfect name.

“Blazer, a red fox, is native to the school’s area, described as clever, resourceful and wise, tenacious and brave, adaptive to its ever-changing environment and continually exploring its expansive territory. These qualities reflect the school’s heritage, its present community, and the future it strives to achieve,” said Lamont Sullivan, senior associate vice president for alumni engagement and athletics development.

The announcement of the new mascot was the culmination of a process that

spanned several years. A task force led by athletics and comprised of members from across campus, including students, faculty, staff, alumni, NGU board and administration, assessed the institution’s current and former mascots, and a unanimous recommendation was made to engage a consultant to assist with the identification and development of a new mascot.

“We are so excited that ‘Blazer’ will represent our college spirit and pride,” said NGU President Dr. Gene C. Fant, Jr. “It is a name that embodies the energy, enthusiasm, and mission that defines NGU.”

The mascot’s image has already been

incorporated into the college’s branding and marketing materials. The mascot’s official uniform, which will be used at public events and sporting activities, was revealed to the campus community at Homecoming 2024.

Women’s Cross Country Makes History

For the first time in school history, the NGU women’s soccer team claimed the Conference Carolinas Cross Country Championship. Finishing with a total of 43 points in the conference championships, the team broke a school record with a new team average of 22:56 for the 6k. Head Coach Cameron Stober also won the Women’s Coach of the Year Award.

“To finally win a conference title as a team means so much,” Stober said. “To do it with the group that we did it with makes it even better. We knew going into this season that this was the most talented group of women we’ve ever had. But we also knew that there were other really talented teams in our conference. Converse and UNC Penbroke have put forth really strong women’s teams over the past few years, so we knew that a conference title would be a battle.”

Volleyball Finishes Strong

The North Greenville women’s volleyball team wrapped up its 2024 season with a loss in the Conference Carolinas Tournament to the Valkyries of Converse University. North Greenville ended with an 18-14 record and 14-4 record in conference play. The Trailblazers took a share of the Northwest Division with Converse and made an appearance in the Conference Carolinas Tournament for the 13th consecutive season.

Anna Fiddelke was North Greenville’s representative in the 2024 All-Conference Carolinas teams as she was named to the second team. Fiddelke placed seventh in conference play in hitting percentage, posting a .315 percentage.

All Conference Honors

The North Greenville men’s soccer team saw four selections to the 2024 Conference Carolinas All-Conference teams. Two Trailblazers, goalkeeper Ricardo Marques and forward Renan Macuglia were named Second Team while midfielder Vinicius Silva and defender Matteo Galeotti were named Third Team.

Jeremiah Bogan ’22

Fulfilling His Dream of Football and Serving Others

Jeremiah Bogan has been chasing his dream of being in the National Football League (NFL) since he was a kid.

“Football has basically been the structure of my whole life,” he said. “I’ve been playing since I was 5 years old. I wanted to play in the NFL. I also loved the idea of being able to build teams and put together the puzzle pieces.”

Bogan played his college football at NGU, where he graduated with a degree in Sport Management in 2020.

“North Greenville helped me push myself,” Bogan said. “I grew so much as a person during my time at NGU. I’ve loved the school more and more each year that I become further removed because I’m seeing so many things that were instilled in me that have helped me get to where I am now.”

Buccaneers organization, which he joined as a Scouting Assistant in June.

“The NFL is something that I’ve always thought about and worked towards,” he said. “The more time you spend in football, the more you understand how good that structure is for you. That discipline has transformed my life. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the work ethic that it taught me.”

Bogan attributes his success to investing in each team along the way.

“I always tell people to grow where their feet are planted,” he said. “Don’t try to look too far ahead. That’s what I’ve tried to do. If you’ll put your head down and do the work, the next thing you know, you’ll look up and see a door open for you. You don’t always have to step through that door, but opportunity will be there.”

Bogan said his faith has been important for him as he navigates each new season.

“It’s the idea that every time you get down on yourself, or things don’t go your way, maybe your plan shifted, you have to remember what God did.”

“God calls me to serve every day,” he said. “That’s what I’m thinking about when I wake up in the morning. Serving others. Sure, you’re in a space where everyone comes from different backgrounds and believes in different things, but you can still be that light for others and serve them.”

After earning his Master of Business Administration degree, Bogan started chasing his dream from a different angle. Bogan has served in roles with college football programs including UNLV, Pittsburgh, Liberty, LSU, and UCONN. He also served as the National Scout for the East-West Shrine Bowl.

“I know people look at my resume and notice that I’ve bounced around pretty fast. Honestly, it’s all happened a lot faster than I thought. When I was a player, I fell more in love with the training and the process of getting better, and not necessarily the results,” Bogan said.

The results, however, led Bogan to the Tampa Bay

“Growing up, you didn’t really see athletes professing Christ,” Bogan continued. “I always told myself that if I ever got a platform that big, I would be one of those vessels that showed you can reach these heights without having to hide your faith or sacrifice who you are as a person.”

Bogan regularly uses the phrase “God did” on his social media accounts, reminding himself that the Lord has been with him each step of the way.

“It’s the idea that every time you get down on yourself or things don’t go your way, maybe your plan shifted, you have to remember what God did,” he said. “Even during times I didn’t believe God was working in my life, you can look back and see that He did. He remains true to the promises He makes and He will forever.” ◆

Elizabeth Nelsen Kennon ’19

Finding Purpose in Radio Production

“Do the best you can do at whatever you do, and whatever you do, do to the glory of God.”

This is a familiar phrase for students who tuned in to NGU’s radio station, formerly known as ‘The Vibe,’ around 2015-19.

Elizabeth Nelsen Kennon, 2019 broadcast media alum, would sign off each show she did with this phrase to encourage students. Five years later, Kennon is continuing to encourage her listeners on local Christian radio station His Radio, where she works as a morning show producer.

Although she has been working at His Radio since September 2021, Kennon’s journey to the station began during her time as a student at NGU. She served off and on as an intern for two years at His Radio, which ultimately opened the door for the full-time position she is currently in.

“There was a guy, who has since retired, who worked there, and his name is Gary Miller. He worked for His Radio Talk, which is now classic His Radio, but it used to be the talk station so they would play pastors and Tony Beam did a show there, but they didn’t play as much music,” Kennon said.

Miller needed someone to fill in occasionally, because he was having some medical procedures done, so he reached out to Kennon to see if she would be interested in the position to help run the board for different shows. During the conversation about the position, Miller also brought in His Radio morning show host Rob Dempsey to talk about making an even bigger “jack of all trades” position, as Kennon describes it, to fill in where needed.

Shortly after that conversation, Kennon received a phone call from Dempsey telling her a video position had become available at the station if she was interested. After much prayer and consideration, Kennon accepted the position and found her Godgiven calling in audio production.

“I’m getting purpose and fulfillment, which is interesting because I wasn’t at first. I have since moved around positions, so I did a lot of video stuff at first and found out that wasn’t what I was good at or called to,” she said. “I was able to switch positions with somebody else and found out we really like each other’s jobs. I’m doing more audio work now, which is what I was more passionate about to begin with and that’s brought a lot of purpose and fulfillment.”

For those who are faithful listeners to His Radio in the morning, they may recognize Kennon by her nickname, Ninja. The nickname many listeners know her by today on His Radio derived from when she was on the media team at NGU.

“I was working on the media team in chapel and I put on my resume that I taught kids jiu-jitsu, thinking it would help me in some way get a job on campus,” she said. “My boss, who works

in media, saw it and thought it was funny. He asked me about it and jokingly called me Ninja one time and it stuck and followed me around campus. Everyone knew me as Ninja.”

