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Tigerville, SC—91������Alumnus and best-selling author Dr. Jason Young will address graduates at 91������’s fall commencement ceremony on Friday, Dec. 13.

Young has a wealth of ministry experience, having served on staff at several churches including First Baptist Church Woodstock and North Point Ministries.��

He is the author of six books, a trusted executive coach, and a consultant for organizations like Chick-fil-A, Delta Airlines, Google, Christ Fellowship, Willow Creek Community Church, and many others.

Jason is a two-time graduate of 91������ earning his bachelor’s and doctoral degrees.

NGU’s fall commencement will take place in Turner Chapel at 6 p.m. Doors will open at 5 p.m. Tickets are not required, and seating is on a first come, first serve basis.

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Tigerville, SC—91������ has renamed a road on its Tigerville campus after one of its longest-standing leaders.����

Joined by a group of 91������faculty and staff members on Tuesday morning, the university’s executive leadership recognized Billy Watson, senior associate vice president for Tigerville operations, with the surprise unveiling of new on-campus road signage, renaming Crusader Court Road to JW Watson Way.����

The road serves as the entrance to Trailblazer Park, which was formerly known as Crusader Court.��

91������President Gene C. Fant, Jr. presented 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 was recommended for the honor by 91������Campus Ministries and Student Engagement (CMSE).��

“CMSE is so grateful for Billy Watson,” said CMSE Vice President Dr. Jared Thomas. “Through the years we have worked alongside him on many initiatives where we have seen a consistent love and care for the 91������community. Billy has had a direct impact on generations of students and invested greatly in many of our current staff members. I personally would not be the man I am if it were not, in part, for the investment of Billy Watson. It is hard to think of 91������and not think about Billy’s years of faithful service.”��

Watson was joined at the ceremony by his wife, Angie, and son, John Michael. Billy Watson, Jr., who serves at Shorter University, joined virtually.����

“This is where my children grew up,” Watson said. “This is 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 my best to serve the students well even during the tough times. It’s a special honor and it means an awful lot.”��

Watson’s sons expressed appreciation for the honor.����

“Seeing this road named after him is really special to me,” John Michael said. “It really speaks to all his hard work paying off.”��

“North Greenville means more to our family than they will ever knowknow, and it is a special day for us to see him be honored in such a permanent way,” added Billy Watson, Jr.�� “Dad has been at 91������long enough to have his first students bring their kids as students. Now, when they bring their kids and grandkids to live in Trailblazer Park, they will be able to share stories of his impact and how special of a person he is.”��

Angie said her husband’s commitment to the university comes from his commitment to his faith.����

“He’s dedicated a lot of his life to doing the Lord’s work at North Greenville,” Angie said. “Many years ago, we talked about going on the mission field and someone told us that this was our mission field. We looked at that and decided that we were in the right placeplace, and we could do the Lord’s work here.”��

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Tigerville, SC–South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (SCICU) recently named 91������ (NGU) senior Karah Barry the 2024 McLean-Smith SCICU Student of the Year.

Honoring the combined legacies of leadership at SCICU and the S.C. Tuition Grants Commission, the award recognizes academic achievement and campus/community involvement of S.C. Tuition Grants recipients. The award includes a $3,000 scholarship.

Barry, who is double majoring in criminal justice and psychology at NGU, expressed her gratitude for the S.C. Tuition Grant.

“The grant allows me to focus more on my education, extracurricular activities, and future plans, rather than worrying about finances,” she said.

Maintaining a 4.0 GPA each semester, Barry has also made a significant impact in the through student leadership roles.

She serves as the president of the Criminal Justice and Legal Studies National Honor Society, a first-year experience mentor, and assists students struggling with academics as a tutor/member of the Writing Lab.

Barry is also involved in her community. She spends time volunteering with Wren Hospice in Greenville, helping elementary students grow in their faith at the Children of Mary Religion Camp, doing local litter pickups, and working with Friends of the Reedy River.

Following graduation, Barry plans to attend law school with the long-term goal of becoming an attorney and advocating for marginalized populations and promoting justice within the legal field.

“SCICU is proud to honor Karah with the Student of the Year scholarship,” said Emma Reabold, SCICU vice president for development and campus services. “Her academic achievements and leadership in the community are an inspiration to all of us and demonstrate the superior preparation students receive at North Greenville and all SCICU member institutions.”

