Courtesy of the Gardner-Webb University Office of Communication & Media Relations
Boards on Display on Sept. 27-Oct. 4 on the Third Floor of Tucker Student Center; Vote for People’s Choice
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—An important aspect of Gardner-Webb’s University 111 program is to help first-year students build relationships and develop a sense of community. This year, Director of Success Initiatives and First-Year Experience Kara Alves introduced a friendly competition to foster unity. She challenged the 21 classes to create a Spirit Board that represents the essence of Gardner-Webb.
While working on the project, students get to know each other and learn about campus resources, such as where to find and how to access the printers in Tucker Student Center and Dover Library. They also hear about the library’s 3D printing lab and fiber corner that has knitting and crocheting supplies. They discover materials available from the Student Engagement Office.
Each class received a board and $30 to spend on decorations. The boards will be displayed on the Third Floor of Tucker Student Center, beginning Sept. 27 and will remain there until Oct. 4. Everyone is invited to come and view the boards and vote for their favorite. Two awards will be given: one for People’s Choice and the other winner will be selected by a panel of judges, including GWU president Dr. William Downs, Vice President and Director of Athletics Dr. Andrew T. Goodrich, Vice President and University Chaplain for Christian Life and Service Dr. Josh Parrott, and Vice President for Student Development and Dean of Students Lesley Villarose.
Alves further explained the concept, “Each UNIV 111 class will have different ideas of versions of the board, but spirit boards will offer a means for first-year students to creatively showcase all that Gardner-Webb encompasses, while still exploring its rich history and vast array of resources. The goal is to build school spirit in the classroom setting and create a unique tradition for years to come.”
Her class of 23 students decided to showcase the diversity on the Gardner-Webb campus by decorating rectangles that represented their individual interests or backgrounds. Phinnell Marshall, of Charlotte, N.C., plays right tackle on the GWU football team, and he is a psychology major. His block is decorated with five footballs, and one of them has his initial, “P.” Marshall explained, “You know, most teams have their logo on the football, and I wanted to put a brand on it. Then, I have a lot of crosses, a lot of Jesus’ quotes, because I’m a heavy believer in my father, God. I have a lion on there, because I went to West Charlotte High School, the lions, and that is a part of me.”
Jon Garrett, a computer science major, is a member of the track and field team and competes in the discus and hammer throw. At his high school in Charleston, S.C., he was on the wrestling team for five years and sang in the chorus for three years. He drew a picture of himself in a wrestling uniform and also included music notes in his section. He also included crabs, a boat, seagulls, a mountain and paint. “I’m from the south. I like all seafood, and I’ve lived by the beach my whole life. The water is a big part of my life. I’m scared of heights, but I’ve jumped off cliffs into the water,” he added. “The paint expresses creativity. I’m not necessarily an artist, but I do scribble a little like my dad.”
Nursing major Janiya Taylor, of Gastonia, N.C., decorated her block with flowers, an inspirational quote and two other pictures that represent her personality and faith. Taylor related. “I have Mary the mother of Jesus, because I am a Christian, and I always put God and Jesus first.”
The UNIV 111 class taught by Benjamin Flournoy took a slightly different approach to the project. Flournoy is the coordinator of the Learning Resource Center. Their board is painted red, black and white and the three sections highlight the main characteristics of Gardner-Webb’s campus community. Class member Lauren Spainhower, an exercise science major and member of the softball team, explained, “We are doing one of the sections for student life, like athletes or different clubs and organizations. The middle one will represent our religion here, so we have the cross and our school seal, and then in the third we have the bulldog. I think we’re also going to make it personal with some photos of us and maybe our names or signatures.”
Spainhower and her classmate, Noah Cole, said the class brainstormed to come up with the idea. Cole, of Jacksonville, Fla., is on the football team. “We’re all, everyone in this class is kind of competitive, so we have to win this contest,” Cole asserted.
He has discovered that the most unique aspect of Gardner-Webb is how kind everyone is to each other. Hopefully, the section of their board filled with pictures of smiling students will capture that characteristic. “Everyone wants to help you out, and everyone has been super nice and helpful,” Cole observed. “It’s been a great experience.”
About UNIV 111
University 111 is a class that all first-year students are required to take that helps with the transition to university life, establish community, and develop skills to succeed in life after GWU. Students connect with the Gardner-Webb community, campus resources, and engage in opportunities that grow them academically, socially, and spiritually. Students also participate in a service-learning opportunity.
About Gardner-Webb
Gardner-Webb University is North Carolina’s recognized leader in private, Christian higher education. A Carnegie-Classified Doctoral/Professional University, GWU is home to nine colleges and schools, more than 80 undergraduate and graduate majors, and a world-class faculty. Located on a beautiful 225-acre campus in Boiling Springs, N.C., Gardner-Webb prepares graduates to impact their chosen professions, equips them with the skills to advance the frontiers of knowledge, and inspires them to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of others. Ignite your future at Gardner-Webb.edu.