“It followed me to His Radio because there was someone else who went to NGU who was interning there, who also called me Ninja and it just kind of caught on,” Kennon said.

Kennon explained that hands-on learning experience at NGU and internship opportunities have equipped her for the career she has today.

“[Professors were] encouraging me to get internships, make connections, and network,” she said. “[NGU] had the radio station, where I worked a lot. I worked there as a freshman helping with the music and the programming and eventually was station manager.”

For current students who are seeking a similar career path, Kennon encourages them to seek out internship opportunities and not to do it for credit only, but to gain experience for future employment.

“Intern and volunteer, be willing to do things for free,” she said. “It definitely helped me because I interned with His Radio for two years during school, then there were no positions available when I was graduating so I worked at a church for two years. They randomly reached out to me because of the connection I made during that time so definitely make those connections and intern, for sure.”

As Kennon continues to make a positive impact on her listeners on His Radio, she recalls how much of an impact the station has made on her life and her initial desire to pursue a career in Christian broadcasting.

“Radio, specifically His Radio, had an impact on my life around middle school, early high school,” she said. “I began having questions about faith and salvation and so listening to Christian radio helped me through that and I was like, ‘You know, I want to do that one day,’ and it’s kind of just stuck with me the whole time.”

Just as Kennon used to sign off on ‘The Vibe’ radio show, her goal to this day is to do everything to the best of her ability and give the glory to God, on-air and beyond. ◆

Joanna Beasley ’07

Illuminating NGU’s History to the Community

North Greenville University is steeped in rich history and alumna Joanna Beasley is eager to share it with her community.

Beasley, a Tennessee native, is now living her dream as an archivist at NGU. Her love for history developed in the first grade when she had a teacher who was passionate about Tennessee history.

The passion her teacher shared with her sparked a passion in her own life and since then, Beasley knew she wanted to pursue a career in public history, whether it be with a museum or archives.

After earning her degree in history from NGU in 2007, Beasley interned at the Southern Baptist Historical Library and Archives in Nashville, TN. During that she felt an even stronger affirmation that this is what God has given her a passion for.

Two years after graduating from NGU, Beasley came back to work on campus as a part-time archivist for a year before transitioning to a full-time position elsewhere. However, she returned to work full-time in 2015 as the technical services librarian at NGU. In 2022, she transitioned into the role of university archivist.

Beasley has been using her role to share her love for the university’s history with others. Shortly after starting her new role, she created a Facebook page that has

“North Greenville has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember.”

caught the attention of the North Greenville community.

“The more I learned about North Greenville, the more I wanted to talk about North Greenville’s history, so I started a Facebook page, a blog, and an Instagram. Anytime I found out something that was interesting [about the university], I would make a post about it and so that seems to have grown,” Beasley said.

“Dr. Fant has been so supportive and I know he shouts it out frequently and it’s gotten some attention from that,” she said. “Really when it comes down to it, I wanted some way to share my love of the school and its history. That’s been my biggest outlet.”

Though she has shared many interesting facts about the university through the Facebook page over the last two years, her favorite discovery she has posted is a digitized slide including pictures from the 1950s of the second administration building being torn down and the Donnan Administration Building being constructed.

“Those finds were incredible to me,” Beasley said.

Her roots at North Greenville University run deep, as it has been a part of her story since she was a young girl.

“North Greenville has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember,” she said.

“My dad, Lonnie Wiley, ’78, went here. Even though I grew up in Tennessee, I knew my dad had gone to NGU,” Beasley said. “I came to Centrifuge Camp here in middle school.”

“I knew in middle school when I came here for Centrifuge that I wanted to come here,” she said. “But since learning about the history of the school I would say that sharing the history of NGU has become my passion.”

As she recalls the history of her alma mater, she can’t help but be amazed at how God has kept His hands on the

institution as it was on the verge of closure in the early 1900s.

“It never ceases to amaze me how many times God has clearly worked to save this school from being closed,” she said. “If you look back at the nineteen-teens, North Greenville became a mountain mission school with the Home Mission Board and almost every other mountain mission school was closing when the Home Mission Board stopped their mission school program, but North Greenville Baptist Association – the people God put at North Greenville at that specific time – were able to guide the school through it all.”

“It became a college and that was a huge step that saved the school because public high schools were growing and there was really no need at that time for Christian high schools, so us becoming a junior college really opened the door for North Greenville to be able to continue,” Beasley continued.

She has been able to give presentations about the intriguing history of NGU at several organizations, including NGU’s Auxilio and Travelers Rest Historical Society.

Her goal is to bring to light the amazing things God has done at NGU over the years through the efforts of those He has placed in leadership positions since the school’s beginning in 1892 to present.

“It’s hard to understand how we got here if you don’t understand the full story,” she said. “In North Greenville’s case specifically, how we got here is how we are here. We wouldn’t be here without all the people God put in leadership roles over the years.”

As an alumna and now an employee, Beasley said she is grateful for NGU and everything the university means to her as she continues to tell the story of the school that is very near to her heart.

“Other than faith, family, and friends, NGU is my life.” ◆

Sela Estelle ’17

Being on Mission for Christ in the Classroom

“The public school setting has become my mission field,” said Sela Estelle, a 2017 graduate who majored in Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education through the honors program at NGU.

Estelle is currently a fifth-grade teacher at Paris Elementary in Taylors, SC, and taught fourth grade for three years before transitioning to fifth.

Though she now has a deep passion for teaching kids, becoming an educator wasn’t always her dream profession.

“[Teaching] wasn’t even on my radar,” she said. “My first exposure was when I was a freshman in high school. I went to a private Christian school and one of the courses we had to take was a women’s ministry class. One of the projects was preparing a lesson, then we had to go teach it to another grade.”

After getting ideas for the lesson from her youth pastor at the time, she prepared a lesson to teach to a fourthgrade class. Following the project, her teacher recognized that she had a gift of speaking and interacting with the kids and encouraged her to consider teaching.

“As I started thinking about college and what I wanted to do with my life, God had really put a passion on my heart at the time for missions. So it was really not just that I wanted to do missions, but how could I make missions sustainable,” she said. “So, I was strongly considering which kind of careers would enable me to do missions full time.”

The two giftings Estelle noticed in her life at the time were teaching and music, and after analyzing which would bring her more opportunities to do missions, she ultimately decided to pursue teaching.

“I just felt like education would open more doors because countries are always interested in hiring American teachers because we can speak English and they want to learn English and there’s a lot of components there, so I ended up going into education, which is honestly the reason,” she said.

While the door for her to move overseas and do missions hasn’t opened, she recognizes that her classroom in South Carolina is her mission field each day.

“Even though I saw myself going to another country to live on mission, in so many ways I feel like I’m having those same interactions with my kids. It’s been really cool to see how God has shown up,” she said. “It’s turned into a mission field way more than I thought it was ever going to be.”

Although she teaches in a public school and cannot openly share her faith with her students, Estelle still finds opportunities to show Christ’s love to them.

“I’m not just walking in my classroom, but also welcoming the Holy Spirit to come in and be in that room with me,” she said. “That’s helping with my discernment and knowing what my kids need both mentally and emotionally, but also spiritually and just being in tune with that. That’s really opened up some amazing relationships and conversations.”

In her eight years of teaching, Estelle has come alongside her students, teaching them valuable life skills and encouraging them to become the best person they can be. Due to her faithful commitment to sharpening the lives of her students, she was recognized and named ‘Teacher of the Year’ for the 2023-2024 school year.

