91 Announces Spring 2023 Dean’s List

Tigerville, SC (May 15, 2023) 91 (NGU) has released its Spring 2023 Dean’s List.

Undergraduate students named to the Dean’s List carry a semester GPA of 3.5 or higher while taking a minimum of 12 hours. Online and traditional students attending the Tigerville Campus recognized for their academic achievements are alphabetized by the last name. You can find the full Dean’s List here.

Congratulations to our students for this achievement!

91offers more than 125 areas of study across certificate, bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and early college opportunities. Online. In-person. At our main campus in Tigerville, SC, the Tim Brashier Campus in Greer, SC, or several educational centers around the U.S. One university, many locations. Every day. Epic. Learn more at ngu.edu.

College of Business and Entrepreneurship Hosts Faith at Work Business Symposium

An FBI informant’s role in exposing an international price fixing scheme, and a businessman’s work which led to the end of slavery in Nepal highlighted 91’s Faith at Work Business Symposium in the spring of 2023. Students and guests from across the area gathered in Tigerville for the symposium which focused on Ministry in the Marketplace.

The event featured presentations from Mark Whitacre, Vice President of Culture and Care at Coca-Cola Consolidated and Executive Director of the company’s t-factor program; and Marian Noronha, President and Founder of TURBOCAM International.

“This symposium is designed to give students an idea of how faith and work intersect,” said NGU’s College of Business and Entrepreneurship Dean Dr. John Duncan. “We believe that God intended for us to do business from the foundation of the world. God created us all with different talents and different abilities, and we need each other to be able to work together.”

Mark Whitacre

VP of Culture and Care at Coca-Cola Consolidated

Whitacre’s background in business is quite literally Hollywood material. Famous for being the highest-ranked executive of any Fortune 500 company to become a whistleblower, Whitacre helped the FBI uncover one of the largest price fixing cases in U.S. history. These events in the early 1990s were the basis for the 2009 film, The Informant!, which starred Matt Damon as Whitacre.

“I don’t how many of you have gone and told the FBI you’re stealing a billion dollars a year, but I can tell you it’s an interesting reaction,” Whitacre told the crowd at NGU’s Turner Chapel on April 10. “That phone reached Janet Reno, the Attorney General. It reached William Sessions, the Director of the FBI. It became the largest price fixing case in US history.”

Achieving success early in his career, Whitacre was hired by Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) in 1989, becoming the company’s youngest Divisional President at the age of 32. A short time later, Whitacre became a Corporate Vice President at ADM at the age of 35 and was in line to become the company’s president.

“Boy, did I get obsessed to that lifestyle. I would be getting stock options and bonuses totaling two or three million a year. I had a corporate jet,” he said. “What does a 32-year-old do with an eight-car garage? You fill it up. I had a Ferrari, two BMWs, two Mercedes. There was nothing that could fill the void in my heart. I thought money was going to fill it, but it never did.”

Whitacre’s rapid ascent up the corporate ranks landed him in a precarious position when he learned that the company had been making a large percentage of its revenue from a price fixing scheme. Unsure of how to proceed, Whitacre told his wife, who encouraged him to go to the FBI. Over the next three years, Whitacre wore a wire to help the FBI with its investigation.

During the course of the investigation, authorities learned of Whitacre’s own fraud and tax evasion, and he was eventually sentenced to eight and half years in prison.

“I was my own worst enemy every step of the way,” he said. “This is not an example of faith at work. This is an example of what happens when you don’t bring your faith to work. I made the biggest mistakes of my life. I should’ve left that company as soon as I found out about the price fixing instead of getting the bonuses and staying involved with it. I sold my soul the day I got involved with that case in the first place.”

Facing a lengthy prison sentence, Whitacre – who earned a Ph.D. degree in biochemistry from Cornell University — began to consider his faith, which he said he had largely rejected while a college student. After reading books by scientists who were professing Christians and having discussions with noted prison ministry leader Chuck Colson, he became a Christian and spent the majority of the next decade working to give back.

“Helping others—even in federal prison—those were some of the most rewarding years of my life,” he said.

Upon his release, Whitacre vowed to use his time and skills to bring his faith to work.

“God gave me a second chance,” Whitacre said. “For 20 years now, I’ve been working in a faith-at-work environment, and there’s no better place.”

“Living a life of significance is so much more important than the way the world defines success. Your life will be so much more fulfilling if you honor God with everything you say and do,” he said.

Marian Noronha

President and Founder of TURBOCAM International

Marian Noronha, founder of TURBOCAM International, shared his personal journey during the symposium, which including launching the aerospace and turbomachinery manufacturing company based in New Hampshire. Noronha has spent his career living out his faith through his business.

Noronha became a Christian after getting involved with a church in his 20s.

“I decided I was one of the smartest people in the world, but I also figured out I was one of the most miserable people in the world and I didn’t know what to do about that,” he said.

“For three months, I went to church. I got invited to home groups. I even went to 6 a.m. prayer meetings on Fridays,” Noronha said.