Each year, the McLean-Smith SCICU Student of the Year scholarship recipient is selected from rising junior or senior applicants attending one of SCICU’s 21 member colleges and universities. All applicants must also be S.C. Tuition Grant recipients.

Tigerville, SC —91������ will recognize six alumni for their outstanding achievements this week in Tigerville.��

NGU’s annual alumni awards celebration is set for Friday, Oct. 18, at 6:30 p.m. in the Edna Hartness Presidential Dining Room. ��

Rev. Francis Taylor “Corky” Alewine ’48, Dr. William “Bill” McManus ’59, and Mrs. Jean Brown McManus ’57 will be honored with NGU’s Distinguished Alumni Award. ��

Alewine’s career includes service as a chaplain in the United States Air Force, with military service stints in England, Japan, Louisiana, Korea, Maine, South Carolina, and Turkey. He also is a graduate of Furman and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and has served in the pastorate of several local churches, including Tigerville Baptist Church.��

Dr. William G. McManus, Jr., Class of 1959, 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.����

Mrs. Jean Brown McManus, Class of 1957, finished her bachelor’s degree in biology and education at Furman. 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 91������for 23 years, including a full-time post in the biology department.��

Kasie Thomas, Class of 2022, will be presented with NGU’s Young Alumni of the Year award. 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 student-athlete during her time at 91������and represented the university at various events during her term as Miss NGU.��

Receiving Alumni Service Awards are Dr. Walter Pym, Class of 2003, and Jessica Atkins Pym, Class of 2005. Walter is senior pastor of the First Baptist Church ofin 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 three-time graduate of 91������, Walter earned his bachelor’s degree in 2003, a master’s degree in 2008, and a Doctor of Ministry degree in 2015. ��

Jessica Pym earned her bachelor’s degree in music education from 91������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. ����

With more than 24,000 alumni serving across the United States and around the globe, 91������is committed to equipping transformational leaders for church and society.��

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91������ resumes in-person on campus instruction on Monday, October 7, on both the Tigerville campus and the Tim Brashier Campus in Greer. We are grateful for the work of many members of the 91������community who have worked to restore services, clear storm debris, and provide for full campus capabilities. Please see the information below regarding 91������operations this coming week.��

ACADEMIC PROGRAMS��

Traditional classes which meet on the Tigerville campus resume with 8 a.m. classes on Monday, October 7. Fully online undergraduate and graduate programs are continuing in their normal fashion and the Physician Assistant (PA) program will resume instruction on Monday morning. 91������faculty will work with students regarding any storm-related issues which affect their ability to reach campus or complete course requirements.����

SAFETY & SECURITY/LiveSafe App��

Main roads leading to campus are accessible at this time; however, there are still many downed trees, limbs and power lines in the broader region which may be blocking secondary roads and/or partially blocking highways. Please anticipate temporary closures or delays due to utility repairs and/or debris removal from the roads. Please use caution when driving. We strongly encourage traveling during daylight hours if possible.��

For real-time information on area and regional roadways, students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to visit these transportation websites:��

• ��

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Access to campus entrances and buildings will return to normal operational hours at 7 a.m. on Monday morning. Note: Tigerville campus entry gates will close at 8 p.m. Sunday (Oct. 6) evening, except for the Taylor Street entry from Chinquapin Road. Continue to use the LiveSafe app for any safety and security needs as well as for any unlock requests upon your return to campus��

ADMISSIONS��

NGU’s Office of Admissions is fully operational and is available to host prospective students and guests for daily campus visits. Admissions team members continue to work with prospective students for the spring semester and those enrolling in the fall of 2025. ��Staff are working to encourage students affected by Tropical Storm Helene to not be stressed regarding the admissions process, as the team will work individually with each student exploring NGU. Questions regarding visits or admissions-related items can be emailed to admissions@ngu.edu. ��

HOUSING/STUDENT ENGAGEMENT��

Residential students who departed campus due to the storm are free to return at any time. Please note that there will be limited services until Monday.��

91������Chapel will resume at 10 a.m. Monday. Information on service opportunities and scheduled campus prayer gatherings will be shared at that time.��

Residence Life will host mandatory hall meetings on Monday, October 7, at 10 p.m. for all residential students. Residential students should refer to their resident area “Group Me” for specific meeting information.��

Campus Ministries and Student Engagement, along with the rest of the 91������community, are available for students. We know that many have been directly impacted by Helene and are still navigating the aftermath. If you are experiencing any struggles – physical, emotional, spiritual, or academic – that might impact your ability to be successful in your returning to campus, CMSE staff desire to be of assistance. As you prepare to return to campus, if you are facing a need, please do not hesitate to let us know. You can email Dr. Jared Thomas, vice president for campus ministries and student engagement, at jared.thomas@ngu.edu. He will work to connect you with appropriate 91������resources. ��

DINING SERVICES��

For Sunday, October 6:��

• The 1892 Place will be open on Sunday from 1 p.m.-11 p.m.��

• Todd Dining Hall will reopen for Dinner on Sunday, serving from 5 p.m.-8 p.m.
  

All Dining Service locations will operate on normal hours starting Monday, October 7.��

ATHLETICS��

91������athletic teams will operate on their normal schedules, as set with coaches. Competitions have resumed following scheduled dates and times; details may be found at . ��

PERSONNEL ��

91������staff and faculty are asked to report as they are able. Any personnel with questions about specific circumstances are encouraged to reach out to their supervisors before the opening of offices on Monday. Supervisors will coordinate with all employees to determine appropriate work schedules as needed.��

MAIL SERVICES / CAMPUS STORE��

Wood’s General Store will be open from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. beginning Monday, October 7. Mail Services staff expect to have all mail and package deliveries processed and completed by 2 p.m. on Monday.��

GAS STATION��

The university gas station at Wood’s General Store is operational with all grades available.����

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES��

91������technology services continue to gradually improve as the larger network systems allow. You may experience unexpected interruptions with Internet and\or cellular service.  These interruptions are probably due to restoration work in the region, which should lessen over time.��

Here are tips for when you return to campus:��

• Reboot all devices before logging on to the campus network.��

• When accessing Blackboard (and other services using Single Sign-On), please select the “Legacy” option.��

• If you experience connectivity issues, first try rebooting your device.����

• Restarts may be necessary for cell phones as well.
  

If you encounter issues, please send an email to the IT Services Helpdesk: its.helpdesk@ngu.edu  If you open a ticket, please be sure to include a good call-back number to help support staff reach you.��

DISPOSING OF PERISHABLE ITEMS��

Faculty and Staff: Many perishable goods were lost over the past 10 days, and there will be numerous items that need to be thrown away. Campus Enhancement Services asks that you bag together as many of the items as possible when disposing of them and please put them in the large trash cans or dumpsters close to your buildings. If your building does not have either of these, please reach out to CES and a container will be delivered to your building for waste disposal. Please do not throw away individual food items without bagging, as this can create spills which are difficult to clean up.����

Students returning to campus: Many perishable goods were lost over the past 10 days, so there will be numerous items that need to be thrown away. Campus Enhancement Services asks that you bag together as many of these items as possible when disposing of them and place them in the large trash cans or dumpsters near your campus housing.��

REPORTING MAINTENANCE ISSUES��

CES, The Budd Group, and others have worked steadily to clean up the campus from the effects of Tropical Storm Helene. CES and CMSE personnel have been in buildings to assess damage from the storm and have been working as quickly as possible, prioritizing their efforts by level of damage.����

Students who become aware of any concerns with their residence facilities should follow normal procedures and contact their SLT representatives instead of contacting Campus Enhancement Services directly. Adhering to this standard practice will help streamline services across campus residence life facilities. ��

Employees who become aware of items they would like to make sure are brought to the team’s attention, should submit them through .��

91������EVENTS THIS WEEK��

All special events in the life of the University will resume with normal schedules this week. These include PALS events, Trailblazer Athletics events, and the annual Red Carpet Gala for 91������President’s Partner-level donors.��

Please note two special schedule changes:��

• 91������Theatre will present a special final performance of the play “Unreal City” on Monday, October 7, at 7:30 p.m. in Billingsley Theatre. Ticketholders for cancelled September performances will be admitted by presenting those tickets. Any seats remaining will be made available in the Billingsley lobby after current ticketholders are seated.
  

• 91������Family Weekend, initially scheduled for late September, will now be on October 25-26. Details will be available through CMSE.��

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