That year was filled with both encouragement and challenges.

“From a professional standpoint, I really enjoyed my teacher of the year,” she said. “My administration, in multiple ways, did their best to honor me and the hard work that I’ve put in. I don’t think I would have earned that honor anyway if it hadn’t been for my current administration and former administration. I really owe them a lot into that way and I am really thankful for the opportunity.”

“As far as the school year, it was a very challenging school year and just learning how to process a lot of socialemotional stuff,” she said. “We talk about how teachers take the emotional struggles home with them because we care about our kids. That happened a lot last year and I really had to work through how to handle that stress and all those social-emotional skills that we teach our kids. There was a lot of collaborating with parents, trying to figure out how we can help their kids.”

Despite experiencing challenges within the classroom, Estelle continued to faithfully speak into the lives of her students.

“I’m really thankful that each year I get to spend 180 days being a part of someone else’s family and try to speak into their child’s life and help them see the future and their potential and challenge them about who they want to be,” she said. “That 10-11-year-old age is an extremely pivotal time in their lives.”

Each year she is in the classroom, Estelle says she has grown into a better teacher. Her preparation to becoming a successful teacher began during her time as a student at NGU through hands-on learning in the College of Education.

“I think the education department did a great job as much as you possibly can without throwing a teacher into a classroom,” she said. “[One class I took] focused on building that resume, cover letter, and mock parent-teacher conferences, which was extremely helpful to prepare us for when we got into a real classroom. The comradery of the cohorts was great, too.”

For current NGU students who are seeking a similar career path, Estelle encourages them to make sure this is what they want to do and know their strengths and weaknesses.

“If you’re in an educational path, know that this is a strength that God has given you and if it is, pursue it,” she said. “Give it a try. Be confident that God has placed you where you’re supposed to be and do your best.”

As Estelle continues to shape the minds and lives of the next generation, she says her goal will always be the same: to be on mission for Christ in her classroom. ◆

Mark Reeves Named New Chief Financial Officer

Longtime financial management leader

Mark Reeves has been named Senior Vice President for Finance at North Greenville University. Reeves has worked in higher education, healthcare, and tax/ accounting services posts over a fourdecade career in financial services.

Reeves previously served as the managing director of operational excellence with Clifton Larson Allen, a national accounting firm. He served as vice president of finance and auxiliaries at Southern Wesleyan University for five years before moving to CLA.

“Mark Reeves has a rich background of fiscal leadership in varied industries, and those experiences, along with his commitment to use his abilities to further Christ-centered higher education, make him an exceptional addition to our senior leadership team,” said NGU President Dr. Gene C. Fant, Jr. “As we seek to fulfill our historic mission and maintain strong financial management, we are delighted to welcome Mark.”

“I’ve been blessed to have a career full of experiences, across multiple industries, with a number of organizations that have had a growth mindset and visionary leadership,” said Reeves. “After meeting with Dr. Fant and members of the leadership team, and praying about it, I sense an energy and see an excellent opportunity to assist the team in continuing to create something very special at NGU.”

An Iowa native, Reeves earned a bachelor of science degree in business administration from Drake University and completed an MBA degree from the University of Wisconsin. He is a Certified Public Accountant and a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt. He worked with Deloitte & Touche for nine years before moving to Hartford Financial from 1995-2002. He then was director of financial reporting with the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, for four years. He continued in healthcare-related financial services, including three years as chief financial officer at Community Health Partnership in Eau Claire, WI, before moving into higher education financial management in 2010 as director of business services and university budget officer at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. He was assistant vice chancellor for financial services at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse before joining Southern Wesleyan University in Central, SC.

Reeves fills NGU’s chief financial officer role previously held by Michael Stowell, who resigned earlier in the fall semester to relocate to Arizona. Reeves and his wife, Heidi, have been married for 33 years. They have two adult sons, Nick and Caleb.

“Mark’s experience in quality improvement and analyzing financial best practices across industries will help us move forward, building on a strong financial footing which was bolstered by the work of Mike Stowell,” said President Fant. “We believe NGU is positioned to broaden our mission effectiveness as we equip transformational leaders for church and society.”

Dr. Jason Young Encourages Fall Graduates To Be “Likeable”

Be genuine, be sincere, demonstrate care, and be likeable.

Dr. Jason Young offered this advice to 217 graduates at North Greenville University’s Fall Commencement Dec. 13.

Sharing from Proverbs 3:3-4, Young said taking a genuine interest in others will make personal and professional goals attainable.

“Being likeable is about embodying love, humility, and grace,” he said. “It’s about demonstrating (that attitude), especially when it’s hard.”

Young is a two-time graduate of NGU, earning a bachelor’s degree in 2000 and a D.Min. degree in 2020. He is the author of six books. He is an executive coach, and a consultant for several organizations, including Chick-fil-A, Delta Airlines, Google and Christ Fellowship.

“At North Greenville, my life changed,” he said. “The professors and leadership here helped me navigate many things and were there for me.”

Young stressed the importance of developing likeability as graduates begin and continue their professional pursuits.

“Your resume is important. Your job is important. But an unconventional idea is to think about boosting your likeability,” he said. “Your likeability is more important than your leadership ability.”

“Highly likeable people ask questions, they’re more willing to listen than talk. They put away their phone and are willing to be fully present with you. They don’t pass judgment and are approachable. They don’t seek attention. They’re consistent,” Young said.

Young’s address was followed by the

conferring of degrees and presentation of diplomas.

North Greenville Moves Up in Annual Rankings

NGU continues to ascend in the annual US News & World Report Best Colleges rankings, improving two spots in the 2025 report.

Ranking 34th in the report’s Best Regional Universities (South) category, North Greenville is listed sixth among 16 South Carolina schools, tied with Anderson University and Coastal Carolina. This is the highest rating the university has received in its region, which included 133 schools in 2024.

“We are blessed to continue to be recognized as one of the top universities in the state of South Carolina,” said NGU President Dr. Gene C. Fant, Jr. “Rankings never tell the full story, but they do underscore North Greenville’s unwavering commitment to cultivating and equipping transformational leaders for church and society. That is the mission we are living out each day in Tigerville.”

NGU continues to be recognized as a Top Performer in Social Mobility, improving six spots in the metric and ranking 16th out of 132 universities.

The Social Mobility category analyzes schools who enroll and graduate large proportions of students who are awarded Pell Grants. North Greenville enrolled 697 Pell Grant recipients during the 2023-24 school year and 810 recipients for 2024-25. The university currently has a Pell Grant graduation rate of 72 percent and ranks sixth out of 16 South Carolina schools in the Social Mobility metric.

NGU is committed to investing in students by assisting first-generation college students through its Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP). The QEP aims to provide knowledge of university resources and connect first-generation students with a support system that will help students complete their degrees.

U.S. News & World Report also recognized NGU as a Best Value School (Regional Universities in the South) and one of the Best Colleges for Veterans (Regional Universities in the South). NGU placed 36th and 34th respectively in these categories.

“There are many schools I could have chosen, but all the arrows were pointing to North Greenville. I kept hearing that NGU had an awesome teaching program that sent teachers out to local areas. I knew that’s what I wanted to do.” said Frank Signor, a sophomore education major who served 17 years in the United States Marine Corps. “The instructors have been amazing. I enjoy the fact that I can come to them with questions and I’m able to get clarity right then.”

Now in its 40th year, the U.S. News & World Report rankings evaluate nearly 1,500 national colleges and universities on up to 17 measures of academic quality and place an emphasis on social mobility and outcomes for graduating college students.