After becoming a believer, Noronha continued to meet with a group from his church and expressed desires to create a mission-minded business.

“We were talking about sending people around the world for missions, but how are we going to raise money for the poor or train people for jobs?” he asked.

Using his skills, Noronha founded TURBOCAM, which has manufacturing operations in the US, the UK, Romania, and India, and sales offices in the Netherlands.

He led the company from a start-up in 1985 to 1,000 employees worldwide, and sales in the $150-200 million range.

“Some people think I have a brilliant international business plan, but it comes down to this: where is there a confluence of a market and Christians who need jobs? If I can put the two together, then we can build something.”

In 1999-2000, Noronha redeemed 42 slave families in Nepal – by paying their debts to the slaveholders — and established villages for their settlement. His efforts helped spark the abolishment of slavery in Nepal in 2000. After abolition, Noronha continued to work with Nepali churches to establish and support six schools that educate more than 1,100 children.

“The mission is not money. This mission is the people,” he said. “The creativity and ability to do something well with the work of our hands, that’s the value of the company. The other stuff we get to accomplish is the icing on the cake.”

91President Dr. Gene C. Fant, Jr. encouraged business students in attendance to value mission over success.

“The culture of a business impacts everything from the bottom line to its reputation,” President Fant said. “Here at North Greenville, we’re about equipping transformational leaders for church and society, which is one of the reasons why we’re really prioritizing resources for the College of Business and Entrepreneurship. We believe we have students here that can go impact the culture by becoming leaders in business.”

“The business world and faith are not at odds with each other,” he said. “They don’t just merely overlap with each other. They are vitally connected to one another because of the way God has designed the world and created us.”

About 91

91offers more than 125 areas of study across certificate, bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and early college opportunities. Online. In-person. At our main campus in Tigerville, SC, the Tim Brashier Campus in Greer, SC, or several educational centers around the U.S. One university, many locations. Every day. Epic. To learn more, visit ngu.edu.

NGU’s National Championship Baseball Team Recognized at State Capitol

Tigerville, SC (May 9, 2023) 91’s (NGU) 2022 NCAA Division II National Championship baseball team was recognized on the floor of the South Carolina House of Representatives in Columbia on April 27.

District 17 Representative Mike Burns welcomed the team to the historic State Capitol, recalling a run that ended in the program’s first national title.

“You’ve got to understand, there’s over 300 members in NCAA Division II,” Burns said. “(NGU’s) baseball team was 54-10 last year, went through undefeated in the World Series in Cary, North Carolina, and brought the NCAA Division II National Title home to South Carolina, and specifically to Tigerville, South Carolina.”

Burns recognized members of the North Greenville coaching staff, including head coach Landon Powell, who was named Division II National Coach of the Year in 2022.

“These coaches do an outstanding job,” Burns said. “Thank you for your hard work.”

Burns also recognized right-handed pitcher Reece Fields, who took home Most Valuable Player honors for 91during the 2022 World Series, and John Michael Faile, who was a Triple Crown winner in Conference Carolinas in 2022, leading the league in batting average (.427), home runs (16) and RBI (86).

Powell said he was appreciative of the recognition and what it means for his team.

“It’s a really cool moment for the guys,” Powell said. “Any time you get to re-live the National Championship and remember those days, it’s special, but to get to do it at the state capitol with so much history, it’s a moment these guys will always remember.”

Currently 44-8 on the season, the North Greenville baseball team is in a position to earn a high seed in the 2023 NCAA tournament. A selection show for the Division II NCAA Tournament will be held on May 14.

“I am thankful to our local politicians who were instrumental in making arrangements for our baseball team to be recognized at the state capitol for winning the NCAA Division II Baseball National Championship,” said 91Athletic Director Jan McDonald. “It was indeed an honor for our coaches, players and 91. I am confident they will remember this recognition for a lifetime.”

About 91

91offers more than 125 areas of study across certificate, bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and early college opportunities. Online. In-person. At our main campus in Tigerville, SC, the Tim Brashier Campus in Greer, SC, or several educational centers around the U.S. One university, many locations. Every day. Epic. Learn more.

Richey Encourages Perseverance During NGU’s 2023 Spring Commencement

Tigerville, SC (May 6, 2023) Encouraged to make a difference by using their gifts and talents to glorify God, 281 91 students had their degrees conferred during Spring Commencement ceremonies Friday evening at Younts Stadium in Tigerville.

“The only chance we have to give a glimpse of glory to God on this earth is to do something through Him that causes people to ask ‘why?’” said Furman Men’s Basketball Coach Bob Richey, a 2006 summa cum laude graduate of NGU, who delivered the university’s Commencement address.

“If you play it safe, you’ll never get there. This world needs people with conviction. We need courage. We need believers. We’re equipped to go make a difference because of the gifts God has given us, and He’s begging us to use them,” he said.

The ceremony, which concluded with a firework display, capped the academic year at the private university affiliated with the South Carolina Baptist Convention.

“Congratulations to each of you on achieving this significant academic milestone,” 91President Dr. Gene C. Fant, Jr., said during his remarks. “It is our prayer that today’s Commencement will also be a commissioning as we send you out to be transformational leaders for church and society.”

