Gardner-Webb Alumni

08/24/2026

Join us for Lunch on Saturday, August 29 at 12:30pm in the Caf! Register here - https://host.nxt.blackbaud.com/registration-form/?formId=359c95bd-699c-42d3-9a7f-d69d916f5ef9&envId=p-Z2OwMz9QU0--JHjA6rl2VA&zone=usa

08/21/2026

Register Here! https://host.nxt.blackbaud.com/registration-form/?formId=359c95bd-699c-42d3-9a7f-d69d916f5ef9&envId=p-Z2OwMz9QU0--JHjA6rl2VA&zone=usa&bbeml=tp-Z2OwMz9QU0--JHjA6rl2VA.jPT92jwBIJ0qHmZZdjmY9PQ.rXqeybMUV0Eq8amuDj97v6g.lSc07lClXVEyw1wA5ZKxuXw

08/21/2026

08/20/2026

There’s just something special about the first day of classes! ❤️🐾

Yesterday, our campus was full of excitement as we welcomed students back for a new academic year. We loved getting to spend a few moments at the Coffee & Connections tent—sharing a cup of coffee, a few smiles, and plenty of Bulldog spirit!

Here’s to a great year ahead, Dawgs! ‘Sko Dawgs! ❤️

08/17/2026

After our most recent alumni newsletter, I received this beautiful note from Gerrie Ward Blackwelder ’75. More than 50 years after she first arrived on campus, her memories are a reminder that while so much may change, the heart of the Gardner-Webb experience remains—the people who welcome us, invest in us, and help make this place feel like home.

As we welcome a new generation of Runnin’ Bulldogs, I couldn’t help but share her words:

"What a beautifully expressed anticipation of hope and desire for the incoming students. Your words reminded me of my own excitement and wonder in 1971! In that year, my mother was fighting a fierce battle against cancer, my father kept his car full of gas, believing that his shy daughter could call at any minute crying to come home.

"Nothing was further from the truth. GWC exceeded in every way making me welcome, giving me opportunities to serve and be involved. The faculty were tremendous assets as teachers, but became family, as well.

"I will pray diligently for the students of GWU, as I know that so many did for my class and myself, so very long ago."

— Gerrie Ward Blackwelder ’75

More than 50 years later, the prayers continue. ❤️🖤

That is one of the beautiful things about being part of the Gardner-Webb family. Generations may change, but the love for this place—and the people who call it home—continues.

08/14/2026

Are you interested in learning more about the Social Media GWU Searight PACE Program? Check out the latest podcast with more details!!

In the season premiere, host Noel T. Manning II welcomes Gardner-We...

08/03/2026

🎙️ Some stories are too big for the page.

Go Beyond the Pages, the official audio companion to Gardner-Webb Magazine, where the stories continue through conversations with the people who lived them.

In this episode, 1992 Gardner-Webb alumna Kim Ballard reflects on her remarkable career in broadcast journalism, sharing how her time at Gardner-Webb shaped her passion for storytelling and prepared her to lead one of North Carolina's most respected local newsrooms. A two-time Regional Emmy Award recipient and Regional Edward R. Murrow Award winner, Kim offers insight on leadership, resilience, and the importance of trustworthy local journalism.

🎧 Listen now and be inspired by a fellow Bulldog's journey.

Special thanks to Noel T. Manning II for providing the voiceover for this episode.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5QEIkBPgHWstYj8Qje5bMR?si=9eIxEmU2QVOuVQV6dU8ZhQ&nd=1&dlsi=3cc7ebd4f5d54e73

Gardner-Webb University: Podcast Network · Episode

07/29/2026

Finding purpose through storytelling.

For 2020 Gardner-Webb alumna Shelby Putnam, a chance discovery about her grandfather's connection to Gardner-Webb led to a life-changing journey. Today, as Director of Marketing & Public Relations for the historic Carolina Theatre in Greensboro, Shelby is preserving history while connecting people through the power of storytelling.

Shelby credits Gardner-Webb's liberal arts education, supportive faculty, and leadership opportunities for preparing her to think creatively, serve others, and make a lasting impact.

We're proud to celebrate Shelby and all she's accomplishing!

07/13/2026

From the classrooms of Gardner-Webb to inspiring lives through faith and purpose, 2015 alumna Katelyn Shepherd Williams continues to make a lasting impact.

In a recent visit to campus, Katelyn shared her powerful testimony of trusting God's plan through grief, the lessons she learned during her time at Gardner-Webb, and how those experiences have shaped her calling as a school counselor, author, and follower of Christ.

We're proud to celebrate alumni like Katelyn whose lives reflect the Christ-centered mission of Gardner-Webb and inspire future generations of Bulldogs.

In the face of deep loss, Katelyn Shepherd Williams, a 2015 alumna of Gardner-Webb University, has learned to trust God with her story.