NGU Announces Enrollment Increase

NGU announced its largest overall enrollment since the pandemic in the fall, welcoming more than 2,300 students.

“I am deeply grateful for the vigorous effort from our enrollment and student services teams that allowed us to experience this enrollment growth, but I am also keenly aware that we teach students, not numbers,” said NGU President Dr. Gene C. Fant, Jr. “NGU is a special community where God intersects lives and calling to generate transformational leaders and we look forward to seeing how these students are impacted by their time at the university.”

In addition, NGU added more than 545 freshmen and transfer students to its main campus in Tigerville. The class represents 10 countries and 27 states.

“I’m grateful for the traditional admissions team members and our Director for Traditional Admissions, Katie Lynn Marshall, for the role they each played in assisting our new students and families this recruitment year,” said Chad Peters, NGU Vice President for Enrollment and Marketing/Communications. “In addition to the admissions team, I’m thankful for the numerous campus partners that play a vital role in helping our students. I’m excited to see how God is going to move throughout our campus this academic year as our students pursue the calling God has for them.”

NGU Named a South Carolina Teaching Fellows Institution

NGU has been named a Teaching Fellows Institution, according to the Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention, and Advancement (CERRA).

Established in 1999, the South Carolina Teaching Fellows Program awards funds for up to 230 high-achieving students each year.

“Both the First Lady and I began our careers as school teachers. We know first-hand the importance of well-trained, transformational educators to local communities,” said NGU President Dr. Gene C. Fant, Jr. “We are very pleased with this new opportunity to reward qualified future teachers with financial assistance that can help them to begin their careers with excitement and outstanding training from first-rate professors. This is a game-changer for NGU’s College of Education.”

Along with professional development and leadership opportunities, students are eligible to receive up to $24,000 in awards (up to $6,000 a year for four years), in addition to other scholarships and grants, while they pursue a degree that will

lead to initial teacher certification at a Teaching Fellows Institution. Teaching Fellows agree to teach in a South Carolina public school one year for every year they receive the fellowship. Loans not repaid through service in the classroom must be repaid through financial means.

“North Greenville University has a proud history of producing education graduates who go on to teaching careers in South Carolina’s public schools where they make a difference,” said NGU Provost Dr. Hunter Baker. “We are excited and honored to be included in the Teaching Fellows program and look forward to continuing our work together with our new partner.”

NGU joins current Teaching Fellow Institutions Anderson University, Charleston Southern University, Clemson University, College of Charleston, Coastal Carolina University, Francis Marion University, Lander University, USC Aiken, USC Columbia, USC Upstate, and Winthrop University.

“This program will enhance the exceptional work that the College of Education is already doing to prepare teachers,” said Dr. Constance Wright, Dean of NGU’s College of Education. “At North Greenville University, our Teaching Fellows will engage in advanced enrichment programs and have numerous opportunities to lead, serve, and make a lasting impact in our communities.”

North Greenville offers education-related programs through six traditional undergraduate degrees, two online bachelor’s degree programs, and three graduate degree options (MEd, EdS, EdD). Undergraduate students can study Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, English Language Arts Secondary Education, Math Secondary Education, Physical Education, Theatre Education, and Social Studies Education.

NGU will welcome its first Teaching Fellows cohort in the fall of 2025. Applications to join that cohort opened in October.

Qualified students can visit CERRA’s website to begin the application process. Each applicant must be a high school senior or a junior graduating early, a U.S. citizen, and a South Carolina resident.

MABS Program Celebrates First Graduating Class

NGU graduated the first group of students from its Master of Biomedical Sciences (MABS) program in December.

The program began in 2023 and is offered within NGU’s College of Allied Health, along with the PA Medicine program.

“Every year, we have to turn away more than 100 students that don’t get into the PA program due to the competitive nature,” said Dr. Cathleen Ciesielski, MABS Program Director. “But when you interview these students, you just know in your heart that they’re going to be great PAs. We wanted to have a second avenue for these students.”

The MABS program has gained momentum with students

pursuing various medical professions.

“We teach them the fundamentals of medicine. We give them competitive, critical-thinking tests that provide real experience,” Ciesielski said. “I’m very proud of the program and the students. The majority of them have full-time jobs and families to care for. It’s exciting to see them do well. I can see how much they’ve grown and they are on the right track to meet their goals.”

Dr. Carson Moore, Principal Faculty of NGU’s PA Medicine program, said the MABS students have been highly motivated.

“We have students from all over the country pursuing many different goals,” Moore said. “The goal of this program was not for

students to re-do their undergraduate coursework. It was designed to be a rigorous online graduate program, and these students have persevered through quite a bit.”

Carissa Nussbaum, who received her diploma in December, said the program’s flexibility was key.

“It was flexible. I could do things on my own time,” she said. “This program was a stepping stone for me. My end-goal was to apply for the PA program here at NGU and become a physician assistant.”

That flexibility allows students within the program to change careers at their own pace.

“I’ve got a career-changer right now who is a mom of four,”

NGU Hosts World Journalism Institute Conference

Eighteen young professionals spent a week in Tigerville in 2024, receiving handson training in the field of journalism.

The conference, hosted by North Greenville University, is a series of instructional courses presented by the World Journalism Institute (WJI), which serves as the educational arm of WORLD News Group.

“This week, we’re focusing on storytelling,” said Naomi Balk, WJI assistant director. “They’re in writing sessions. They’re learning how to interview. They’re learning how to broadcast. They might know a lot of these disciplines already, but they’re getting that opportunity to get out in the field and put it into practice.”

With sessions on editing, reporting, broadcasting and more, NGU School of Communication professors assisted with instruction.

“I am so pleased three of our faculty got to participate as teachers and writing coaches for this week,” said Dr. Randall E. King, Associate Dean of the School of Communication. “Dr. Karyn Campbell, Professor Lara Jackson and I all have professional journalism experience and have much to offer these young professionals as they consider new careers as storytellers.”

The 18 participants worked to collect news stories locally, visiting downtown Greenville and returning to campus to edit gathered content with an instructor.

“We want them to come away with the

Ciesielski said. “She works at the front desk of a health clinic and wants to become a provider. We had one gentleman who works in the urgent care, but more on the ordering side of things. This degree will get him promoted because he’ll just understand more about the needs of the clinic. I’m very proud of what this program does and the students that it helps.”

Fall graduate Jenny Tran will be attending NGU’s PA Medicine program in 2025.

“It was a remarkable experience,” Tran said. “It further accelerated my education, and despite it being online, you still had the opportunity to communicate and collaborate with classmates.”

ability to make a radio piece and the ability to write well,” Balk said. “Experience builds confidence, and that’s what they’re getting.”

NGU Provost Dr. Hunter Baker said working with the participants was a privilege for North Greenville faculty and staff.

“Christian journalists have a lot to offer our country and the world,” said Baker. “We are so happy to join WJI in its mission to train them in their pursuit of truth in discovering and reporting the news.”

King said approaching journalism from a Christian worldview requires excellence and compassion.

“That doesn’t mean we preach in our stories, but it means the way we approach reporting, writing, interviewing, news judgment – the stories we tell and how we tell them – always starts with the question, ‘How does Christ make the difference here – in this job, in this story?’” he said.

“In some ways the most powerful way to answer that question is – do it well, with excellence, and with compassion for the people who are the focus of your stories,” continued King. “We try to answer that question in every class at NGU, and now we got to ask it again with the group from WJI.”

Lee Pitts, who leads Dordt University’s Department of Journalism and Communication and serves as the Executive Director of WORLD Journalism Institute, said there is great need for Christians in the field.