A processional led by Faculty Marshal Dr. Gerald Roe, retiring professor of intercultural studies, opened the ceremonies. Following a welcome by President Fant, Dr. Brian Spearman, chairman of the university’s Board of Trustees, delivered the invocation.

“On behalf of the Board of Trustees, we want to tell each and every one of you graduating today how excited we are for you,” Spearman told the graduates. “I encourage you to go out and be the world changers you were called to be. Each day live as you are supposed to live and look to God in everything you do.”

Graduating senior Jordan Pracht read passages from Jeremiah 29:11 and Colossians 3:17 before Richey addressed the graduates and guests. Richey has been at the helm of the Furman program for six years, guiding the Paladins to a 139-54 overall record. The .720 winning percentage ranks in the top 20 among all active Division I head coaches.

Richey opened his remarks with memories of his student days at NGU, referring to many campus traditions. He met his wife, the former Jessica Tingle, while both were 91students. Her family’s connection to North Greenville began when both of her grandparents worked on the Tigerville campus. Her father, the late Jacks Berner Tingle, was a 1969 North Greenville graduate and later served as head of NGU’s advancement office. The university’s student center is named for the Tingle family.

Richey’s life-changing decisions at the university extended beyond meeting his future spouse.

“I made a convicted decision to chase a dream while I was at North Greenville,” he said. “I wanted to coach. I had a decent GPA, and I had a lot of people telling me to continue to pursue academia, go to grad school, or just do something normal. I just remember making that scary decision on campus, but I knew I wanted to utilize my gifts to impact people.”

The Furman men’s basketball team made headlines when the Paladins knocked off Virginia in the opening round of the 2023 NCAA Tournament in March. Richey said before his team earned the upset over the fourth-seeded Cavaliers, they had to experience plenty of adversity.

“You’ve heard about the victories. You’ve heard about the Virginia game. But, some of you might not have heard about the Chattanooga game. About a year back, we were playing Chattanooga in the Southern Conference Championship and Furman hadn’t been to the Dance in 42 years. The game went into overtime and their guy throws up a 35-footer and it goes in. It looked like the streak was going to be broken, but instead it turned into a heartbreak. It was gut-wrenching and painful, but a year later, not only did we win the Southern Conference Tournament, but we got to go the NCAA Tournament and beat Virginia.”

Richey discussed having success and maintaining your faith.

“We are created for a purpose,” Richey said. “We’re not to be ships in the harbor. We have to go through the storm and the turbulent waters to endure and show God’s glory.”

Following conferring of degrees, graduates Joseph Wall Noyes and Caroline June Nelms led the singing of the Alma Mater, and Ansley Welchel, instructor of Communication at NGU, delivered the benediction.

Graduate Spotlight

Emilie Allen ‘23

For Emilie Allen, the walk across the stage at Younts Stadium on Friday evening at 91’s 2023 Spring Commencement was bittersweet.

“There are a lot of mixed emotions,” she said. “I’m excited to graduate and earn that accomplishment, and it means more getting to do it with some of my closest friends. But it is bittersweet. We’re leaving behind this time where we get to see each other every day, and have classes together, but that’s part of life. I’m excited for the steps that are coming next.”

Graduating with a degree in marketing and a minor in digital media, Allen is taking the next step in her career by accepting a full-time position at Bunnell-Lammons Engineering as the communications and marketing associate.

Allen is the second 91graduate in her family, following her sister, Erin Allen, who earned a degree in business administration in December of 2021. The younger Allen, who has been playing volleyball since third grade, knew she wanted to find a school that would help her progress athletically and academically.

“I’d heard a lot of good things about the College of Business and Entrepreneurship from my sister,” she said. “Finding marketing and exploring the creative side of business, that was definitely right up my alley.”

Through classes with 91marketing instructor Mollie A. Withers and Department of Marketing Chair Dr. David Riddering, Allen found her path.

“I learned so much that I didn’t even realize how well I was being prepared,” she said. “There have been so many things that have come up during this internship that I’d learned from one of my professors. Without their direction, I would not have been able to get into my internship at all.”

Allen concluded her volleyball career in the fall of 2022.

“It’s been an adjustment to find my place without volleyball,” she said. “It was difficult at first, but balancing athletics with academics prepared me for this next chapter.”

Allen offered some advice for those also pursuing a career in business or marketing.

“Pay attention and take notes,” she said. “When you’re taking a class, it can be like checking a box. I know I’ve done that. But looking back, I was glad I took notes and learned something that I’m actually using in my career.”

91 is creating a new home for the College of Business and Entrepreneurship, as renovations continue at the university’s historic administration building. The $9.7 million project will provide classrooms, faculty offices, and gathering spaces on the Tigerville Campus, as well as a suite of offices for NGU’s senior leadership. To learn more about the project, which is expected to reach completion in the fall, visit go.ngu.edu/donnan-cobe.