“Journalism can be a dark profession, but that’s not a reason or an excuse for believers to abandon the profession,” Pitts said. “The need for journalism is not going to go away. It’s always going to be important for a healthy democracy and strong communities.”

AlumniEngagement

I’m a Trailblazer

During the annual late-night breakfast event last spring, students, faculty, staff, and alumni celebrated the announcement that the inspiring mascot, the North Greenville University Trailblazers, would now represent North Greenville Athletics.

Reactions to the new name may have varied, but its meaning quickly resonated with the community. The name embodies the spirit of “Trailblazers,” representing those who create pathways and inspire others as creators, discoverers, groundbreakers, and pioneers.

At North Greenville, we honor the legacy of trailblazers. One hundred thirty-three years ago, on October 14, 1891, a gathering of the North Greenville Baptist Association set in motion a journey they could not have imagined. Their decision to form a committee to find a location for a new high school in Northern Greenville County, South Carolina, ignited a movement toward education.

Those early trailblazers who sought to start a high school sparked a transformation into one of the most respected universities in the Southeast, as recognized by U.S. News & World Report. What began as a high school has evolved into the dynamic North Greenville University, offering bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees across more than 125 fields of study.

These pioneers’ faith, perseverance, and influence have paved the way for a university to extend its reach beyond Northern Greenville County to more than 40 states and 20 nations worldwide. These trailblazers serve as transformative leaders, impacting both church and society.

Reflecting on my trailblazing journey, I see my experiences echo those of many who call Tigerville home. As a firstgeneration graduate raised in a single-parent household and facing financial challenges, I discovered unwavering support from the trailblazers at North Greenville University when I needed it most.

Our current Trailblazers come from diverse backgrounds and are achieving success in various roles on campuses in both Tigerville, Greer and Pine Mountain. As alumni, we’ve realized that our opportunities are boundless, and we continue to witness the profound impact of North Greenville University in empowering a new generation of students to forge lifechanging paths. Today, we celebrate you, our remarkable trailblazers. We invite you to share your inspiring stories and ask for your prayers as we strive to help others embark on their journeys as trailblazers.

Lamont Sullivan (’98, MA ’13) Senior Associate Vice President for Alumni Engagement and Athletic Development

AlumniNotes

In Memoriam

Mabel Merchant Hinson (’42) on April 30, 2024

William H. “Bill” Bridges (’46) on August 2, 2024

George Sherwood (’49) on May 20, 2023

Donald Camp Whelchel (’51) on Sept. 16, 2024

Peggy Carter Weathers (’53) on Sept. 29, 2024

Rev. Jerry A. Ford (’55) on Oct. 5, 2024

Betty Jane Emory (’60) on Sept. 12, 2024

Rev. David Eugene Lloyd (’60) on July 10, 2024

Marian Bennett Youmans (’60) on Oct. 5, 2024

Charlotte Kell Goldman (’61) on April 30, 2024

Wilbert Carroll Suggs (’62) on Sept. 12, 2024

Rev. Wendell Rhodes (’63) on April 17, 2024

Arthur “Gene” Baxley (’64) on April 25, 2024

Rev. Roger M. Estridge Sr. (’65) on May 18, 2024

Jolene Sparks Postol (’65) on August 23, 2024

Susan Neves Mitchell (’67) on December 16, 2023

Rev. David Loyd Levi (’73) on March 29, 2019

Steven Ross Wood (’80) on October 17, 2023

Jayne Allison Bowers (’81) on July 28, 2023

Richard Clint Sullens (’03) on April 5, 2024

Justin Bradley Knight (’08) on Nov. 9, 2024

Christian Reuel Edwin Golden (’16) on June 8, 2024

Graham Norris Bramlette (NGU Baseball honorary bench coach) on April 29, 2024

Dr. Katherine Davis Cann (former faculty member) on Tuesday, May 7, 2024

Dr. Bob Detjen (former physics professor) on May 7, 2024

Shirley Belle Waldrop Eskew (long-time employee in Financial Aid) on Sept. 22, 2024

Susan Frazier Kahl (former sociology and psychology professor) on May 31, 2024

Charles “Charlie” Parker (former music adjunct professor) on May 12, 2024

NGU Community Mourns Passing of Longtime Influential Educator

A passionate teacher, devoted mother, and loving grandmother. That’s the way Dr. Mary Ann Solesbee is being remembered.

The first chair of North Greenville University’s Department of Education, Solesbee passed away on January 10 at the age of 75. Solesbee was serving as a professor in NGU’s Doctor of Education program, instructing future educators to foster a love of learning in their own students.

“So many of us adored her humble spirit and her passion for educators at all levels,” said NGU President Dr. Gene C. Fant, Jr. “Dr. Solesbee was committed to developing transformational leaders for church and society. Her enthusiasm and care for others will be deeply missed.”

Solesbee earned her Ph.D. from the University of South Carolina and dedicated her career to the field of education. She taught elementary school for many years in South Carolina, inspiring students with her love for history and storytelling.

“Dr. Mary Ann Solesbee greeted everyone with a warm smile and a vibrant energy for life,” said Dr. Constance Wright, Dean of NGU’s College of Education. “Her passion for learning and education inspired those around her, and as the founding dean of the College of Education, she laid the foundation for an education program that will continue shaping the lives of future educators for years to come. We are grateful for her visionary leadership and countless contributions, but even more so for the privilege of knowing her. She will be deeply missed.”

Solesbee was the author of the Sal and Amanda book series, which uses historical fiction to teach children about South Carolina’s rich history. In addition, she wrote “South Carolina Under Our Feet,” a first-grade Social Studies textbook that is used by tens of thousands of students across the state.

Solesbee created and directed a Teaching American History Grant for eight school districts in the Upstate and provided in-service teacher education both in the U.S. and abroad. She also played a pivotal role in the establishment of the South Carolina Governor’s School for Agriculture at John de la Howe.

“She was always pleasant and went out of her way to love on us and all those in education,” recalled Dr. Brian Spearman, who studied under Solesbee’s leadership and serves as a member of NGU’s Board of Trustees. “She would let us come talk to her about anything and she always had a smile on her face. She will be missed.”

Solesbee’s family said she will be remembered for her unwavering faith in Jesus, her extraordinary accomplishments, her love for her family, and her dedication to nurturing the next generation of learners.

Weddings

Kady Floyd (’18) to Tim Briscoe on March 9, 2024

Anne Zimmerman (’20) to Kaleb Cutshall on April 1, 2023

Mary Margaret Ellison (’22) to Cory Bowen (’19, MBA ’21) on June 8, 2024

Natalie Grace Hinson to Shane Martin Amerson (’24) on July 27, 2024

Class Notes

1948

Rev. Francis Taylor “Corky” Alewine was awarded the Distinguished Alumni of the Year Award at Homecoming 2024. Alewine’s career includes service as a chaplain in the U.S. Air Force, with military service stints in England, Japan, Louisiana, Korea, Maine, South Carolina, and Turkey. He also is a graduate of Furman University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and has served in the pastorate of several local churches, including Tigerville Baptist Church.

1957

Jean Brown McManus [and her husband Dr. William “Bill” McManus (’59)] was honored during Homecoming 2024 with the Distinguished Alumni Award.  Mrs. McManus finished her bachelor’s degree in biology and education at Furman University. She completed a master’s degree from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and a master’s degree from the University of Southern Mississippi. She taught at NGU for 23 years, including a full-time post in the biology department.

AlumniNotes

1959

Dr. William “Bill” McManus [and his wife Jean Brown McManus (’57)] was honored during Homecoming 2024 with the Distinguished Alumni Award. Dr. McManus served as a chaplain in the U.S. Navy for 25 years. He is former chair of NGU’s Psychology Department and a graduate of Furman University and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.

1978

teacher retention, and community building.

Jeremy Luther is the head basketball coach at Gardner Webb University. He is a former NGU assistant basketball coach.

2000

Chris Moody is a Fort Mill, SC, Town Councilman for Ward Four. He began his duties in January 2024 and his term will expire in January 2028.

2002

Signal’s sales strategy and operations. He has been part of US Signal since 2023 and has played a role in shaping the company’s sales approach and driving overall business growth as the senior vice president of sales.

Lonnie Wilkey who served in denominational journalism posts for 45 years, received the Paula and Ken Hemphill Denominational Leadership Award from North Greenville University during the Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting in Indianapolis. The Marietta, SC, native served as editor of the Baptist and Reflector, Tennessee Baptists’ news journal, for 27 years, after serving for 10 years as associate editor. He retired at the end of 2024. The Hemphill Award recognizes “servant leadership empowering Southern Baptists’ kingdom growth.” It is named in honor of noted Southern Baptist ministry leaders Paula and Ken Hemphill. With careers spanning global missions, local pastorates, a seminary presidency, and writing books on varied Christian topics, the Hemphills are engaged in developing resources that enhance strategic work in evangelism and church revitalization.

1999

Carrie Buchanan was named executive director of Learning Pathways at the William Randolph Campus for Asheville City Schools. She recently was honored as the district’s Principal of the Year for her work at Hall Flecther Elementary, where she served for five years. She has been recognized for success in improving student achievement,

Erin Pruitt Pearson (MBA ’07) is the client relations/business development manager at Willson, Jones, Carter, Baxley Law Firm.

2001

Corey Fountain is head football coach at Clinton High School in Clinton, SC. Corey marked his 100th career coaching victory with the Red Devils’ 35-8 win over Laurens District High School on August 30, 2024. The victory added to his impressive coaching record, which now stands at 100-27.

Corey joined Clinton High School in 2019 after a successful tenure at Lamar High School, where he served as head coach from 2014 to 2019, following two years as an assistant coach. His time at Lamar was marked by a string of winning seasons, guiding his teams to become Region and Upper State Champions in 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018. Under his leadership, Lamar’s 1-A team also clinched the 1A Division II State Championship titles in 2015 and 2017. Fountain’s coaching prowess has earned him multiple accolades, including Region Coach of the Year, SC High School Sports Report Regional Coach of the Year, Class A Upper State Coach of the Year, and SC High School League Coach of the Year. A graduate of Lamar High School, Coach Fountain’s coaching journey began as an assistant at Laurens High School and Hillcrest High School before he returned to Lamar. His record now includes a remarkable 58-10 mark at Lamar and a 42-17 record at Clinton.

Dawn Hooker began duties as the new principal at Alexander Elementary School in Greenville County. Before this appointment, she was the principal of East North Street Academy, where she worked for nine years. Under Hooker’s leadership, East North Street, which receives Title I funding, has performed well above schools of similar poverty levels. Dawn previously served as an assistant principal at Welcome Elementary with Greenville County Schools and at A.R. Lewis Elementary in Pickens County. She was also recognized as Teacher of the Year when teaching third grade at Powdersville Elementary.

2003

Jessica Atkins Pym [and husband Dr. Walter Pym (’03, MCM ’08, DMin ’15)] received the Alumni Service Award at Homecoming 2024. Jessica earned her bachelor’s degree in music education from NGU in 2005. She completed her master’s degree from Converse College in 2009, and an education specialist degree from the University of the Cumberlands in 2020. She has 19 years of teaching experience in the public school system and has served as fine arts coordinator for Barnwell County School District and head director for Barnwell County Bands. She is the current teacher of the year for Williston Elko High School.

2008

Dr. Walter Pym (MCM ’08, DMin ’15) [and his wife Jessica Atkins Pym (’05)] received the Alumni Service Award at Homecoming 2024. Walter is senior pastor of the First Baptist Church in Warrenville, SC, where he has served since 2022. His commitment to ministry extends beyond his pastoral duties as he has been an active member of NGU’s Christian Ministry Scholarship Fund, serving on the board as chair and chair-elect. He also has served in the roles of president and vice president of NGU’s Alumni Association. A threetime graduate of North Greenville University, Walter earned his bachelor’s degree in 2003, a master’s degree in 2008, and a Doctor of Ministry degree in 2015.

2005

Daniel Eskew was promoted to chief revenue officer at US Signal in Grand Rapids, MI. In his new role, Daniel is responsible for overseeing and directing US

Joshua Black (MCM ’14) was called as the associate pastor of students for First Baptist Church in Memphis, MO, in 2018. In 2021, Josh moved into the senior pastor role.

2009

Chasity Black (MEd ’12) is teaching first grade at Scotland County R-1 in Memphis, MO. She has recently been named the director of music at First Baptist Church in Memphis, MO.

2012

Jennifer Hatchel Stom was selected by the Spartanburg County Foundation as one of “Spartanburg’s finest.” She was recognized for her philanthropic work in collecting backpacks and school supplies annually and founding the girls walking club to mentor female students.

Rebekah Wright was promoted to chief operating officer of Springbrook Autism Behavioral Health, a renowned

AlumniNotes

autism-focused residential behavioral health center in Travelers Rest, SC, and the only servicedisabled veteran-owned small business psychiatric facility in the U.S. She will oversee facility operations and ensure optimal care and services for Springbrook’s patients. Rebekah joined Springbrook in 2013 and has provided oversight to multiple departments since then, including director of patient relations. In that role, she spearheaded performance improvement programs that have improved efficiency and quality of care. She was responsible for oversight of more than 100 employees in five adolescent autism units and the risk and quality department for more than six years. Wright holds a master’s degree in health administration from Louisiana State University-Shreveport and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from NGU. As COO, Rebekah will also ensure that therapists and support personnel are fully supported and equipped with the resources they require to meet the standards of care provided by Springbrook.

2013

Information Officer for Henderson County Public Schools.

Jodi Pierce (MBA ’13) serves as a director of media buying at PC Matic, a cybersecurity solutions provider.

2014

Chelsea Bailey Engle graduated in August 2024 from Belmont Abbey College with a Master of Business Administration degree with a concentration in marketing.

2015

Kimbrell Arrowood was appointed to the Henderson County Education Foundation’s Board of Directors for the 2024-25 fiscal year. Kimbrell is a native of Henderson County, NC and a graduate of East Henderson High School. For the past two years, she has been the Public

John Hughes (MBA) was promoted to business intelligence platform manager with T&S Brass and Bronze Works, a foodservice and commercial plumbing products manufacturer. He will oversee the maintenance and development of T&S’ business intelligence utility. His responsibilities extend to managing front-end interface reporting and development, as well as overseeing the intricacies of the back-end infrastructure, including data readers, procedures, relationships and data modeling. He has been with the company for more than 11 years and has served as an analyst in the accounting and finance department and business analytics manager.

Dakota McElhinny is the secretary for the South Carolina Writers Association. He has served in the position since March of 2024.

SC. She is a national certified counselor through the National Board for Certified Counselors. She also serves within the music ministry at her local church.

2017

Justin Heisey joined The Salvation Army of Greenville as special events and volunteer manager. He oversees the development and implementation of fundraising events to benefit The Salvation Army’s mission work in the community. He also recruits and coordinates volunteer efforts for the organization, including supporting the Red Kettle Impact Campaign and Angel Tree program. Justin served as special events manager for the municipalities of Fountain Inn and Laurens, and as youth minister for several area churches.