About 91

91offers more than 125 areas of study across certificate, bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and early college opportunities. Online. In-person. At our main campus in Tigerville, SC, the Tim Brashier Campus in Greer, SC, or several educational centers around the U.S. One university, many locations. Every day. Epic. Learn more.

One Night Event Brings Over 100 Faith Decisions, Over 40 Calls to Ministry

Tigerville, SC (May 4, 2023) One Night Rock Hill, a worship experience for teenagers hosted by the South Carolina Baptist Convention, brought more than 1,000 students and adults together to engage with the hope of the Gospel. The event, hosted by First Baptist Rock Hill, saw over 100 decisions for Christ and over 40 students called to ministry.

North American Mission Board (NAMB) Next Gen Director Shane Pruitt was the keynote speaker for the event. The 91 (NGU) Campus Band led in worship.

Grant Richardson (’17), assistant pastor of middle school and pre-teen students at First Baptist Rock Hill, said that 91has been an integral part of three recent events in the community: One Night Rock Hill 2022, Next Level Weekend, and One Night Rock Hill 2023.

“In the spring of 2022, we were thankful for the cooperation of 91through Campus Band leading worship, Joshua Gilmore speaking, and Andy Ray for sending a team to resource students to prepare for ministry,” Richardson said. “With this being the first One Night in Rock Hill, over 600 students were in attendance, over 40 gave their life to Christ and many others were called to ministry.”

Richardson said NGU’s Campus Band led worship for Next Level Weekend in the fall of 2022, which is a discipleship-centered in-town retreat. More than 200 students were in attendance, and many students answered calls to ministry and committed to a practical growth step in their discipleship pathway.

“Most recently, 91Campus Band led worship for One Night Rock Hill in April … and 50 churches and groups engaged and received resources for ongoing ministry to students,” he said. “We are thankful for Shane Pruitt for speaking the Gospel and giving a clear invitation.”

Over the last year, Southern Baptists have intentionally focused on sharing the gospel with students. In 2021, the NAMB announced an infusion of $5 million over four years to support evangelistic efforts specifically designed to reach students. During the first years of the emphasis, hundreds of salvations have occurred.

“I keep referring to the next generation as the ‘revival generation,’ because I have faith that God is going to do incredible things in and through the lives of students,” Pruitt said to The Baptist Courier. “We need to be faithful to proclaim the gospel, and the Lord will work in hearts. That’s what we as Southern Baptists have been doing, and students have been responding. I’ve been so encouraged to hear the stories of all God’s been doing.”

Carson Woodham, an 91junior, is a member of the 91Campus Band, helping to lead the One Night Rock Hill worship experience.

“It was humbling to see over a thousand students worship our risen savior and it was a blessing to be a part of it,” said Woodham. “This is what it is all about. Investing in the next generation is crucial for the church. It was a God-honoring and historical event to see so many students praising Jesus Christ.”

About 91

91offers more than 125 areas of study across certificate, bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and early college opportunities. Online. In-person. At our main campus in Tigerville, SC, the Tim Brashier Campus in Greer, SC, or several educational centers around the U.S. One university, many locations. Every day. Epic. Learn more.

91Celebrates Accomplishments of Four Faculty and Staff Members

Tigerville, SC (May 1, 2023) Four members of the 91 (NGU) faculty and staff were recognized during the final spring Chapel service for university personnel on April 26. Honorees included Dr. Jill Branyon, distinguished professor of education and mathematics education coordinator; Dr. Gerald Roe, program director and professor of intercultural studies; Dr. George Hopson, professor of sport management and leadership and Deborah O’Gwynn, director of student accounts.

Prior to joining NGU, Branyon served in Kenya for more than 20 years with the Southern Baptist Convention’s International Mission Board. She also taught in Lexington School District One for three years.

“When I ask students, especially alums, who their favorite teacher is, (Branyon’s) name comes up a lot,” 91President Dr. Gene C. Fant, Jr. said during the service in Turner Chapel. “I don’t know that there’s anyone else in the state of South Carolina who has impacted secondary math education across the state any more than her. She really has an amazing legacy.”

Branyon has spent 46 years in the classroom. She is a past recipient of NGU’s Lamar Chapman Meritorious Service Award, and has received the Golden Gift Leadership Challenge Scholarship.

“I came to 91at a time of transition in my life. I knew I needed to stay in the US to help my parents. 91became my new mission field and my new family,” Branyon said. “I have taught here for 20 years and enjoyed it very much. God has blessed my life here, and I have had the privilege to disciple many students. One of my favorite parts of working at 91along with the Christ-centered campus has been working with Third Culture students such as missionary kids. I will continue to teach a few courses and support the College of Education for a while longer.”

Prior to his role at NGU, Dr. Roe served as senior pastor of three churches and the Director of Missions for the Massachusetts Baptist Association. He was appointed by the Southern Baptist’s North American Mission Board as director of associations for the Massachusetts Baptist Association. Roe joined the North Greenville faculty in 2003.