Anne Zimmerman Cutshall started a career as a social worker in foster care for the Department of Social Services.

2022

Jacob Kern is a paid media specialist for Ramsey Solutions.

Tiffany Norris was named to Greenville Business Magazine’s Best and Brightest for 2024. Tiffany is owner of Adrenaline Dance Fitness in Greenville, SC.

Rebbeca Stone-Hawkins is working as a real estate agent at Coastal Properties in Hilton Head, SC.

2016

Sam Houston (MEd ’18) is the head varsity football coach at Easley High School in Easley, SC.

Israel Reeves was promoted to controller at the South Carolina Bankers Association.

2019

Elizabeth Varn worked at Walt Disney World through the Disney College Program after graduation. She was a Disney cast member in Epcot, Magic Kingdom, and Blizzard Beach. She obtained her master’s degree in school counseling at Liberty University and is the current elementary school counselor at Hendersonville Elementary School in Walterboro,

Braxton Edwards was selected as the new senior pastor at Walterboro First Baptist Church in Walterboro, SC. Braxton was the church’s NextGen Pastor for three years and officially took over his senior pastor duties in July.

2020

Jeremiah Bogan was hired as a scouting assistant with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was the director of player personnel at the University of Connecticut. Bogan spent last year at Louisiana State University in the scouting department.

Dr. Carlos Littlejohn (EdD ’22) was recently promoted to director of pupil services at Laurens County School District 55 beginning with the academic year 2024-25. His duties include overseeing attendance/truancy, discipline, expulsion hearings, and mental health services. He will directly support LCSD 55 mental health counselors, nurses, and guidance counselors. Carlos served as Laurens Elementary School (LES) Principal from 20212024. As the principal, he led the instruction and operations at LES. He is also currently an adjunct professor at Lander University.

Dr. John Mauldin (EdD ’22) is the principal at Tryon Elementary School in Tryon, NC.

John previously served as an assistant principal at The Cleveland Academy of Leadership in Spartanburg School District Seven, a role he had held since 2019. He spent more than a decade in the classroom as a teacher prior to moving into administration.

Braden Shulfer (MBA ’24) is a human resources associate and junior recruiter for Bunnell Lammons Engineering.

Kasie Thomas was presented with NGU’s Young Alumni of the Year Award at Homecoming 2024. Thomas is a weekend sports anchor and reporter for WLBT-TV (NBC) in Jackson, Mississippi. She has received several broadcast awards in her brief professional career and was recently named Sports Anchor of the Year by the Mississippi Association of Broadcasters. She was a standout studentathlete during her time at NGU and represented the university at various events during her term as Miss NGU.

AlumniNotes

2023

Kipper Ackerman (MMEd.) was named assistant director of admissions for fine arts and choir director at Presbyterian College. Kipper, a seasoned musician and music educator with more than 25 years of professional experience, began her new position on Aug. 1.

CampusNotes

persecuted church to survive and thrive.” The organization ministers to persecuted Christians in 10 nations around the world.

Justin Brown is a reporter for WTVM, a CBS affiliate in Columbus, GA. During his time at NGU, he developed an interest and passion for storytelling and was the Station Manager for NGU’s Vision TV. Throughout his senior year, he worked for WSPA 7News in Spartanburg, SC, as a news intern. Justin started with WTVM in summer of 2023 as the east Alabama reporter.

Sarah-Parker Martin works for Barter Theatre in Abingdon, VA.

2024

Shane Martin Amerson is a staff accountant with Greene, Finney, Cauley LLP in Mauldin, SC.

Marek Chlup played his second season with the Lake Country DockHounds. The Lake Country DockHounds are Wisconsin’s newest professional baseball team located in the lake country area. They are a member of the American Association of Professional Baseball, the Premier MLB Partner League.

Dr. Marti Glass, director, Adult and Professional Studies, was selected to participate in the Greer Chamber’s 45th Leadership Greer class. Participants will take part in a nine-month leadershipdevelopment program exploring various topics and completing a philanthropic project together.

Dr. David Entwistle, distinguished professor of psychology, was elected vice chair of the Board of Directors of Christian Freedom International.

Will Lowrey Named NGU Athletics Director

Will Lowrey was named Director of Athletics at NGU last summer.

Dr. Nathan Finn, executive director, Institute for Faith and Culture, was reelected recording secretary for the Southern Baptist Convention at the Annual Meeting in Indianapolis last summer.

Dr. Shannon Dobson, department chair of psychology, was elected to the Board of Directors for Canterbury Counseling Center, a Christian counseling practice located in downtown Greenville adjacent to Christ Church.

Lowrey moved to NGU from Blue Mountain Christian University, where he had served as Athletic Director since June 2018.

Jacob Johnson adjunct instructor of guitar, garnered recognition as the Don Gibson Songwriter Award Grand Prize Winner, Nashville Connection Songwriter of the Year, and a Finalist for the Freshgrass No Depression Songwriter Award. His ability to craft captivating and heartfelt songs has earned him performances at prestigious music festivals such as the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival in New York, the Walnut Valley Festival in Kansas, the Wildflower Music Festival in Texas, and countless others. He released an album titled “Surviving The Dream” in October. It is streaming on all platforms.

In October, Dr. Paul Thompson dean, College of Humanities and Sciences, presented a paper at the biennial meeting of the Conference on Faith and History titled “Transhistorical uses of Ethnoracial Discourse by Christians on the Margins.” Thompson was also elected chair of the Board of Directors of Christian Freedom International, an international organization committed to “Unshackling the

Dr. Nicholas Higgins, department chair of political science, criminal justice, and legal studies, gave a research presentation at the Intercollegiate Studies Institute American Government Summit in Wilmington, DE, in the fall. Higgins presented a paper titled “Undermining Obligation to God: John Locke on Property, Inheritance, and Honoring God.”

Dr. Rachel Roberts, department chair of English, presented a paper titled “‘Many Excellent Books’: Reading and Study in Hester Pulter’s The Unfortunate Florinda” at the 81st Annual Meeting of the Southeastern Renaissance Conference.

In his role with NGU, Lowrey provides oversight for the university’s NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletic program, which includes 20 varsity sports teams, with 575 studentathletes. He fills the post of longtime NGU coach and administrator Jan McDonald, who had served as Director of Athletics for more than three decades.

“We are excited about Will continuing to build on the strengths of our athletic programs,” said NGU President Dr. Gene C. Fant, Jr. “He is stepping into a critical position in working with our coaches and the broader campus community. Will has repeatedly demonstrated a commitment to honor God in his leadership, building relationships and creating opportunities for studentathletes and their coaches to excel in all areas of life.”

Dr. John Duncan, dean of College of Business and Entrepreneurship, received the Barnabas Award at the Christian Business Faculty Association’s annual conference in November. This award recognizes individuals who have served CBFA by “serving and participating joyfully and enthusiastically and contributing to CBFA’s effectiveness.”

Lowrey had directed a program with 18 varsity sports at Blue Mountain Christian, a private university affiliated with the Mississippi Baptist Convention. Before joining Blue Mountain Christian, he was head baseball coach and director of development at Tupelo Christian Preparatory School in Tupelo, MS, for eight years.

NGU Partners with AuSable Institute

North Greenville University is now partnering with the AuSable Institute to offer students the opportunity to take environmental field classes taught by experts in their disciplines.

Dr. Nathan Reed, who taught in the AuSable Pacific Rim Summer Session in Washington state, said the partnership with the Christian environmental organization is an important one.

“The classes focus on practical applications of learning in diverse sites,” Reed said. “For instance, they can learn about marine ecosystems on the shorelines of the Pacific Northwest, study ecology in the forests and streams of northern Michigan or discuss tropical development in the mountains of Costa Rica. AuSable provides an opportunity that most small, Christian universities would not be able to fulfill.”

“This is a high-quality program that offers highly motivated students the opportunity to study our environment with Christian educators in locations that NGU alone could not expose them to,” added Dr. Paul Thompson, Dean of NGU’s College of Humanities and Sciences.

“I appreciate the work that Academic Records, the Office of Academic Administration, and the university counsel did to set up this agreement, and Dr. Reed for maintaining this relationship through teaching for AuSable and being our liaison with AuSable.”

Reed said the curriculum is taught through a biblical perspective and encourages students to consider their stewardship mandate.

“Each professor emphasizes the integration of their discipline into a biblical worldview,” Reed said. “Our students are challenged to think through creation care applications to both people and environment. I am always encouraged and motivated by the AuSable community as members of various institutions unite to fulfill our stewardship mandate.”

Billy Watson’s Service Honored With Street Naming

North Greenville University recently changed the name of Crusader Court Road to JW Watson Way, honoring the legacy of one of its longestserving leaders.

NGU President Gene C. Fant, Jr. presented Billy Watson with a resolution from the Board of Trustees recognizing the change. The resolution cited Watson’s ongoing legacy of selflessness, faithfulness and effectiveness.

“Billy’s demonstration of Christ-like servant leadership has been an inspiration for decades throughout the university’s community,” the resolution reads.

Watson expressed appreciation for the honor.

“This is where my children grew up,” he said. “This is

CampusNotes

where I raised a family, and I couldn’t think of a better place to work and serve. I hope that I have done a good job. I’ve tried

Walden Named VP for NGU Campus Enhancement Services

NGU has named Kyle Walden as the institution’s Vice President for Campus Enhancement Services. Walden has worked at NGU since 2010.

As head of Campus Enhancement Services, Walden provides direct management of the division which provides maintenance, construction, transportation and special projects oversight for university campuses in Tigerville and Greer. He also coordinates landscaping and housekeeping services for NGU through the university’s partnership with The Budd Group.

“Kyle Walden has been a valued member of our community for nearly 15 years. We are pleased to have him in this critical leadership role,” said NGU President Dr. Gene C. Fant, Jr. “Our CES team is known for dedication to NGU’s Christcentered mission and Kyle will

guide the team in building on that reputation.”

Walden was a member of the NGU soccer team while pursuing a bachelor’s degree in sport management. He graduated in 2009 and completed a Master of Business Administration degree from NGU in 2012. He began a five-year tenure with NGU Athletics in 2010, serving as assistant varsity soccer coach and head junior varsity coach. His tenure with Campus Enhancement Services began as a groundskeeper in 2013. He moved to a maintenance/ carpenter role in 2016. He was promoted to director of transportation and special projects in 2023.

“It is a privilege to serve at North Greenville as the Vice President for Campus Enhancement Services, and to be afforded the opportunity to further invest back into the institution that has been such an influence on my life,” said Walden. “North Greenville

my best to serve the students well even during the tough times. It’s a special honor and it means an awful lot.”

provides an education and an experience that stands on biblical truths and strives to foster transformational leaders for both church and society. It is an honor to play a part in achieving this mission, and I look forward to what the future holds.”

In his vice president post, Walden directs a team of more than 35 university staff and has direct involvement in planning and execution of NGU building projects, including communication with contractors and government entities.

“Kyle has a wealth of experience that will serve his team and his alma mater well,” said Rich Grimm, NGU Executive Vice President. “We’re grateful for this fresh calling on his life and look forward to serving alongside him in this key role.”

Walden is a native of Hendersonville, NC. He and his wife, Miranda, have a two-yearold daughter, Lillian. They attend Biltmore Church.

CampusNotes

NGU Students Excel During Study Abroad Program

A group of students from North Greenville University’s College of Business and Entrepreneurship (COBE) traveled to Ireland and Portugal last summer to participate in a Study Abroad experience.

The team, consisting of nine students, explored cultures, learned from professionals in various fields, and put their skills to the test in the European Innovatioin Academy.

“The students came away with an appreciation for different cultures and a desire to continue learning,” said Dr. Robert Hucks, department chair of management and marketing at NGU. “They also see innovation differently and how it fits so well with our biblical mandate.”

This is the second Study Abroad trip of its kind, as NGU took five students to Portugal in 2023.

“We are committed to making these life-changing experiences accessible to all NGU students,” Hucks said. “With continued support, we can empower the next generation of leaders to embrace challenges, broaden their horizons, and make a lasting impact on the world.”

The group’s journey started in Dublin, Ireland with a tour of several landmarks and a meeting with the leadership of Trinity College Dublin School of Business Innovation Lab. From there, the group traveled through Lisbon, ultimately stopping at the University of Porto for three weeks in the European Innovation Academy program.

“There were students from more than 25 countries and more than 100 universities, many ranking in the top 100 business schools in the world,” Hucks said. “It was an amazing experience learning from professionals in the various fields, faculty, mentors and each other. I am not sure that I could have been prouder of our students’ overall performance.”

Hucks said one of NGU’s team members received special recognition.

“Julia Babun was on the team that won the Ed Quinones Spark Award. It is given to a team that demonstrates that their business is patentable and shows they work well as a team and their idea solves a real problem. This award is well-recognized as the top award. It is presented last and carries the highest monetary value.”

NGU students competed alongside students from Spain, Portugal, Ghana, Canada, Finland, and the United Kingdom.

NGU students participating included Baburn, Maxwell Bobo, Kayla Harris, Camden Howell, Rachel Murray, Rebecca Nicholson, Ethan Sterling, Hannah Thomas, and Pate West.

Jack Miller Center to Offer Civics Course for Educators

For the second year in a row, NGU teamed up with the Jack Miller Center to offer a summer civics course for local high school educators.

The initiative was designed to deepen knowledge and understanding of foundational US principals and ideas among high school educators. The course, which is funded by the Jack Miller Center, was taught by Dr. Nicholas Higgins, department chair of NGU’s department of political science, criminal justice and legal studies. Sessions were at the university’s Tim Brashier Campus in Greer.

“The Jack Miller Institute has been a very professional organization to work with,” said Dr. Paul Thompson, Dean of NGU’s College of Humanities and Science. “We could not have done it without their assistance. This is the second year we offered this course, and our enrollment doubled.”

Higgins said the 2024 course was structured around various foundational American documents.

“We seek to identify and discuss what are some foundational principles and ideas that help us as Americans. We ensured that the S.C. Standards, which requires high school teachers to teach federalist papers, Declaration of Independence, civil rights speeches and other documents, are covered,” he said.

Higgins said the effort is an important one for NGU. “This is vital for NGU as it positions us, not only as a place that educates teachers with their degree, but that continues to provide them resources that assist their careers,” he said. “I hope that we can continue to build relationships with local teachers. Most comment that this course is like the best of their college experiences, all the reading, discussing, and thinking.

“The topic itself is so vital as it helps promote in South Carolina the clear civic standards that were recently passed into law,” Higgins continued. “It equipes teachers with content knowledge necessary for them to teach well.”

Always a Trailblazer

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Find out where our graduates are serving and what’s possible with a degree from North Greenville University

Dr. Cheryl Collier Episode 9

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