“I have not gone to work a single day in the last 20 years,” he said. “I have done exactly what I wanted to do in the very place I wanted to do it. Higher Christian education was last thing I envisioned myself doing. However, instructing the next generation of missionaries, pastors and other church leaders has provided a joy and satisfaction I could never have imagined.”

President Fant said Dr. Roe’s commitment to missions has greatly impacted the university.

“I was with a group that was talking about North Greenville’s heart for missions in the US and they were bragging on our faculty and staff. Dr. Roe has been a great leader, and we look forward to hearing about what all he’s involved with next.”

Following a 35-year career in administrative roles at K-12 private Christian schools, Dr. Hopson came to 91in 2007 to serve as the director of institutional research and effectiveness and liaison to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

“We are not where we are now if it weren’t for the folks in accreditation, who deal with all the federal data that goes through institutional research,” President Fant said. “We thank Dr. Hopson for making the university better.”

Hopson later moved to a full-time faculty position, serving as a professor of sport management and leadership.

“I am thankful the Lord has given me the opportunity to be at 91for all these years and that he has provided strength for the tasks and provided good friends over the years,” Hopson said.

O’Gwynn joined 91in 2018, and is a member of the leadership team in the Office of Student Services. She has served in higher education for 25 years, previously working at Palm Beach Atlantic College, Oklahoma Baptist University, and Oklahoma City University.

“Her time with Student Services has been marked by her dedication to students, as well as staff, and her empathetic and steady leadership,” President Fant said. “She’s created a number of policies and procedures that have really helped our students, and she’s known for her encouragement, humor, and baked treats.”

O’Gwynn said her greatest joy has been working with students and families at NGU.

“It has been a blessing to serve at 91and to help students and their families move toward completing their degrees,” she said. “God has blessed the mission of this university and seeing that in the lives of our graduates is a great joy. Working under Rachael Russiaky and assisting in bringing the vision of NGUcentral into fruition has been rewarding.”

The Chapel service was followed by a reception in NGU’s Hartness President’s Dining Room, celebrating the career accomplishments of the four honorees.

About 91

91offers more than 125 areas of study across certificate, bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and early college opportunities. Online. In-person. At our main campus in Tigerville, SC, the Tim Brashier Campus in Greer, SC, or several educational centers around the U.S. One university, many locations. Every day. Epic. Learn more.

Washington Named SCICU 2023 Excellence in Teaching Award Recipient

SCICU photo: (L-R) Dr. Nathan Finn, 91 provost; Dr. Darian Washington, 91 2023 Excellence In Teaching award winner; Lucy Grey McIver, Chair – SCICU Board of Trustees

Tigerville, SC (April 27, 2023) Dr. Darian Washington, professor of music, is 91’s (NGU) 2022-23 South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (SCICU) Excellence in Teaching award recipient. The organization honored faculty leaders from each of its 21 member institutions at an Excellence in Teaching Awards Dinner on April 18 at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center in Columbia.

The annual Excellence in Teaching Awards were created to “recognize and celebrate the best of the best.” A faculty member from SCICU’s twenty-one member institutions is nominated for the award.

91Provost and Dean of the University Faculty Dr. Nathan A. Finn said that Washington is a “great teacher” who is respected by his faculty colleagues and beloved by his students.

“As a music professor, his instruction takes place in a variety of contexts: classrooms, rehearsals, and performances. The entire university as well as the wider community benefit from the fruit of his instruction many times a year whenever our marching band and various ensembles perform,” said Finn. “Dr. Washington is an exemplary faculty member, and I could not be more excited that he is our 2023 recipient of the SCICU Excellence in Teaching Award.”

2023 marks the 18th year of the SCICU Excellence in Teaching Awards Program. Each year SCICU member colleges and universities use rigorous criteria to select a faculty member to receive the SCICU Excellence in Teaching award. Award recipients receive a framed award certificate and a $3,000 professional development grant from SCICU.

Dr. Web Drake, dean of NGU’s College of Communication and Arts, said it is impossible for him to quantify how much Washington means to the Cline School of Music.

“He is our most active recruiter. He gives of his time to the Marching and Pep Bands. He directs the Concert Band. He conducts private lessons for both our students and those he is recruiting. He is active in his professional guilds and on campus,” said Drake. “Darian is an absolute stalwart of this campus.”

Washington’s musical journey started when he attended a Fine Arts Magnet School and began playing horn his freshman year just so he could go on the band trips. He said what started as a hobby became a passion as he began studying music education in his undergraduate degree from Augusta State University and teaching young horn students. After obtaining his master’s degree in horn performance from the University of Georgia, he began teaching public middle school for two years, and returned to school to pursue his doctorate at the University of Maryland with the goal of teaching in higher education.

“God has given me the gift of mentorship and ability to help each student I encounter to grow their own gifts and talents, and reach their maximum potential,” said Washington.

The university’s website offers information on entering one of the many professions rooted in music at NGU.

About 91

91offers more than 125 areas of study across certificate, bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and early college opportunities. Online. In-person. At our main campus in Tigerville, SC, the Tim Brashier Campus in Greer, SC, or several educational centers around the U.S. One university, many locations. Every day. Epic. Learn more at www.ngu.edu

Students Recognized for Excellence during 2023 Academic Awards Day

Tigerville, SC –More than 50 91 (NGU) students were recognized for excellence in academics during the university’s 2023 Academic Awards Day in Turner Chapel on Wednesday.

“This is an opportunity for us, as faculty, to give honor to whom honor is due,” 91Provost Dr. Nathan A. Finn said. “We’re delighted to be here and to celebrate the accomplishments of these students.”

Following a welcome from Dr. Finn, awards were presented for excellence in education, communication and fine arts, humanities and science, Christian studies, business and entrepreneurship, scholar athletes, outstanding freshman, American Legion citizenship, and general excellence.

A complete list of award recipients is provided below.

College of Education

 

Excellence in Social Studies Education

Dylan Johnson

 

Excellence in Music Education

Caroline Nelms

 

Excellence in Mathematics Secondary Education

Ethan Lamont

 

Excellence in English Language Arts Education

Larissa Berger

 

Excellence in Elementary Education

Ragan Brown

Cora Land

 

Excellence in Early Childhood Education

Katelyn Hawthorne

 

Excellence in Spanish Education

Emma Carver

 

 

College of Communication and Fine Arts

 

Outstanding Media Ministry Student

Skylar Moed

 

Outstanding Broadcast Media Student

Klay Jacks

 

Outstanding Digital Media Student

Grace Myers

 

Outstanding Strategic Communication Student

Matthew Byrd

 

Outstanding Communication Student

Rhett Wilson

 

Theatre Student Leadership Award

Lydia Kytle

 

Excellence in Theatre Award

Abigail Dover Thomas

 

The Zachary B. Bishop Ars Excellentia Award

Margaret Nork

 

Cline School of Music Outstanding Senior in Music

Caroline Nelms

 

 

College of Humanities and Sciences

 

Health Science Exceptional Senior

Megan Tiddle

Braden Gravely

 

Physical Education Exceptional Senior Award

Anna Elise McGill

 

Outdoor Education Excellence Award

Madaline Bridges

 

Excellence in Psychology

Kaitlin Obrien

Sophia Thackston

 

Excellence in Biology

Lauren Bell

Lance Calcutt

 

Timothy Ross Excellence in Mathematics

Marylena Lindsey Street

 

French Academic Excellence

Meredith Greene

 

American Sign Language Academic Excellence

Zoe Character

 

Linguistics Academic Excellence

Zoe Character

 

Spanish Academic Excellence

Zechariah Johnson

 

Outstanding Mountain Laurel Editor

Caemon Ashworth

Karson Harsey

Kyle Jackson

 

The Veda B. Sprouse English Award

Alexander Case

 

Bielecki-Willard Interdisciplinary Studies Student of the Year Award

Austin Meyer

Karson Harsey

 

The Shirley A. Hickson History Award

Dylan Johnson

 

Behethland Butler Chapter of the DAR Award

Austin Meyer

 

Excellence in Criminal Justice and Legal Studies

William Zimmerman

 

Cybersecurity Service Award

Sarah Warren

 

Cybersecurity Academic Excellence Award

Pablo Diez Castro

 

 

College of Christian Studies

 

Excellence in Christian Studies

Rachel Lanter

 

Excellence in Intercultural Studies

Karly Wolford

 

 

College of Business and Entrepreneurship

 

Outstanding Academic Achievement in International Business

Carmen F. Diaz

 

Outstanding Academic Achievement in Marketing

Emilie J. Allen

 

Outstanding Academic Achievement in Management

K. Hunter Corzine

 

Outstanding Academic Achievement in Business Administration

Ciara Mace

 

Outstanding Academic Achievement in Accounting

McKenna Kees

 

Sport Management Outstanding Student Professionalism

Elizabeth Luzzi

Conner Dillard

 

COBE Servant Leadership Award

Avery Shope

Camden Howell

 

 

General Awards

 

Female Scholar Athlete

Ciara Mace

 

Male Scholar Athlete

Jake Gerardi

 

Student Employee of the Year

Sarah Warren

 

American Legion Citizenship Award

Karly Wolford

Collin McCarter

 

Outstanding Freshman Award

Jenna Hansard

 

General Excellence Award

Abigail Dover Thomas

 

 

About 91

91offers more than 125 areas of study across certificate, bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and early college opportunities. Online. In-person. At our main campus in Tigerville, SC, the Tim Brashier Campus in Greer, SC, or several educational centers around the U.S. One university, many locations. Every day. Epic. To learn more, visit ngu.edu.

91Holds Annual Crusader Club Golf Classic

Tigerville, SC (April 24, 2023) Twenty teams participated in 91’s 35th Annual Crusader Club Golf Classic on Tuesday, April 11, at Cherokee Golf and Club.

The First Place Team award in the captain’s choice event was presented to the Owens Insurance/Stokes-Farnham Insurance team. Team members were Tom Bates, David Culpepper, Chris Nichols, and Angie Stec.

The Second Place Team honor went to the Graydon’s Tire & Automotive Team. Their team consisted of Leon Graydon, Greg Hash, Chad Moody, and Mike Spillers.

The Third Place Team winner was the Dick Brooks Honda Team. Their team members were Ken Britton, Dereck Godfrey, Ed Rich, and Charles Rodgers.

The golfer whose shot was closest to the hole on the second green won a $5,000 voucher toward the purchase of a new or used vehicle at Dick Brooks Honda of Greer.

The event raises approximately $50,000 to provide scholarships for 91 student-athletes.

The tournament’s major sponsors for this year’s Classic were Dick Brooks Honda, James L. Oates III Enterprises, Inc., TaylorMade, Renfrow Industrial, OpSource Staffing, and Pepsi.

The Crusader Club was created to support the athletic programs at 91 by raising funds for athletic scholarships, operations, and facilities for student-athletes who participate on the university’s 20 NCAA Division II sports teams.

Membership in the Crusader Club is open to individuals or organizations that support the overall educational mission of the institution and want to assist in transforming student-athletes in a challenging, Christ-centered environment.

For more information about NGU’s Crusader Club, contact Micah Sepko at micah.sepko@ngu.edu.

About 91

91offers more than 125 areas of study across certificate, bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and early college opportunities. Online. In-person. At our main campus in Tigerville, SC, the Tim Brashier Campus in Greer, SC, or several educational centers around the U.S. One university, many locations. Every day. Epic. To learn more, visit ngu.edu.

NGU’s Grace Myers Named SC Public Relations Student of the Year

Columbia, SC (April 19, 2023) 91’s (NGU) Grace Myers was recognized by the South Carolina Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (SCPRSA) as the 2022 Public Relations Student of the Year on Wednesday at the Mercury Awards Ceremony and Professional Development Conference held in Columbia.

A summa cum laude December 2022 graduate, Myers is the first 91student to receive the honor.

“I’m truly honored to receive this recognition from the SCPRSA,” she said. “I’m so grateful that the Lord has allowed me to find success in my passion. However, I can’t acknowledge this award without also acknowledging North Greenville’s School of Communication for its guidance during my college career. Every single one of my professors continuously poured into me and encouraged me to always aim higher in everything I set out to do.”

According to the SCPRSA, the award is presented to an “outstanding student who shows exceptional promise as a future PR practitioner.”

“When I met Grace two and a half years ago on the first day of my Principles of Public Relations course, she impressed me with her quick understanding of the profession and her courageous drive to improve the world around her,” said Ansley Welchel, APR, communication instructor at NGU. “Grace demonstrates extraordinary commitment to the field of public relations, always seeking extra professional development and opportunities to apply her PR skills to the communication needs she recognizes on campus to support her peers and the University overall.”

Myers currently serves Infinity Marketing full-time as their Social Media Coordinator. Infinity is an integrated marketing agency based in Greenville.

“Grace displayed excellence in the classroom and all professional endeavors during her years in our communication program – from student media to internships to student engagement and campus life,” said Dr. Randall E. King, associate dean for NGU’s School of Communication. “She has embraced and modeled the many ways a strategic communicator becomes a transformational leader.”

About 91

91offers more than 125 areas of study across certificate, bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and early college opportunities. Online. In-person. At our main campus in Tigerville, SC, the Tim Brashier Campus in Greer, SC, or several educational centers around the U.S. One university, many locations. Every day. Epic. To learn more, visit ngu.edu.

Richey Returning to Tigerville to Deliver Commencement Address

Tigerville, SC (April 12, 2023) 91 graduate Bob Richey, whose Furman Paladins claimed the national spotlight by advancing to the second round of the 2023 NCAA Division I Basketball Championship Tournament, will deliver the Address at NGU’s Spring Commencement Exercises on May 5 at Younts Stadium in Tigerville.

“Having one of our own alumni who has demonstrated how to live out God-honoring values in the national spotlight come back to deliver the Commencement Address is a special opportunity for our community,” said 91President Dr. Gene C. Fant, Jr. “We are delighted that Coach Richey will be speaking as one who has been in the same place as our graduates are in right now.

91anticipates conferring degrees on 287 graduates during Spring Commencement ceremonies, which cap the academic year at the private university affiliated with the South Carolina Baptist Convention.

Richey has been at the helm of the Furman men’s basketball program for six years, after serving six years as an assistant coach for the team. He has guided Furman to a 139-54 overall record over the past six years. The .720 winning percentage ranks in the top 20 among all active Division I head coaches.

Reared in Florence, SC, Richey attended Florence Christian School, where he led the basketball team to a 28-2 record and state championship his senior year. He played college basketball at Tennessee Temple University before moving to North Greenville.

Richey graduated summa cum laude from 91in May of 2006 with a bachelor’s degree in business management. He was an assistant coach at Charleston Southern University for five years before returning to the Upstate to join the Furman staff.

After a heartbreaking loss at the buzzer in the 2022 Southern Conference tournament championship game, Furman won the 2023 conference tournament to qualify for the NCAA Division I Tournament. The #13 seed Paladins kicked off March Madness with a 68-67 upset of #4 seed Virginia in the South Region first round before falling to eventual national runner-up San Diego State University. Finishing with a 28-8 record, Richey’s squad set a school record for wins in a season. Despite national acclaim, Richey declined to move to a larger NCAA program after the season, opting to remain with Furman.

Richey met his wife, the former Jessica Tingle, while they were students at NGU. They were married in April 2007 and have three children, Audrey Gabrielle, Robert McIntire “Mac,” and Jacks Berner. The Richeys are members of Downtown Presbyterian Church in Greenville.

About 91

91offers more than 125 areas of study across certificate, bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and early college opportunities. Online. In-person. At our main campus in Tigerville, SC, the Tim Brashier Campus in Greer, SC, or several educational centers around the U.S. One university, many locations. Every day. Epic. To learn more, visit ngu.edu.

 

91Theatre Presents ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ at Billingsley Theatre

a-midsummers-night-dreamTigerville, SC (April 12, 2023) 91Theatre will present William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” April 13-15 and April 20-22 at The Billingsley Theatre. Showings will begin at 7:30 p.m. nightly.

“This is a play about love and how humans are led around by their hearts. Often that can lead us astray and into mischief,” said Director Amy Dunlap, associate dean for the School of the Arts at 91. “It’s a play about mistaken identity and the foolishness of giving our hearts away before we know what we’re doing.”

One of Shakespeare’s most popular comedic works, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” is accessible and easy to follow, according to Dunlap.

“It’s a show that people really like and are familiar with,” she said. “In our department, we try to do something from Shakespeare every other year to expose our students to the magnificence of the work and the amazing opportunities to experience heightened language and rich, fully-developed characters.”

“The script is very funny,” Dunlap continued. “We’ve had to stop rehearsals many times because the actors are laughing so hard they can’t get themselves back under control. We’re hoping the audiences will experience that as well.”

The cast features: Chappie Stanley (Theseus, Duke of Athens), Katherine Liederbach (Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons), Collin McCarter (Egeus, father to Hermia), Ben Howard (Philostrate, Master of Revels), Carmen Wells (Hermia, daughter to Egeus), Lydia Kytle (Helena), Josh Gasdia (Lysander), Jacob Jones (Demetrius), Abigail Thomas (Quince, a Carpenter; Prologue), Caleb Wright (Snug, a Joiner; Lion), Logan Stewart (Bottom, a Weaver; Pyramus), Seth Atkins (Flute, a Bellows-mender; Thisby), Keely Lyons (Starveling, a Tailor; Moonshine), Sarah Delanuez (Snout, a Tinker; Wall), Dylan Thompson (Oberon, King of Fairies), Alyse Barrett (Titania, Queen of Fairies), Kale Morse (Puck, or Robin Goodfellow), Meghan Mosher (Peaseblossom, a fairy), Chloe Holmes (Cobweb, a fairy), Isabelle Western (Moth, a fairy), Gabby Godoy (Mustardseed, a fairy), Hannah Lewis (Firefly, a fairy), and Jenna Hansard (Snout, understudy).

Directed by Dunlap, the crew for the production consists of Dr. Bess Park (set and lighting design), David Vierow (technical director), Cynthia Lohrmann (costume designer), Liam Riley (assistant to the costume designer), Mikey Murray (dramaturg, sound board operator), Renee Drake (make-up/hair designer, graphic designer, costume assistant), Sarah-Parker Martin (sound designer, house manager), MJ Greene (dramaturg), Alyse Barrett (assistant to the scenic designer), Isabelle Western (prop master, make-up assistant), Meghan Frady (assistant stage manager), Emery Powell (stage manager), Meredith Wirth (light board operator), Abigail Thomas (harpist), Jacob Jones (fight captain), Keely Lyons (make-up assistant), Jenna Hansard (scenic charge), and Anna Faith Major (assistant house manager).

Dunlap said she is excited to bring this Shakespearean classic to life.

“Sometimes, when people read Shakespeare in a high school English class, they’re really bored, or they just don’t get it, or they can’t follow the language,” Dunlap said. “The truth is, Shakespeare wasn’t meant to be read. It was meant to be performed. You can’t really get a full grasp of what the text means until you see it on its feet.”

“The students just love what they do and have a passion for it. That shines through in all the productions that we do,” she said.

With biblical themes throughout the play, Dunlap said 91is the perfect place to tell this story.

“We have a perspective of redemption and recognizing God in all that we do,” she said. “’A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ is not an overtly Christian piece, but it has themes of forgiveness and the difference between God’s love and human love. Being able to recognize these themes in all that we do makes us uniquely situated to touch people’s lives in a different way.”

To purchase tickets to “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” click .

About 91

91offers more than 125 areas of study across certificate, bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and early college opportunities. Online. In-person. At our main campus in Tigerville, SC, the Tim Brashier Campus in Greer, SC, or several educational centers around the U.S. One university, many locations. Every day. Epic. To learn more, visit ngu.edu.